• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Hmmmmmmmm......


dirtcowboy

Member
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 18, 2008
Messages
336
Reaction score
5
Points
18
Location
NW Montana
Vehicle Year
1985,1986(2),19
Make / Model
FORD
Engine Size
2.9, 4.6, 4.0, 6.8, 5.0x4
Transmission
Automatic
Getting around to putting this BII back together for the last time. Installed the Skyjacker 6" drop brackets and bolted up the beams until I saw this



I moved the beam and the bracket is whisker close. Like whacking the alum diff close.

This install shows the drop bracket straight up and down.



Comments?:icon_confused:
 


dirtcowboy

Member
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 18, 2008
Messages
336
Reaction score
5
Points
18
Location
NW Montana
Vehicle Year
1985,1986(2),19
Make / Model
FORD
Engine Size
2.9, 4.6, 4.0, 6.8, 5.0x4
Transmission
Automatic
Try it again

 
Last edited:

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,613
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
That is a common issue with a D-35. The drop brackets can hit it when the suspension flexes. IIRC some brands are worse than others.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,207
Reaction score
17,520
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
That is a common issue with a D-35. The drop brackets can hit it when the suspension flexes. IIRC some brands are worse than others.
I thought Skyjacker was one of the good ones.

I know there are problems with Rough Country (if you bought the kit used you might make sure it really is a Skyjacker kit)
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,613
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
I don't really remember which ones are problematic. Last thing I lifted was a fork full of taters.
 

alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
13,870
Reaction score
5,030
Points
113
Location
Calgary, Canada
Vehicle Year
'91, '80, '06
Make / Model
Ford, GMC,Dodge
Engine Size
4.0,4.0,5.7
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Make sure the bump-stop hits before the diff.
 

BlackBII

Ranger Custom
Article Contributor
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
Truck of Month
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
7,895
Reaction score
982
Points
113
Location
UT
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
33
Looks like the passenger side beams' drop bracket is tilted towards the front of the truck.

Is it bent perhaps? Or maybe the engine cross member is bent? Maybe a washer or something​ is blocking the bracket from being bolted down all the way?

It's really hard to tell if that bracket is actually tilted or if it's just the picture.
 

alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
13,870
Reaction score
5,030
Points
113
Location
Calgary, Canada
Vehicle Year
'91, '80, '06
Make / Model
Ford, GMC,Dodge
Engine Size
4.0,4.0,5.7
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Looks like the passenger side beams' drop bracket is tilted towards the front of the truck.

Is it bent perhaps? Or maybe the engine cross member is bent? Maybe a washer or something​ is blocking the bracket from being bolted down all the way?

It's really hard to tell if that bracket is actually tilted or if it's just the picture.
That may be because the axle isn't at ride height but is drooped.
 

dirtcowboy

Member
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 18, 2008
Messages
336
Reaction score
5
Points
18
Location
NW Montana
Vehicle Year
1985,1986(2),19
Make / Model
FORD
Engine Size
2.9, 4.6, 4.0, 6.8, 5.0x4
Transmission
Automatic
Yes the bracket is definitely tilted towards the front of the truck. I've used Skyjacker in the past but didn't have this issue. The drop brackets were purchased from Summit brand new. I've cross measured the frame and from the ground to the frame rails and it is all square. The bottom of the bracket is danger close to the diff. Here is a pic of the Rancho bracket I used before.



I wonder if I could slip a 1/2" steel spacer between the cross member and bracket to gain some clearance?

The Rancho setup had about 5.5 inches of spring and poly spacer originally. I tried to use the Skyjacker 6" springs but could only get to within 5 degrees of positive camber. Waaaayyyy to much.

I remember a long time ago there were brackets from some company that would punch holes in the diff, but I don't think it was Skyjacker.
 
Last edited:

BlackBII

Ranger Custom
Article Contributor
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
Truck of Month
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
7,895
Reaction score
982
Points
113
Location
UT
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
33
The bracket that would punch a hole in the diff is actually a drop plate. It's a simple plate that drops the factory bracket down rather than replace it.

