From the feedback and recommendations I received from a few of you that have just received your skids, during PM's back and forth, I am posting this first-pass installation information. Not slamming the product or vendor, but posting my experience with attempting to install the diff skid last night.
That being stated, flame retardant undies are now donned.
Posted in PM's:
Quote:
JoeUser previously said:
I hope your skid fit better than mine. I had to spread the threaded shafts of the front clamp just to get it to clear the front of the differential case. So, now the flat bar for use with the nuts won't even fit (and, won't fit anyhow, as it strikes the e-locker).
I also had to take a grinder and carve notches on either side of the lips on the axle portions, just so the axle bolts would sit square in the cradle of the lips properly. No biggie, as the angle grinder made short work of that.
Watch your axle-mounted brake lines when installing; I had to fanangle the flat bar pieces to fit under the brake lines after realizing that the lines would be in a bind with the flat bars above the lines. And, I noticed that the right-side front-side bolt rested on the rear sway bar (that may have been due to the poor fit at the front of the case)...
So, the skid is removed until I can chop off the front clamp threaded posts and weld a larger U-bolt in place (one that'll clear the case without spreading). I'll leave the existing square portion of the welded bolt and just weld the new U-bolt on top of it.
I'm happy with the ruggedness of the skid, but it's going to have to be tweaked a little before I'm satisfied and confident of the fit. For the price of the group buy, I'm not displeased. However, if I would have spent the full price I would have not been as pleased.
Well, time to break out the ol' welder and grinder! Hope y'all have a smoother install than mine.
I posted this verbatim, not as a rant (and don't take it as such, but after I re-read the message it kinda sounded like one).
I like the ruggedness of the skid, for sure. But, it is a little tight in clearances and tolerances. I only posted the above message to simply notify others that there might be a little tweaking involved.
This will not stop me from ordering from All Phase in the future. I always support local vendors! But, just wanted to post a heads-up that it might take you a little longer than you thought to install (or not, maybe the original template fit an '07 fine, but my '08 may be slightly different). After comparing my skid with the photos posted here the skids look identical, so I don't think there's any difference in model year. Maybe others that have easier installs can post their tips here for others to share.
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Dennis' Titanium 'Bird of Prey': '08 Titanium 4X4; AT; LD; A-Trac; Uniden PC78XLT CB radio & K40 hatch-mounted whip; Yaesu FT-7800R dual-band HAM radio & Comet SSB2 hatch-mounted 1/4 wave antenna; Toyota extra horn mod; no mud flaps; LT285/70/R17 Hankook Dynapro MT tars; 3" Lift (OME 884 front coils & N140S shocks, ToyTech Medium rear coils, OME N71E rear shocks); All-Phase rear diff skid; SCUBA breather mod; Steel sway bar collars; All-Pro rear shock skids and lower link skids; Digger upper and lower rear links; Rasta4x4 skids; Toytec 1" diff drop kit (as soon as I get around to spacing the skids); Metal Tech step sliders; Mini-Me OEM roof rack; fender-mounted disruptors
Hope fit issues won't be the case with mine as I do not have the tools to grind and weld and Colorado is too far away to work with All Phase to fix any issues.
I remain optimistic but if these problems are widespread it would be totally unacceptable for a bolt on piece of armor.
Quote:
JoeUser previously said:
From the feedback and recommendations I received from a few of you that have just received your skids, during PM's back and forth, I am posting this first-pass installation information. Not slamming the product or vendor, but posting my experience with attempting to install the diff skid last night.
That being stated, flame retardant undies are now donned.
Posted in PM's:
I posted this verbatim, not as a rant (and don't take it as such, but after I re-read the message it kinda sounded like one).
I like the ruggedness of the skid, for sure. But, it is a little tight in clearances and tolerances. I only posted the above message to simply notify others that there might be a little tweaking involved.
This will not stop me from ordering from All Phase in the future. I always support local vendors! But, just wanted to post a heads-up that it might take you a little longer than you thought to install (or not, maybe the original template fit an '07 fine, but my '08 may be slightly different). After comparing my skid with the photos posted here the skids look identical, so I don't think there's any difference in model year. Maybe others that have easier installs can post their tips here for others to share.
I remain optimistic but if these problems are widespread it would be totally unacceptable for a bolt on piece of armor.
X2 that ... I didn't buy this to have to mod it...I bought it to just bolt on, otherwise I could have just made my own.
I sure hope this is not the case with all the skids...I'll have a look tonight, although it is freezing here...
I pestered JoeUser into posting after he PMd me about his experience wondering if I had chance to install and experienced similar. He was reluctant, for reasons stated and I am hoping this is the exception as Joe seems to have all the cool tools to modify this but I don't.
I am curious, as anyone, to see how the next install goes. Fingers crossed.
It's crazy cold here, so I will wait till we get into the 30's at least.
I hope there are not problems with these. I received mine last night, but did not intend to install it until warmer, dryer weather was here, (it was 11 degrees last night at work!). I guess I may have to do it, or attempt to, on my days off this week.
As more people receive theirs I hope all is well, but if not, I'll have to give Dave a call. So, everyone let me know how it goes.
Oh, just when I think it's over,...
this has been the longest GB ever!
K
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'07 FJ Voodoo Blue,
Toyo 295/70-17 M/T's
ToyTec custom lift
Expedition One bumper and sliders
...and, some Moab dirt
'69 3/4t Camper Special Chevy
Orange w/white roof
'05 V-Star 650 Custom, Blue w/blue flames and lots of chrome
We all do know that the rear axle was changed on the later '07 from the pre '07?
It could be all internals that were changed but Homedad had a write up here about Toyota replacing his rear diff after it went bad. He said it had a different part number and the breather was mounted differently. Before lemoning his '07 we inspected the new rear diff with with my later build '07 and they were the same. His '08 has the later one.
I doubt if there was an external change but if there is then depending on the FJ Mule that was used for test fitting the skid then some of us will have to do slight modifications and some won't. No fault from All Phase if this is the case.
We all do know that the rear axle was changed on the later '07 from the pre '07?
It could be all internals that were changed but Homedad had a write up here about Toyota replacing his rear diff after it went bad. He said it had a different part number and the breather was mounted differently. Before lemoning his '07 we inspected the new rear diff with with my later build '07 and they were the same. His '08 has the later one.
I doubt if there was an external change but if there is then depending on the FJ Mule that was used for test fitting the skid then some of us will have to do slight modifications and some won't. No fault from All Phase if this is the case.
but I don't.
Linear Mode
