TCI 4 Link Bracket ?
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Katy(Houston), Texas
TCI 4 Link Bracket ?
Ok, I started installing the rear 4 link brackets this evening. The brackets line up with the old leaf spring brackets holes on the side of the frame. When I go to bolt it to the bottom under the frame where the crossmember rivits were the holes don't line up. One hole is a little off which I could just drilll that out and it wouldn't be a big deal. The other side is off by half of the hole. In other words when I look at the bracket hole from below it over shoots the rivit hole in the frame, kind of like the olympic rings I guess. I could just drill it and I would end up with an oval length hole in the frame and the crossmember which I guess would work but I'm not sure if this is how it should be installed. Has anyone else had this problem?
TCI isn't known for there great instructions and I don't want to make it work only to find out I have the bracket for a Chevrolet truck.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
TCI isn't known for there great instructions and I don't want to make it work only to find out I have the bracket for a Chevrolet truck.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Westminster,Md
I was going to recommend ' matching " the two TCI brackets together= back to back to see if the frame mount holes lined up..
I suspect they do, then I'd double check the spring hanger mounting holes in the frame, I would not be surprised if they were off , for some reason or another.
Once you have found the place where you want to mount them, and you have double checked they're positioning for "square" with the frame ..and the holes are still off, I've had good success clamping them in place (with 6" c-clamps)..re-drilling the holes, then remove the brackets and "fill" the difference in the old position , just to try and keep things tidy looking. Just my thoughts..Good Luck!
I suspect they do, then I'd double check the spring hanger mounting holes in the frame, I would not be surprised if they were off , for some reason or another.
Once you have found the place where you want to mount them, and you have double checked they're positioning for "square" with the frame ..and the holes are still off, I've had good success clamping them in place (with 6" c-clamps)..re-drilling the holes, then remove the brackets and "fill" the difference in the old position , just to try and keep things tidy looking. Just my thoughts..Good Luck!
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Katy(Houston), Texas
Thanks for the response guys. TCI says that I just need to bolt the bracket in place with the top bolts and then drill the two in question under the frame rail. I did clamp it tightly in place as sugested above and drilled it out. So far it all looks good. There are washers on the top that cover the oval shaped holes and hold it all together very tightly.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 140
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From: New Plymouth, ID
I had a similar problem with Heidt's 4 link for my '56. None of the holes lined up and the first time I contacted Heidt's they told me to weld in the holes and redrill... After a couple of phone "conversations" I strongly suggested they send the other brackets (seems they make two kits, one for 53-54 and one for 55-56 frames). The second set they set bolted right up...
JB
JB
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Katy(Houston), Texas
Since it was just the bottom bolt holes I went ahead and redrilled them. It is very solid and you really can't tell the difference. I was a little worried at first about making one hole into a longer hole by making two holes into one but it seems to be fine. TCI seems to put out a very nice product with their MII and 4 link rears but damn, they really need to work on their documentation/directions. Their one pages directions are terrible and if it wasn't for the magazine articles and this website I'm sure I would have made some more mistakes. Their website also needs some major reworking. They need to hire some highschool kid to come in during vacation and have them observe and rewrite the instruction sheets. That's my major complaint with TCI. I can understand some of the shipping issues ect but the instructions need some work. Not sure how the competition is when it comes to instructions but I hope they are better.
