Front Cross member, Ooops

[Ckyllo]

Hi everyone,

Just came back from some snow 4x4ing, and ended up pulling out a truck two sizes too big, twice. In the process i managed to bend the front cross member that bolts and (i think is welded) to the frame (see pictures). I went and talked to my buddy at the local service shop, he had a look and said it wasent good, im with him on that one. has anyone dealt with this before or know where i can get a cross member more so?

 

[ranger_mclaren]

I thought you was talking about the crossmember for the IFS suspension, Just go to a junk yard and get another one and replace it. I think that just serves as a extra strength, and a little extra protection for the front diff. It should just be bolted on too.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Most rangers didn't even come with that one. It is just a guard for the pitman arm/steering box. Take it off and throw it out if you can find one.

 

[zukirider21]

yeah that thing just bolts on. its designed to protect the pitman arm and some of the steering linkage.

 

[zukirider21]

Most rangers didn't even come with that one. It is just a guard for the pitman arm/steering box. Take it off and throw it out if you can find one.

this guy beat me to it haha

 

[Ckyllo]

I thought you was talking about the crossmember for the IFS suspension, Just go to a junk yard and get another one and replace it. I think that just serves as a extra strength, and a little extra protection for the front diff. It should just be bolted on too.

I'll definitely check out the auto wreckers when i get a chance (they always have insane hours), I was concerned that it might have tweaked my frame, but because the cross member tore out on the one side, it leaves me to believe that the frame is still good, i'll find out when i go to put the new one up.

 

[t0x1k]

Last time I checked thats welded on. Se picture 2. There's only bolts for the sway bar.

It's not only for protection of the pitman arm, but also for the strength of the frame in an accident. Cut the old one out and weld a new one in.

Next time, pull with recovery points, not from frame components.

 

[legoms013]

Its not a structural piece, you can ditch it if you'd like. Its only a pitman arm protector and drain pan for your radiator (look at where the drain plug is on your radiator).

Many people remove it and leave it off, and and equal amount of people cut it out and weld in a piece of square tubing in its place. Take your pick.

And last time I checked, its welded in...

 

[t0x1k]

Its not a structural piece, you can ditch it if you'd like. Its only a pitman arm protector and drain pan for your radiator (look at where the drain plug is on your radiator).

Many people remove it and leave it off, and and equal amount of people cut it out and weld in a piece of square tubing in its place. Take your pick.

And last time I checked, its welded in...

SO, not to start a fight, let me get this straight.

This is not structural, neither is the carrier bearing cross member, I've also heard you can ditch the cross member and not need a new one for the stock radius arms when doing an extended radius arm set up. So if I do all 3, my truck will not fall apart? it seems like after those 3 there is no bottom of the frame support and just top of the frame, and there is very few of them on the front of the truck due to engine and transmission preventing there from being any.
Cross members are there for a reason.

 

[Ckyllo]

how soon do i need to replace it? within a couple of days? Most of the auto wreckers here dont have any rangers, none at all really. so if i cant get one that way any other suggestions?

 

[superds]

If you can't get to the auto wreckers to find one, maybe do what legoms013 suggested and weld in a piece of square tube to replace it.

I think you would want to replace it before you do any more strenuous activity with your Ranger, such as towing or offroading. You should be fine without if for a couple weeks if you take it easy.

 

[legoms013]

SO, not to start a fight, let me get this straight.

This is not structural, neither is the carrier bearing cross member, I've also heard you can ditch the cross member and not need a new one for the stock radius arms when doing an extended radius arm set up. So if I do all 3, my truck will not fall apart? it seems like after those 3 there is no bottom of the frame support and just top of the frame, and there is very few of them on the front of the truck due to engine and transmission preventing there from being any.
Cross members are there for a reason.

Yes you can ditch that one too, but only because new long radius arms come with a replacement cross member to replace the one you remove that holds the stockers.

The one for the carrier bearing is pathetic, and does nothing but support the carrier bearing it self. If you place a jack beneath it and lift the truck by it, it will bend. It is not structural either and is merely there for the driveline carrier bearing and as a final skid plate over the last portion of the gas tank.

If you cut out the one the OP bent, the carrier bearing crossmember, there is still technically six left. The one the motor is mounted on (which is big MOFO), the radius arm one (whether they are long arms or not), one under the cab, one under the bed, one at the end of the rear frame rails and lastly if you have a hitch, that counts too.

Your truck isn't going to fall apart.

how soon do i need to replace it? within a couple of days? Most of the auto wreckers here dont have any rangers, none at all really. so if i cant get one that way any other suggestions?

No, when you get to it, you get to it. Its not life or death. Like it was said before, you don't even have to replace it if you don't want. Many Rangers/and I believe Bronco II's never even got one from the factory...

 

[-Nathan-]

Ill put it this way; on my last ranger I had lengthened rad arms that connected to mounts bolted to the frame. The stock x member for the stock rad arms was gone, as well I cut out my carrier bearing x member when I did my 1 piece conversion. I beat the living P!SS out of that truck, and NEVER had an issue. Why do people think that removing a few non-structural cross members is a problem? is there ANY evidence to back your statements folks?

my $0.02

 

[legoms013]

What he said ^

I don't know how to put it any other way, its non-structural, cut that biotch outta there and be happy you own a Ranger and not something else!

 

[88_Eddie]

my b2 doesnt have one of those. it has a u-shaped x member underneath the oil pan/on top of the axle. if that were the one that was broken, i'd be concerned. that piece is just too small, rip it out and weld in a piece of square stock to the front if you're worried about it