Plastic radius arm spacer keeps splitting.

[holyford86]

I've been running a 6 inch skyjacker lift with extended radius arms for over a decade and I've been having issues with the plastic radius arm spacers cracking (factory ranger part). I've had hose clamps wrapped around them for almost as long as I've had the lift installed and they still crack on occasion. Has anyone come up with a better way or a different spacer to install? Other than this and the shock mounts on the arms cracking, I've had good a good experience for about 13 years and 140k miles with the setup.

 

[4x4junkie]

Hose clamp is what has worked for me and a buddy of mine. Are you able to tighten the clamps tighter?

Probably could make ones from slice of 1- 7/8" I.D. x 2-1/4" O.D. (I think would be the size) steel tubing (would have to come from a metal supply shop, they might have something in their scrap bins you can use).

(couple suggestions anyway)

If you're using the spacers in the position Skyjacker suggests (behind the RA bracket) rather than as a means to push the axle forward, you probably could just forgo them completely, I don't think they're really that important when in that position.

Hope that helps

 

[holyford86]

I think I'm going to try swapping to a better hose clamp and see what happens there, if I tighten the ones I am currently using any more, they will strip. I know there are higher torque versions out there that may help the issue.

I've considered making a spacer out of aluminum or steel, glad to hear I wasn't the only one with that idea in my head, I have access to a lathe so that's no problem.

I've also considered taking a piece of thicker wall exhaust tubing and expanding it so there's a slight press fit and pressing a new spacer in to try that.

The lift is un modified with the exception of the home brew shock mounts on the arms and is installed per their instructions. Thank you for the insight, I'll start with the easiest first and go from there.

 

[Curious Hound]

I ditched those spacers long ago. I have a miscellaneous piece at the forward end of the threads to try to push the axle forward. But it’s only 3/16” or 1/4” thick. If I remember, I’ll take a picture later this evening when I get home from work. Thought there was a picture in my build thread. But I don’t see it.

 

[Curious Hound]

Here's a picture of my driver side. No plastic spacer.

 

[svtcards]

Here's a picture of my driver side. No plastic spacer. View attachment 83028

is there play in there? Doesn't look to secure?

 

[svtcards]

I've been running a 6 inch skyjacker lift with extended radius arms for over a decade and I've been having issues with the plastic radius arm spacers cracking (factory ranger part). I've had hose clamps wrapped around them for almost as long as I've had the lift installed and they still crack on occasion. Has anyone come up with a better way or a different spacer to install? Other than this and the shock mounts on the arms cracking, I've had good a good experience for about 13 years and 140k miles with the setup.

Just replaced mine a few weeks ago on my lowered 1st gen.Didnt know them splitting was really N issue until this thread.

 

[Curious Hound]

is there any play in there? Doesn't look to secure?

I noticed when I took the picture this morning, that the bushings aren't compressed much. I'll revisit that over the next week or so. It has been working fine. I wouldntwant it overly tight because that may inhibit droop in my suspension. I like suspension travel. So, they need to be tight enough to hold position. But not so tight that things don't flex.

 

[holyford86]

Ended up swapping my cheapo hose clamps for high torque versions (Napa 7051521) that are tightened a bunch more, I'll report back with how that goes.