took the step rails off the QXslow... a few poser pics to show!

[fueler]

before



Took off my busted *** step rails, they were garbage!! actually they were bent so badly that they distorted all the bolt holes on the bottom of the QX4, if i bought replacement stap rails, i'd prbably only get enough bolts on to hold it there but it definitely wouldnt hold the full weight of the QX4 like the original ones did.....

maybe rock sliders in order??? hmmm

definitely gave me some ground clearance though!



xmas present



stock step rails didnt protect as well as i thought they did uncovered some dings!



i can now see my lower control arms!! which are about to get some poly bushings (the stock bushings are cracked so bad that i can see the damage even with the control arm installed



cant wait to ride steady on the freeway again! These cracked stock bushings SUCK!!!

PS the stock step rails weigh close to 40 lbs EACH SIDE!!! 80 lbs weight reduction, thats nice!

Modified by fueler at 1:16 PM 1/2/2009

Modified by fueler at 9:30 PM 1/3/2009

Modified by fueler at 9:30 PM 1/3/2009
Modified by fueler at 9:32 PM 1/3/2009

[screwinitupagain]

Its about damn time Adam. Now you are starting to look like one of the big-boys. In all seriousness I always like the look better without the steprails.

[fueler]

thanks boston. now if only it was lifted on bigger tires.... but im all about reliability and i dont want to deal with broken CV's in Baja (although being stuck due to no ground clearance, is just as bad if not worse)

[screwinitupagain]

I say keep the same size tires but lift it & get some sliders. CVs are that bad, hell I've replaced them out on trails before. Just keep one or two extra in the back end & you'll be set.

[AJRK]

Looks pretty good Fueler.... and I have the same valve caps as you

[InfinQX4]

Thanks for the pics - I've been working on thinking about pulling mine down and was curious on what it'd look like. Looks good, espically in black! Post some more when you put on whatever is going to replace them.

[SnowSurfLax]

Nice! Now I'm definitely taking mine off. Just waiting for the wife to be done being pregnant (she needs to be able to get in and out easily).

For more clearance, you need Nissandoms SFD. It's dirt cheap as far as lifts go. And you can get the AC lift for extra clearance... I'd do it if I was allowed to spend that kind of money right now.

And now that I've seen the split bushings in a better pic, I'll be doing those as well. I've got the death sway developing. Still early, but in 6 months my *** end is going to be wagging more than happy dog's.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Did you get a big clunk on acceleration with the shot bushings? I did, butnever had a freeway sway problem.

Expect a major battle getting the nuts off the bolts. None of them would comeoff by hand, even with a 24" breaker bar. Ingorsol-Rand'sbaddest 1/2" impact wrench got three out of four after some work, one hadto be cut off with a pneumatic cut-off tool. The FSM specs replacing the bolts and nuts, I can see why. Note that the front and rear bots are slightly different lengths and different p/ns.

Folks going with new stock bushings: You do NOT have to buy a whole newtrailing arm. The stock bushings are available separately, the local garage charged me $20 an arm to press them in.

[bmlawless]

First the tow hitch plug, now I have to buy valve stem covers. Will this customizing never end? :b

I need my time for the body and suspension lifts, tilt wheel, armor, disc brakes, body armor, bumpers, lights, and interior upgrades on my Jeep.

[Lars]

I just ordered the split bushings a few days ago. When are you going to do them? Post up some pix if you can. I'll be doing mine in a few weeks. I don't have the death sway yet, but when I loaded an 1/8 cord of wood in the back of the Pathy it swayed like a cheap hooker.

[screwinitupagain]

You really have to take 'em to a shop that has a press. I tried doing my own last year & couldn't & finally took 'em to a friend of mine that owns his own shop & he did 'em for me.

[Chuck Tribolet]

The shop needs both a press and the right stuff to do the pressing. The armneeds to be supported on somthing that has a hole just bigger than the ODof the bushing, the bushing needs to be pressed out with something that hasan OD just bigger than the iD of the arm.

