Front axle torque bracket

[RickOTR]

Need to replace the front axle torque bracket bushing (F67Z-3A443-AA) as the rubber material is all gone at the top of the bushing and the torque bracket moves up and down when moving the truck. Questions is, do I have to lower and support the differential to remove the torque bracket, or can I leave the other two mounts bolted to the frame and just remove the bracket.

Here's a YouTube video I found on what's happening to my Ex...

 

[CDW6212R]

I've never thought of removing just the bracket, in theory if you can get at the three bracket bolts you could R&R that.

I recently had to swap the bracket from one housing to another. I can tell you that those three bolts are easily lugnut tight. It took a breaker bar and just the right leverage standing on the housing to break them loose.

Let us know what it's like to replace those bushings. I hadn't noticed any wear on the four I've had out so far. Maybe I'm missing it, kind of like it's very tough to test BJ and TRE wear.

 

[RickOTR]

Finally got it done last night. No need to drop the front differential, just need to raise it high enough to get a large breaker bar in there to break the bolts loose. The rubber inside the bushing was all rotted and dried out. Now I can see why the torque bracket moved up and down. Need a press though to remove and install the bushing into the torque bracket.

Sadly, I found out that the drivers side hub bearing is wearing out and both half shafts are making a clunking noise when I move them back and forth by hand. Anyone have any experience with "Detroit Axle" as a replacement part.

 

[CDW6212R]

Very good Rick, it sounded like it would work out that way.

I would avoid Detroit Axle right now, I've read a few negative reports about them so far. I had bought a front drive shaft CV rebuild kit last year to do a spare shaft I have. But I haven't put it in yet, though the components look like the parts I recall from doing one with a Dorman kit. I think that's a new parts brand that may sound old, but there's a lot of parts choices out there. That's not a proven one yet.