| Last Update: December 14, 2004 |
| For a couple of years now, I've read on the message boards about the famous BudBuilt transfer case cross member. The design has two major advantages over the stock cross member. First it sits much higher and is less prone to snag an obstacle when off roading. Second, it provides significant protection for the transfer case and underside of the truck. When I was running IFS, I never had a lift higher than 3". On more than one occasion, I found myself high centered on the transfer case cross member. The factory t-case skid plate is so small and light that it can only be considered a joke. I later removed it and replaced it with a much beefier, although not much larger, piece of stainless steel. It worked OK, but I still had the stock cross member hanging down like a grappling hook. When I later SAS'd and upgraded to 35" tires, my lift was significantly higher. I had less problems with the stock cross member, but I knew for any kind of serious off roading this was an upgrade that should be done. I called Bud at BudBuilt to order the new cross member. He makes single and dual T-case cross members for all Toyota trucks, including the T-100 and Tacoma models. I ordered the single T-case design for my 1989 truck, which is a two piece design. Bud said that he could include an adapter, for minimal cost, that would allow the cross member to fit a future dual case set up, if I so desired. Since I plan to stick with my single t-case, I declined, but it's something to consider if you plan on ordering one, but were worried about adding a dual T-case set up later on. I believe it needs to be added to the cross member before you order. I found Bud to be very friendly and easy to talk too. He is more than willing to answer any questions you might have. I received the cross member within a week, shipped to my door. It was a nice looking laser cut piece of steel. Quite a contrast to the factory "cost effective" roll stamped cross member. The main BudBuilt cross member design is made out of 3/8" thick, laser cut, hot rolled, pickled and oiled steel. Much beefier than the stock cross member. The attached skid plate is made of 3/16" steel. Bud ships his stuff bare metal, but does offer the option of powder coating. I chose to go ahead and paint it myself. Installation was very easy, as you'll see below. |
| click on images for larger view |
| The kit comes with 9 Allen screws. Only 8 are needed, but a spare is included. Even the allen wrench is included. I special ordered the low profile drain plug which is needed before installing the cross member. |
| It already comes sanded and ready for paint. All that is needed is a good cleaning. |
| A close up of the skid plate. The center hole clears the main T-case factory mount, while the other 4 holes are used to mount the skid plate to the new cross member. |
| A close up view shows the elongated holes that bolt to the frame. During installation, these would prove to be very useful. |
| I decided to go ahead and primer the cross member and paint it right. I hadn't yet decided on a color. Red was too flashy, but at the same time, black would hide this piece of art from view. |
| I settled on a basic gray color. Not too bling-bling, but doesn't completely hide it either. |
| This is my stock cross member with my own very basic skid plate. It's only real purpose was help deflect the cross member off any rocks. How well it would have worked had it been severely put to the test, I don't know. I do know, I'm going to feel a lot better with this new set up. |
| There are four 12mm bolts inside the cross member that attach the factory rubber T-case mount. Simply unbolt these. These go into the spare bolts bin as I won't be needing them again. |
| The first thing I had to do was remove my skid plate. |
| There are four 17mm bolts holding each end of the cross member to the frame. These need to be removed and saved. You will be reusing these. |
| Use caution when dropping the stock cross member. Make sure the transmission is well supported. |
| Now that it's removed, we get our first comparison view of the two cross members. it's obvious just how much more clearance the new BudBuilt design is going to offer. |
| After dropping the T-case onto the cross-member, things didn't line up perfectly due to the flexible rubber T-case mount, but a small screwdriver quickly and easily lines things up. |
| When installing the new cross member, it's necessary to make a few adjustments, so I didn't install and tighten all 8 bolts just yet. |
| Now it's just a matter of installing 4 of the allen head screws into the T-case mount. And then torquing down the 8 main cross member to frame bolts. |
| The skid plate installs with 4 more allen head screws. All the screws are designed to be flush and snag free. Note how the cross member is specifically designed with an angle to deflect the truck up and over any obstacles. |
| The skid plate covers almost the entire T-case, providing protection, the stock cross member could only dream of. |
| The cross member is installed, only the skid plate remains. You can really see the clearance difference between the BudBuilt and stock designs. |
| The stock cross member verses the new BudBuilt. The BudBuilt sits about 2" higher than the stock unit. And it's not just higher at the lowest point. It's at least 2" higher along the entire cross member and is nearly flush with the frame at the mounting point, instead of hanging down over 2" like the stock unit. |
| A little wider view of the cross member. You can imagine it easily sliding over rocks and obstacles, assuming they touch it at all. |
| Conclusion |
| While I have not yet had a chance to really trail test this cross member, there are hundreds of them out there, and they've been used on a number of off road Toyotas with great success. I have all the confidence in the world in this design. While this part would prove useful on any Toyota 4x4, the models that I think would see the most benefit, besides any hardcore trail rig, would be those trucks that have either minimal or no lift. Instead of installing that 4" IFS kit or 5" leafs springs, you could install this cross member, and still have all the clearance advantages of a taller truck, with a much better center of gravity. Trucks with body lifts, instead of suspension lifts would also greatly benefit, since a body lift does nothing to increase your frame or cross member clearance. I would definitely recommend this product. |
| 2333 Pax Hill Rd Morganton, NC 28655 828-433-1489 Email: bud@budbuilt.com Website: www.budbuilt.com |
| Toyota Transfer Case Cross Member |
| www.brian894x4.com - Product Review |
| This is the cross member as it arrived at my door. It was actually bolted together for shipment, but I took it apart for painting |
| The next step is to support the transmission while at the same time relieving the weight off of the stock cross member. Now, there may be a better way than how I did it. The bottom line is, be very careful here. |