Difference between Skyjacker drop brackets?

[CJzBlack93RNGR]

Hey guys,
Got a 94 ranger that already had the skyjacker lift drop brackets.

Short of the story the larger bracket broke.
My question is im looking at:

Skyjacker Class I TTB Center Hinge Drop Brackets
Skyjacker Class II TTB Center Hinge Drop Brackets

The obvious difference from class I and class II is that it seems class II includes
a extra smaller bracket that bolts the large bracket to the frame with the smaller bracket on top for extra strengh.
Is that the only difference? the other 2 brackets arent thicker or stronger in anyway?

The truck actually came with the smaller bracket in a box and it was never installed (probably why the old one broke) My question is being that my bracket broke i want to buy the "stronger" of the two bracket classes. But if the brackets are the same 1/4" thick steel brackets from Class I to Class II (other than the smaller braket) then id save money and purchase the Class I brackets since i have the 'smaller' bracket still brand new in a box with a bunch of other random parts the truck came with.

I appreciate the time and figured id ask before I purchased the bracket kit, i figure the brackets are the same since it lists them as 1/4" steel, but i wanted to make sure before i spent a extra 30 bucks.

Thanks

 

[4x4junkie]

That little support bracket is the only difference between the Class II and Class I brackets made after around '04 or so (give/take a year or two).

That's the first time I've seen a SJ bracket broken there... Were the 3 bolts installed on the face of the crossmember and the one in the support tab? (I think I see a mark from the uppermost bolt only and nothing on the tab)

 

[CJzBlack93RNGR]

That little support bracket is the only difference between the Class II and Class I brackets made after around '04 or so (give/take a year or two).

That's the first time I've seen a SJ bracket broken there... Were the 3 bolts installed on the face of the crossmember and the one in the support tab? (I think I see a mark from the uppermost bolt only and nothing on the tab)

thanks for the response and for saving me money! lol, almost bought the class II just for saftey's sake.

But yea, i bought the truck with some lift components already installed and those Skyjacker lift brackets. The bracket in the picture was broken when i buoght the truck. Honostly I havent been under the truck in a while (since last year when i got it) but i took a vaca to redo the lift and paint it next month. The body lift was done with hockey pucks so im redo\ing that as well.
But yea, it seems there is only 2 bolts that bolt the bracket into the frame. The tab the goes over the cross member never had a bolt drilled through (probably why they decided not to use the smaller bracket on the top of the kmember to bolt the brackets together. No other pics from another angle so i cant tell if there are any other bolts in there, lol.

Thanks for your time!

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah those bolts missing certainly can cause a failure like that (I doubt the missing support bracket had anything to do with it).
Should be 8 bolts total holding that bracket to the frame.

You don't have a decent welder I take it? (I suspect that bracket could be repaired)

 

[CJzBlack93RNGR]

update:

I ended up just ordering the Class 1 Drop brackets from james oaks.
Dark pics but It did come with 3 brackets and hardware.
(Dont know how many people out there have ordered Class 1 or Class 2 Brackets)

Just a little confused I guess since it wasnt listed anywhere i just got this mystery bracket, lol. But as you can see in the second picture the difference between the old class 2 bracket i already had vs the new one is just that bent tab. Did they 'update' the class 2 brackets and now the third one comes flat?
who knows, either way ill use the one with the bent tab. Just curious what your opinions are haha.

 

[4x4junkie]

I'm going to guess they got rid of the tab because of fitment issues.
Years ago when I put said bracket on mine, I recall it was quite a ways off from actually fitting properly (it was the same way again helping a buddy put a Class II kit on his '93). Considerable reaming & drilling was needed to get things to line up.

IMO, that little bracket I don't think is even needed. Since putting Superrunner steering kits on, that bracket had to be omitted to make room for the Superrunner bracket. Both of us have been running them that way for 10+ years now. The important thing is that all the bolts that hold the main bracket itself to the frame are in place.

 

[nooch450]

I'm going to guess they got rid of the tab because of fitment issues.
Years ago when I put said bracket on mine, I recall it was quite a ways off from actually fitting properly (it was the same way again helping a buddy put a Class II kit on his '93). Considerable reaming & drilling was needed to get things to line up.

IMO, that little bracket I don't think is even needed. Since putting Superrunner steering kits on, that bracket had to be omitted to make room for the Superrunner bracket. Both of us have been running them that way for 10+ years now. The important thing is that all the bolts that hold the main bracket itself to the frame are in place.

Yea, I think thats why the bracket broke in the first place. You were missing most of your bolts. And I could see why some people may chose not to put them in becasue some are a pain to drill out. But what I dont get is why they think it would be O.K.