If the frame is square then the bracket has to bent or defective right? Perhaps summit will send you another.

I have a superlift 5.5 bracket and it's straight like that rancho one.
 

alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
13,870
Reaction score
5,030
Points
113
Location
Calgary, Canada
Vehicle Year
'91, '80, '06
Make / Model
Ford, GMC,Dodge
Engine Size
4.0,4.0,5.7
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
I wonder if the bracket is defective? It looks like where it bolts on has been cast at the wrong angle. Is the area that bolts to the crossmember ground flat, or is it as cast? perhaps you can grind the mounting area to change the angle. But first I would contact the manufacturer.
 

dirtcowboy

Member
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 18, 2008
Messages
336
Reaction score
5
Points
18
Location
NW Montana
Vehicle Year
1985,1986(2),19
Make / Model
FORD
Engine Size
2.9, 4.6, 4.0, 6.8, 5.0x4
Transmission
Automatic
I'm trying to get Skyjacker to respond, no luck so far. I crawled around under the truck today and, using my trusty angle finder, measured the drivers side beam bracket, located on passenger side, to be straight up 90 degrees, GREAT!! However, the passenger side beam, on the drivers side drop bracket is.....15 friggen degrees out of straight up and down. HOLY CRAP!!!!!! I'm going to talk to my retired machinist buddy to see if we can build a shim from steel bar stock to correct this bull....! I dubble checked the cross member and it appears to be undamaged, I'm starting to think the Skyjacker bracket is .......I don't know, malformed? It is a cast piece. Weird. I wish copykat was still around, I'd try one of his brackets. By the way, whilst screwing around with this bracket, when I adjusted it ti 90 degrees there is plenty of clearance between the bracket and the diff.
 

BlackBII

Ranger Custom
Article Contributor
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
Truck of Month
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
7,895
Reaction score
982
Points
113
Location
UT
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
33
I snapped a pic of my superlift bracket. It's definitely straight.



I imagine a machined spacer would work just fine to get it back to 90. It was a sad day when copykat was banned. I haven't talked to him in a long time.
 

dirtcowboy

Member
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 18, 2008
Messages
336
Reaction score
5
Points
18
Location
NW Montana
Vehicle Year
1985,1986(2),19
Make / Model
FORD
Engine Size
2.9, 4.6, 4.0, 6.8, 5.0x4
Transmission
Automatic
Hokay...... a little back tracking to start. When I posted that the bracket was 15 degrees out I had not actually seen the angle finder screen. My frequent helper, (another one of the retired dudes who frequents my shop), read the angle for me. After I posted I started thinking that 15 degrees was a lot. I took the bracket and set it on my bench with the AF on it and,,,, 15 degrees is A WHOLE LOT!!!!!!!!! so I bolted the bracket to the cross member, AGAIN, and came up with 6.5 degrees out, which is at least believable. Using a nut and bolt thru the boltholes 6.5, or 7 degrees on the bench that reading is doable. While pondering the whole mess my eyes drifted to my plastic jar collection which holds all of my bits and pieces, nuts and bolts when I spotted thse treasures



Close! Close enough to give it a try. My question is should this angled spacer be one piece or is separate spacers ok? I have a backup piece of 1/4 steel cut and drilled to replicate the cross member end of the drop bracket. I'm going to use this on the opposite side of the cross member from the bracket as support.
Whaddaya think? Go for it? I think I will.

FYI, correcting the 7 degree angle of the dangle moves the end of the drop bracket 1 3/8" away from the diff. RESULT!! (as Edd China sez)
 
Last edited:

4x4junkie

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Aug 19, 2001
Messages
10,749
Reaction score
580
Points
113
Location
So. Calif (SFV)
Vehicle Year
1990
Make / Model
Bronco II
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9L V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
35x12.50R15
I'm trying to get Skyjacker to respond, no luck so far.
They don't answer the phone?


I would recommend you get a new bracket if that one is defective (especially considering it's brand new). Monkeying around with shims and crap sounds like a way to fatigue failure (and besides, there's no good way to know the bracket's strength hasn't been compromised by the defect either).
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top