New Superlift Axle Pivot Brackets

[rpenner54]

I have had this bracket for a number of months now. It works rather well, I can't hit my diff at all with it. It also looks to me to be a whole lot stronger and better built then the plate that originally came with my lift. I know that there are a few versions of this bracket out there, I think I have a newer version. The older version has a flat top that hits the oil pan, whereas the new one has a rounded top that doesn't hit anything. I can say I have been pleases with its performance.



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Ryan Penner
1992 Explorer Sport

 

[DOGMAN]

Superlift has updated their axle pivot brackets. They are the same now for the 4" and 5.5" lift, they just use different mounting holes for the different heights. The one for the driver's side axle looks essentially the same, but the one for the passenger side axle looks completely different, and it works much better!

This new design for the passenger side axle pivot bracket was needed to clear the front diff housing, which many of you know used to contact the housing and cause considerable damage. I don't know if anyone else has this new bracket yet, since I was the first person to recieve it from Superlift. They shipped it at the end of October.

This new design appears to be MUCH stronger and the clearance to the front diff housing is adequate to avoid contact. The mounting bolts they provide are larger also. Looks like they have done a good job on this one. Time will tell.

So far I have put on about 1500 miles with these new brackets in place and I have seen no problems. I havn't tested them severely off-road yet, but I have a hunch that they will perform admirably.

Anyone with knowledge or experience with these new brackets please come forward and relate your opinions to everyone.

DOGMAN

 

[JAY]

DOGMAN,
If these "NEW" brackets are anything like the ones Ryan described than I find it hard to believe that you were the first to get one. These brackets are not new, superlift has been using these brackets for about a year now. They may have just started putting them in the kits though.
I know for a fact that Superlift offers at least three different bracket sets with this one being the best. Any body with a standard 5.5 kit can get one of these brackets, all they have to do is call and complain about the bracket they recived in the kit. I did this back in March and got the bracket with the flat top, and I called again in April and got the one I have now with the rounded top. Superlift told me that they don't put them in the kits because they are more expensive and most people will never need them.

JAY

 

[Kyle K.]

hey jay when you say they will send you a new one if you complain, what do you mean? they want the old one back do you pay for the new what? does anyone have a picture of this new bracket? i have my bracket in the box still and before i go installing it i want to make sure it is the good one i got it halfway thru 99, wonder which one it is? thanx for any help.

 

[tiessen]

I just put a 5.5" on my Exploder. The kit that was in Superlift's warehouse had the old brackets. I *****ed about the new ones, they called and Superlift sent the parts direct to the shop. The old bracket is just a drop down for the original right axle bracket and the new bracket is a 1 piece design that doesn't use the original bracket.

 

[JAY]

Kyle,
I don't have a picture of the new bracket but you will know if you have one or not. The old bracket was just a plate that the origional bracket bolted to, the new bracket doesn't use the stock mounting bracket. The new one isn't just a drop down for the stock bracket but rather it is a replacement for the stock one. It will be almost triangle shaped with two holes at the bottom and the top is curved in for oil pan clearance.
As fas as getting the new bracket, I just called Superlift, told them about the bracket hitting the dif and asked for a solution. At first they said that they didn't have anything to fix it and to lower my bump stops, I finallt talket to a gay that said he could help me out. I finally recived a second bracket but it placed my right tire too far out of the wheel well. Another call two days later I got my replacement bracket wich is the one I use now. I didn't have to pay for either of the replacements nor did I have tp sent anything backl, all I had to do was find somebody at superlift willing to help.

JAY

 

[Kyle K.]

hey thanx i must have the good bracket then cause both of mine are the replacement brackets not drop add plates. thanx, hopefully i'll get this motor rebuilt and the lift on soon.

dodger

 

[DOGMAN]

Jay,

The reason I said that I was the first person to receive this axle pivot bracket is because that is what Devon at Superlift told me, twice. In fact I waited about a month to recieve this supposedly updated bracket. I was told that it was powder coated at a local shop to expedite it to me. Either we're both talking about the same bracket, or the guys at Superlift are pulling a fast one on me.

I wasn't trying to be an elitest by claiming I was the first one to get one, I was just relaying what Superlift told me.

Also, this wasn't part of an existing kit, it was a changeover from their 4" kit to their 5.5" kit. They just sent me the new front coils and the axle pivot brackets, along with the hardware to do the spring over in the rear.

The bottom line is the new brackets work great.

DOGMAN

 

[Bionc Marsh.]

I just talked to Marty @ Superlift. I explained that my front diff had been cracked by the bracket. He took my address and said he would be sending me the bracket (no charge). He said the original bracket (from 1997 and earlier) was the same used on the early ranger.

Thanks to the guys above for their comments, I would have never contacted Superlift without this knowledge.

 

[FMExplorer]

I bought my brackets off Riffman about a year ago and they were the new style. Even more surprising is they were straight! (no offense to riff or piggy)

However, be sure to put the bump stops in - with out them , you will hit the pumpkin....

J

 

[Bionc Marsh.]

Too late. The diff has 2 very nice cracks in it already . I was under the impression that with this new bracket I won't hit the diff, even without the bump stops.