help with bumper brackets and my body lift

[toop]

Well I had my bumper brackets made, and I can't seem to get the bumper on no matter which way I push, pull, turn, jam....just wont fit in place.

For those of you who have used the bumper brackets....How did you get your bumper up?

Did you mount the brackets to the truck, and then the bumper to the mount?

Or did you mount the bracket to the bumper, and then to the truck?

Or any other way?

 

[Bronco638]

Top,

First, did you get that one hole drilled in the proper location?

I bolted my brackets to the bumper and then the bumper to the frame horns. However, since I only made 2" lift brackets, I had to alter the factory brackets welded to the frame. I cannot comment on the 3" lift install as I've never seen them actually bolted up.

Dave.

 

[SplashMan]

For the 3" BL, they bolted right up. I mounted them to the bumper first then just put it right on the truck. Had to do a little wiggling to get them on, but not major problems. Where did you get the bumper brackets? If it is the 3" kit it should have come with the brackets.

 

[toop]

Bronco - I haven't drilled the new hole yet, because I am not sure if it was neccessary. I measured all the lengths according to the bracket diagram on these forums, and everything matches up corectly. And I think you made me the 3" lift brackets, because we discussed on how the 3" brackets will work with the 2" body lift.

When the brackets are bolted to the bumper, should they be slanted at any angle? or just perfectly straight?

Here is a pic of the bracket to the bumper mount....to help explain what I mean.

 

[SplashMan]

AH, a 2"... looks like you got the brackets turned around. Here is what the 3" ones look like on...

 

[toop]

hmm....they dont seem to fit any other way lol...maybe ill go try it again

 

[SplashMan]

Just looks like the one in the picture should be the pass side or it needs to be flipped around.

 

[chris_miller]

2 inch or 3 inch??

Is your body lift a 2 inch lift or a 3 inch lift? The bracket looks to be drilled for a 3 inch body lift, but you seem to be indicating that you may have installed a 2 inch body lift.. So my guess is that you need to redrill the holes in the bracket so that they are 2 inches apart and not 3 inches. I would also make sure that the TOP holes are the ones you use and the bottom ones are not used. ( if you really need a two inch.)

You also didnt say if it was the front or back or both that you were having problems with. The picture of the front explained it partly.. But if the back is also not fitting I would suggest the same problem BUT on the back you have to grind a slot in the bumper for it to fit OR put washers on the brackets inside the rear bumper to push it out just a little bit to allow the bumper to sit flush against the rear frame without cutting the bumper. Of course if its a 2 inch I dont think the frame will hit the bumper. Hope that helps out in some way.

 

[Bronco638]

Is your body lift a 2 inch lift or a 3 inch lift? The bracket looks to be drilled for a 3 inch body lift, but you seem to be indicating that you may have installed a 2 inch body lift.. So my guess is that you need to redrill the holes in the bracket so that they are 2 inches apart and not 3 inches. I would also make sure that the TOP holes are the ones you use and the bottom ones are not used. ( if you really need a two inch.)

That's what I thought, Chris, but in actuallity, it's not true. I made these brackets for him and made some for myself as well. However, my brackets are 2" and his are 3", here's why; If you make them with two inches of lift, some brackets on the bumper interfere with the frame horn bracket. I had to cut some of that bracket off for everything to clear. If everyone uses the 3" bracket, you can simply use the adjusting slots, to position the bumper, in the factory bumper brackets.

You also didnt say if it was the front or back or both that you were having problems with. The picture of the front explained it partly.. But if the back is also not fitting I would suggest the same problem BUT on the back you have to grind a slot in the bumper for it to fit OR put washers on the brackets inside the rear bumper to push it out just a little bit to allow the bumper to sit flush against the rear frame without cutting the bumper. Of course if its a 2 inch I dont think the frame will hit the bumper. Hope that helps out in some way.

He already let me know that the back brackets, which I made, fit fine.

D.

 

[chris_miller]

Good Trick

Ok so what your saying is that the body lift is a 2 inch lift but the brackets are required to be for the 3 inch lift because if the brackets are smaller they hit the frame horn. So now that they are too big you simply losen up the bolts inside the bumper so that the factory mounting adjustment slots can be adjusted to compensate for the extra inch of the bracket??

OK that sounds like a resonable explanation. Nice trick...

 

[Bronco638]

Ok so what your saying is that the body lift is a 2 inch lift but the brackets are required to be for the 3 inch lift because if the brackets are smaller they hit the frame horn. So now that they are too big you simply losen up the bolts inside the bumper so that the factory mounting adjustment slots can be adjusted to compensate for the extra inch of the bracket??

Exactly!

OK that sounds like a resonable explanation. Nice trick...

Thanks.