New to the forums. Just curious, I have a 1999 F250 V10 6.8L with 141,000 miles on it. It has a 6" lift with Toyo 37" tires also has a flow master straight pipe. I bought this used almost two weeks ago and it didn't start with issues until the next day (typical right?) so I take it to Les Schwab get the alignment done, had to replace the hub assembly and tie rod. I went to fill up the truck and found that I was getting 6.44 miles to the gallon. Is this typical for the lift/tires + 6.8L engine? Or could I be getting better than that? Also the transmission is about to go so that's getting replaced. Not sure if that will assist in slightly better fuel mileage or not.

Second question being There's a bracket that has a small lip on it that sits in a hole inside the frame that holds your trac bar mount in place. I've included a picture and where the arrow is pointing is the hole where a bolt belongs. This bolt has sheered off at the head and the bolt is sticking out about 3/4". The nut on the inside has broken loose and is free spinning and I'm just curious does anyone have any idea how to get this apart (I have a replacement I picked up from the junkyard today. Thanks again and I'm excited to be here! PS I've included a link to the picture. It claims it's a steering box bracket, but it isn't. the left nut on the bracket he's holding is loose by nature in the way it was manufactured, but it sits in a shape so it stays tight and the hexagon shape is rounded out.

https://www.google.com/search?q=trac...%3B1500%3B1000

 

Mind you with the mileage portion I'm driving it without a lead foot. Just as common as you would drive a vehicle without hot rodding it around town. Also most of this travel mileage has been in town.

 

Please, any kind of insight into these two questions would be highly appreciated. I've owned quite a few trucks and am mechanically inclined when it comes to fixing or improving, but this is the first Ford I've ever owned. Let alone a V10

 

I can't comment on a bracket ( no longer have my 01 ), matter of fact, can't even find a picture with arrow you posted, but that's probably me being computer challenged. The millage on another hand is bad. I would start simple and monitor temperature on rotors, you might have sticking caliper.