cutting front steps

[Firesong]

I was having a look at my front thinking those steps sure limit clearance.
Anything I should be aware of by cutting them at the point where
they angle down? I notice they may protect the airconditioning rad?
Any pro's or con's to this?

Thanks
James

[jessef]

They are more show and function as a step than protection.

They are soft and bend quite easily like the front bush bar in front of the Delica's weight.

Mod them as you like

[fexlboi]

Had the same idea, but want to take the AC rad off and push the transmission radiator in. ( http://www.delica.ca/forum/remove-ac-radiator-5221.html )
If you don't worry about the AC rad, that's fine, but on the other side is the rad for the transmission which I would protect somehow for sure. The steps are not very strong, but better then no protection.

They are more show and function as a step than protection.They are soft and bend quite easily like the front bush bar in front of the Delica's weight.

Disagree. We hit already quite hard big rocks with this steps. They definitely protect your radiators and won't bend that easily as the front side arms of the bush bar. The only thing what's bent on our Delica is the brackets the step is mounted to.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I still have both my A/C & Tranny rads!!.... Unfortunately my lovely chrome steps are scratched & dented all to hell...... smiles.

[after oil]

my front steps bent badly pretty quick, and the plastic broke. i took em right off and torqued my torsion bars. i think theyre just for show. do what you want with them, but just pay attn to where youre driving while off road

[BCDelica]

Touch and go indicators for those water bars, eh?

[jessef]

my front steps bent badly pretty quick, and the plastic broke.

Ditto.

My passenger side step bumper got pushed up into the A/C rad and crushed it.

That was on our first Delica. I've learned since.

Stand by my statement. They do bend easy.

Obviously depends on how much weight and how hard you're hitting something.

My case was a hidden rock underneath snow.

I say mod them but don't view them as 'real' protection for your front rads.

My 2 cents.

[FalcoColumbarius]

The point I was trying to make is: If I had not the front steps, I would have lost my rads. The plastic "steps" are held on by three light weight ten mm bolts and two of those are on slide-able brackets. Plus it's designed to support downward weight and give outward if there is too much upward pressure*. Regarding clearance: I re-indexed the torsion bars to compensate with the two inch lift I have in the back, so it is not as if my front end is particularly low. When one drives off the road, one tends (or should tend) to be cautious, especially if one is a couple of hundred kilometres into the toolies by themself. But things can happen and I figure a little extra support never hurt. Besides, there are times when I have had to get in and out of the van while she is stopped on an incline and the steps have come in handy... as steps.

If you drive a manual then you don't need to worry about the tranny rad and the A/C rad can swing up. But if you drive an automatic then the tranny rad is fixed at an angle and it would really suck to lose your tranny rad; walk a few days (or weeks) to get a tow truck that is costing you money for the trip; only to find that while you were gone someone found a new target to shoot at.

Another good thing about the steps is they help to keep the snow from clogging up said rads.

Also, just because you have a monster lift don't forget that there are also monster rocks out there and some of them might be hiding under muddy water ~ or ~ it might be a big root that you missed when you dragged the flooded area to see how deep it really was.

I think I am happy with my rad guards where they are. Personal preference, I guess... smiles.

Falco.

* Sorry about your A/C rad on your first Delica, Jesse, I guess nothing is for certain. I lost my rear blower to one of those.

[jessef]

Agree with you I do Falco.

I didn't notice it until we got home and I pulled the bent step off. Then saw the gaping hole in the a/c rad.

Was just unlucky that day