Well I guess I don't REALLY hate it. Just tonight I do! So after work me and my bro-in-law went out to find somewhere good to flex my truck out to make sure everything is clear after trimming my valence.
The only rubbing I have no is at full flex my tires hit the rear flares, so no big deal. Leaving the gravel area I punched it in 4HI, just screwing around. Doing so, I was rewarded with a series of banging sounds coming from the front end. Put it in 2wd and punched it again, no noise. We were only a few blocks from home, so I pulled it in the garage and had a look under... the rear diff bracket welds have let go. When torque was applied to the front wheels, it was pushing the pinion end of the front diff down and the balancing weight was contacting one of the top bolts of the rear Superlift crossmember.
So I now know what that clunking sound I had all along is from. I think the end links are fine, for now at least. I think it has been like this since shortly after the install, I just haven't had the truck in 4x4 til now to notice the problem.
Anyways, I pulled the front driveshaft and now I have to decide what to do.

Here's some pics:



















Now I remember seeing this bracket before putting the lift on and noticing that it only had 2 tack welds holding it together. Is it supposed to flex to dampen vibrations? Or did they just not finish welding it? If any of you have a kit around could you check out this piece for me?

 

So right now, that bracket is just resting the the big washer below it.... which is the clunk I was hearing before when hitting bumps.

 

HOLY COW! I've gotta go look at my truck now....I SWEAR that bracket on mine is cast.

 

Please do!

 

If I remember correctly, it was only tacked twice, somewhere close to where these arrows are pointing.

 

My bad....I was thinking about the stock one. lol.


That's quite a bit of weld to break.....both sides of the big wide plate, then those two reinforcements. Good thing is that in 2wd, you're good to go til they send you your replacement bracket. This honestly is the first time I've read/seen a part of the kit fail that wasn't the sway bar links.

 

If the factory bracket was welded solid, wouldn't you think this one should be?

 

WOW....looks like they went the way of RCD, but still better than RCD. Looks like they took out one reinforcement and redesigned/shortened the remaining one...

I suppose I'll crawl under my truck again here shortly.

 

Yours looks like it has more welds than mine did to begin with. Do you know if it was mounted completely solid? Looking at your pic, Shane, mine wasn't welded anywhere from the far left (bushing end) until just before the end of the shorter sideways piece is about to intersect the right-angled sideways piece. If that makes sense... lol From what I remember the whole cylindrical bushing part was free to move from the flat part of the bracket.

 

Thanks Shane

 

Mine has that other piece of reinforcement, you just can't see it in the pic. It look the same as yours.

 

Wow, I'd definitely be calling Superlift.

 

I will be tomorrow, the problem I may run into is I don't have receipts. I bought the kit brand new, but from a private seller.

 

They were great to deal with though when I was missing a few pieces... no questions asked they shipped them to me.

 

As an RCD guy, this makes me very happy to see!


Sorry for your misfortune though lol.

 

lol thanks... I guess! I'm thinking after I get a hold of Superlift tomorrow, depending on what they say, I may just have to pull this off and weld it up. The worst part is I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to tear the whole ****ing front end off again to get to it. Two of the bolts aren't a problem but I don't think I can get to the third one with it in there...

 

To top it off I'm supposed to be going to MI with it on Saturday. I know I can probably drive it like this but I'd rather not.

 

Mkay....so went out and got under my truck. Mine is exactly as the one in the pic I posted. Two 1/4" pieces, one bent in a 90. Both with approx 1.5" of weld in 2-3 places on each side of each reinforcement piece. Also welded around each perpindicular joint back there by the bushing.

IMO, superlift evidently has slacked since coming out of bankruptcy? KLC...is yours like his? Missing reinforcements AND thinner reinforcement stock compared to my pic above?

Pics attached...

EDIT: Won't let me attach multiples for some reason.... so i upped 'em somewhere else....

 

Only difference is that this is the first superlift to do anything like that..... RCD has SEVERAL failures of that part due to absolutely no reinforcement...

Different location, but same diff. lol.

 

Thanks for the pic! So... anybody ever tried to take that piece out without dropping the diff?

 

Wow I never realized the RCD's were common to do that. I think mine must be a Friday lift... lol looks like someone just got lazy with the welder.

 

No worries.....You can snake the bracket totally out of there without messing with anything but the axle drops. Just loosen the other two bracket bolts and that bracket will have enough room to snake it out. In fact, when we did Trevor's broke RCD bracket, I don't even think we loosened anything but that bracket and it wiggled right out and in.

BTW...I edited my last post on the last page. two pics. lol.

 

Hmmm... really? That just made me VERY happy if it's true. LOL I had visions of having to tear everything down again. It just doesn't look like there's room to get the front bolt loosened and removed. I'll take your word for it though... if not I'm expecting you to hop in your truck and drive up here and do it for me.. haha

 

Shane, mine's like the picture you posted. The reinforcements are the same thickness as the plate and are actually welded, not just tacked. I didn't buy my Superlift new so I guess I got one of the pre-bankruptcy kits if that's when they started cutting corners.

By the way, I haven't forgotten about the pictures you wanted. I just haven't had the camera out and crawled under my truck at the same time. I will get them for you though.

 

Yeah you can get that bracket out without taking anything else off. I also did it when my original RCD bracket broke.