I started my day with a fuel leak. I noticed something dripping on the driveway while warming up this a.m.. Had to take my daughter to school so I back out of the driveway (downhill) and when I brake I hear a POP and it feels like I hit something. I didn't and am stumped at this point. I get back home and I start looking for the fuel leak. The schraeder fitting on the FPR is dripping. I gave the fitting an eighth of a turn and it stopped. I am now about 45 minutes behind on my day. I jump in my truck to go make some $$ and as I accelerate to about 45mph on the highway, the front end starts to dance and shake. I think immediately, DROP BRACKET problem. It happened last year and almost killed me. I limped home, climbed under my truck, and sure enough, I find a bolt sheared off of the right axle pivot bracket. The other three on this side are an eighth inch backed out. The four bolts on the other side are at least, seated. I look in the street and see a nut right where it should be. Now I know what the sound was. I called Tuff Country to say "WTF? are you trying to kill me?" and was informed that my bolts need to be checked for torque (85-95ft/lbs) every 60 days. Huh? "Oh yeah, they'll come loose", he says. Huh? I went and bought grade 5 bolts to replace all eight and now I need to have my alignment checked for the 4th time in 14 months. I am thinking of what to do next. I will definitely keep an eye on them from here on out. The lift was installed by the PO and I really want a 4' superlift with the super runner steering kit...HONEY?
- Ish

 

I would get grade 8 bolts with lock washers and lots of thread locker! maybe even spot weld the nuts on!! But every 60 days! are they crazy!! Grade 8's hammered on with an impact hard with lock washer and locktite should be good.

 

got pictures? sounds like you need a different brand bracket. and definatly go with what tj said, at least grade 8 if not higher

 

id go with grade 8's and aviation nuts (the ones with the rubber on the top side of the nut and have kinda a crown to it) you can use 2 nuts and torque the second one down on the first one eather way with some thread locker and i cant picture them getting loose

 

double nut and the green locktite

 

X 2 double them ....

 

I was thinking the same thing as far as welding them goes. The bolt only sheared because it came loose. I tried to get Grade 8s earlier today but the local hardware was out of the right length so I went with Grade 5s that I am not sure are 5s after getting them home and on the truck (came out of the grade 5 drawer but...they don't have the grade 5 symbol I know). I saved one and will be double checking tommorrow.
Here's the link to the APBs:
http://www.suspensionconnection.com/...con/20852.html
Thanks.
- Ish

 

How about double nutted, greenlocktited, aircraft hardware, welded? I am serious. I had my 3yo daughter in the truck this morning. This will get taken care of tommorrow.
Thanks again guys.
- Ish

 

You forgot peened over .....(spelling ) ....

 

And last but not least...JB Weld.

 

with grade 8 bolts, using lock washers and red locktite you should have NO problems with them coming loose. if they come loose with that set-up then you need different brackets because those are flexing so much that they are on the virge of breaking.

 

Fool me once....I gotta get out of using these brackets!

I like the height that this lift (2.5" Tuff XXXtry) gives me. How can I make it safe? I have done some research and like the superlift 4" with the super runner steering. I don't want to swap axles...at least my wife doesn't. I would like to do the 4" Superlift and SRS Kit with a TTB/RSK on the QT (we need this, Honey). Can you relate?

Bottom line, I like the 2.5" lift up front. The axle pivot brackets almost killed me once and this a.m. my daughter was in the truck. Tuff Country can kiss my ****! If I gotta stick with my D50...What? Go back to stock?
- Ish

 

is it just a 2.5 lift? If so you could remove the stuff on the front and use the stock springs plus a add a leaf leveling kit. that will give you 1.5 maybe 2 inches in the front over stock.

 

Put on by the PO. I was thinking RSK with SD springs, but you still need brackets if you can't get it aligned.
- Ish

 

Okay, I just got a call from the guy who installed the brackets last year. The one that came loose is cracked...I will have to replace both at $200 plus install, again. I really don't want to give Tuff Country any more of my money (torque every 60 days, what a joke). If I go back to stock, I am worried about tire issues. WTF2do?
- Ish