Radius Arm broken spacers

[RedwoodRanger]

Hi guys,

I'm almost done installing my 4 inch skyjacker class 2 lift on my 4x4 92 ranger.

Yesterday I spent awhile grinding my axle on drivers side (Dana 35) to accommodate the new radius arm. Anyway, my issue is after I bolted them to the axle then torqued the arms to the axle and then dropped the axles low with the jack to put on the coils and install the new bump stops the plastic spacer that goes between the new bushings and behind the new radius arm bracket (original ford part) broke. This happened on both sides I realize that it's weak point when the axle drops, but wouldn't this happen anyway in full droop when wheeling?

I'm going to the pick n pull tomorrow and should be able to get new ones(parts store doesn't have them) my question is has anyone else had this issue?

Thanks in advance!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

IIRC, if you get the replacement bushing kit at Autozone, you get new plastic bushings too. They get brittle after 20 years or so, lol.

I've actually been going to building my own extended arms. Built a set for my choptop a few years back and now I'm making a set for my 88, so the only stuff left here with the bushings are my F-150 and F-350. For now... lol


Sent from my kite using a trebuchet

 

[RedwoodRanger]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I tried Autozone, they said they didn't have it, but I called back just now and what do ya know they found some!

I still curious why it happened though. I guess they could just be old, but they looked fine. For now I won't tighten up the arms until I have the shocks and coils installed. Maybe the shock limits that extreme axle travel so I won't break the new spacers. Anyway, I was just going step by step with skyjacker instructions.

 

[4x4junkie]

I've seen this happen before also.

What I did was firmly tighten a hose clamp around the plastic spacer to prevent it from expanding and breaking. This was while installing a Class-II kit on a buddy's truck maybe 15 years ago, AFAIK they are still holding together no problem.

Be sure you aren't overtightening the radius arm nuts (crushing the bushings), as this can increase the odds of a broken spacer as well.