[screwinitupagain]

I love the poly bushings, plus they'll outlast my Pathy

[pathfinder9035]

hmmm...maybe i should do that.. what do u think guys..should i take those off too.

by the way fueler...your q now looks sexier and more meaner!

[fueler]

The FSM specs replacing the bolts and nuts, I can see why. Note that the front and rear bots are slightly different lengths and different p/ns.

Thank you for posting this. I will make sure to have the bolts before tackling this job.

You really have to take 'em to a shop that has a press. I tried doing my own last year & couldn't & finally took 'em to a friend of mine that owns his own shop & he did 'em for me.

Are you talking about removing the stock bushings, or pressing in the new ones? If pressing, did you have to press the split ones??? Or did you purchase the blue non-split ones? I was hoping they'd just pop right in, as soon as I get the stock bushings out.

[screwinitupagain]

Hell take 'em off! I haven't rocked the step rails in like 2 or 3 years now.

[screwinitupagain]

Are you talking about removing the stock bushings, or pressing in the new ones? If pressing, did you have to press the split ones??? Or did you purchase the blue non-split ones?

I'm talking about pressing the new ones in. The old ones are a pain in the farkin arse to pop out though. I have the red/pink split bushings.

And just for funzzies heres a pic from about 2 years ago with no lift, no ugly step-rails & 31's

[fueler]

those BFG M/T tires look mean just like that. Do you remember how wide they were??

[fueler]

hmmm...maybe i should do that.. what do u think guys..should i take those off too.[

I'd leave em the way they are. i think they'd look cool with a lift on and bigger tires!

[pathfinder9035]

well i do have bigger tires on... the ones on my pathfinder are almost 31's...its 30.5 inches. OR 245 75 16. really enhances the look!

[Chuck Tribolet]

Are you talking about removing the stock bushings, or pressing in the new ones? If pressing, did you have to press the split ones???[/url]

I was talking about the pressing the old stock bushings out, and pressing newstock bushings in. The stock bushings lasted me 140,000 miles, and thisis a working street truck (tows my boat).

I think the cause of the bushings going away is the rear bump stops disintegrating and allowing more rear alxle travel.

[screwinitupagain]

those BFG M/T tires look mean just like that. Do you remember how wide they were??

Yep those are 31x10.5 BFG Mudterrains on 15x8 steel black rockcrawlers with 3.67" of BS. Excellent tires & after I put my lift on & those tires ran the course of their life I got the same tire only bigger (32's)

[carnal_c30]

damn it does look good I hate the stock running boards because all they do is get the back of my jeans dirty when I'm hopping out because the qx4 isn't high enough to even try to use them. It may take something away from the 'luxury' look

[Qxxx4]

wasnt there a pic of a wide view of the whole q? i wanna see what it looks like again. im considering taking mine off.

Get this im even considering getting big tires like the big boys here. Wouldnt need to switch winter tires and wouldnt be afraid of curb rash, and i can get my tires to stick out the sides (SWEET) and if i do find some places to off road..i can do it.

"bling" wheels are too expensive, seeing fuelers pics i just noticed their 16" wheels...i think id get more bang for my buck and practicality than chrome blings. and id feel manlier.

[Qxxx4]

nvm...the pic loaded...and i like it.....

thanks fueler!

and fukinitupagain...i love your pathy. its MEAN lookin

[screwinitupagain]

Thanx but its gonna be even nastier than it is now here in about 3 or so months (when I can get everything I wanna get done, done) but besides the looks its a f*ckin mule offroading! I'll never be able to do any professional rock crawling with it but I can run most any trails like URE & Coal Creek & places like that (although I wanna hit up Moab & Baja). Plus thats an old pic thats pre-lift & Herciliner & 32's, etc.

[fueler]

i like being able to offroad all i want.... then just wipe off the rims and bling bling through the city..... even better, polish them with some wax and watch as the panties drop ( i wish... cant really stunt in a 99 anymore )

[screwinitupagain]

Yeah, well I like wheeling the hell outta the R50 & then rolling through the city with mud & sh*t & watching the ladies run away in fear!

[Qxxx4]

question...that big bar in the 5th pic...what is that? mines kinda bent...is that bad?