 

[aspevacek]

Looking at the pic sof the busted bracket make sme just reaffirm why some people should not be allowed to touch a vehicle. putting a lift kit on a truck half assed like that they are putting everyone around them at risk. I am sure that thing was not even used off road before it broke it was most likely just the constant flex from stopping and going that killed it.


Make sure you also have the double bolts or replacements that go thru the crossmember towards the oil pan as well as the 3 that need to be drilled thru the cross member at the front. Looking at the end of the broken bracket it appears from the break angle by the frame those 2 bolts were not in place as well. That would mean that bracket was gettign side loaded as well as front to rear stres sput on it. Nothing but the weight of the vehicle keeping it tucked into the cross member.

 

[CJzBlack93RNGR]

Looking at the pic sof the busted bracket make sme just reaffirm why some people should not be allowed to touch a vehicle. putting a lift kit on a truck half assed like that they are putting everyone around them at risk. I am sure that thing was not even used off road before it broke it was most likely just the constant flex from stopping and going that killed it.


Make sure you also have the double bolts or replacements that go thru the crossmember towards the oil pan as well as the 3 that need to be drilled thru the cross member at the front. Looking at the end of the broken bracket it appears from the break angle by the frame those 2 bolts were not in place as well. That would mean that bracket was gettign side loaded as well as front to rear stres sput on it. Nothing but the weight of the vehicle keeping it tucked into the cross member.

shit, honostly i bought it with the broken bracket last summer. It sat since and i just got the money together to buy the new brackets and some other stuff i need.Someone said there was bolts missing and i was Looking at the packet that came with the bracket kit theres alot of bolts missing. Makes me nervous like ill have to look everywhere for missing bolts. lol.

 

[aspevacek]

I was not aiming the comment at you. I just hate to see people get handed a vehicle that someone who had no clue in life was working on. Thinking that they got a nice vehicle from the start adn only find out that mor eis wrong then what was first thought. Some people are just lazy when doing things and try to take the easy way out( the person that installed the kit on the truck you are driving).

You could pick up some decent Grade 5 or 8 hardware from a fastener shop. to replace everything you are missing. The double bolt at the top of the cross member I would get from Ford even at the higher cost because it would make installing them alot easier. it is 2 bolts connected with a cross bar to simplify insalling them. Like th ebolts they go thru the frame and have the factory welded tab on them. For most of what you are installing Grade 5 will be mor ethen strong enough as long as it is properly torqued.

 

[CJzBlack93RNGR]

I was not aiming the comment at you. I just hate to see people get handed a vehicle that someone who had no clue in life was working on. Thinking that they got a nice vehicle from the start adn only find out that mor eis wrong then what was first thought. Some people are just lazy when doing things and try to take the easy way out( the person that installed the kit on the truck you are driving).

You could pick up some decent Grade 5 or 8 hardware from a fastener shop. to replace everything you are missing. The double bolt at the top of the cross member I would get from Ford even at the higher cost because it would make installing them alot easier. it is 2 bolts connected with a cross bar to simplify insalling them. Like th ebolts they go thru the frame and have the factory welded tab on them. For most of what you are installing Grade 5 will be mor ethen strong enough as long as it is properly torqued.

Honostly guys its all good, it is what it is ya know? I actually bought it from a member on this site too, lrpalo lol. He's a good guy he may just not of known.. Im actually happy as hell I posted all the pics and what not cause i really appreciate the help. Im wicked excited to get started on re-doing it. I have a vacation the week before memorial day and thats when ill be doing it.

As far as the bolts I did buy the kit from james oaks which was drop shipped from skyjacker or some other company. ( i ordered class 1 brackets cuase i had the other small bracket that the kid gave me and didnt install when i bought the truck) But the kit came with that other bracket and hardware (so thats why i was confused thinking they shipped me a class 2 kit by accident. So I do have all the "needed" hardware.

The bolt your mentioning.. the "double bolt" i feel like a idiot cause I dont know what that is. Is there a better name for it? Hell even a picture may help me out. I tried searching google but "Ford double bolt" got 1000's of crap popping up lmao.

And im glad everyone saw what they saw cause like I said in my other thread about re-doing the lift, i am new to rangers/lift kits and Just wanna do this right and enjoy it!
Thanks alot guys!!

 

[4x4junkie]

It's the two bolts that hold the rear section of the bracket to the underside of the crossmember (look just below the passengerside engine mount).
From Ford, those two bolts are connected by the heads with a piece of metal which prevents the heads from turning while you tighten the nuts.

Most (if not all) suspension kits reuse those two bolts, so it's not likely they would be included in any bags of bolts you got from Skyjacker.