My 1st Q: what is UP with this track bar bracket???

Steve83 · Sep 9, 2010

Frank bought a used bracket at OCBR09 (possibly a Duff's, based on the color) with no instructions, and I've just gotten around to looking at installing it. But I'm BAFFLED! ?:? It doesn't seem to fit, no matter how I arrange it. I've uploaded a series of photos showing each location I've tried, and none look right. Click this thumb, then scroll down & read the captions. For more detail, click a pic to go to its supersize version.

It never appears to hit the frame in any significant way, so it seems like it'll always be weak, even after it's welded. And even with its maximum frame contact, NONE of its holes align with the original frame holes.

When I push it flat against the frame, it's so far to the R that I can't put the track bar bolt in. And when I align one of its holes (the one that appears to have been used) with the frame, it has even LESS contact.

What am I doing wrong? Do I need to go back to the original (non-adjustable) track bar?

getfuzzy · Sep 9, 2010

check the Duffs site I think there is 2 diff drop brackets for diff years?

broncnaz · Sep 9, 2010

Appears to be missing the upper part of the bracket for one thing. Also appears to be poorly welded. http://www.dufftuff.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=5405

How much lift is on that bronco? doesnt look like much I'd just trim up the bracket so it fits and is at the height you want the adjustable trac bar will take care of the rest.

bigmuddy · Sep 9, 2010

I don't what year Franks rig is? But that looks like either a trac bar for the 77 bronco frame or possibly for the 79 Big bronco frame.

Ben

NYLES · Sep 9, 2010

WH catalog has pic of all the different ones for different years...check em out!

Looked at mine....... bronconaz is dead on 76-77 missing a piece

G's Baja Bronco · Sep 9, 2010

I am with BRONCNAZ, my bracket looks exactly like the one on the duff link, mine is a 74 EB, check out the pics ( I painted mine black)

Hope this helps

jpopsbronco · Sep 9, 2010

those trac bars have a TON on thread on the inside fyi so if you had to you could take some off the end, but first get a working drop bracket or trim that one up a lil to get it to be right! also like everyone's saying double check the year it should fit, doesn't look like too much work though

Steve83 · Sep 9, 2010

Frank's is a '75, and he was standing in front of it when the guy sold him that bracket. I'm pretty sure it was a Duff employee, but not 100%. Either way, it doesn't look like the one on the Duff website shown for all '66-77.

Nor does it look like the WH '78-79:

I haven't found a pic of a '76-77 specific bracket.

The track bar is adjusted all the way in (short), and it's still too long to use this bracket.

broncnaz · Sep 9, 2010

Take a look at BC's site he has pics of the 76/77 bracket it appears to be a little wider than the 75 down bracket so other than the bracket being hacked I think its probably correct or maybe its just totally hacked and frank got taken. looking at franks bracket again I would say someone had it installed before then hacked it off, painted it and sold it. Do you think that its powder coated or painted? JD's are supposed to be powercoated? I would think the coating would be in a little better condition but I've never really messed with much powder caoted stuff.
Over all you might be better off building a trac bar rise bracket end moving the mounting point so his trac bar fits.

StnePny · Sep 10, 2010

That is a '76-'77 bracket on Frank's '75. The '66 - '75 Trac Bar Bracket slip & bolt right (weld) over on top of the Factory (Frame) Trac-Bar Bracket & have a large tang.

The '76-'77 Trac Bracket has 'No' (or very little) Tang & a little different angle for the trac bar

Your second picture of the black bracket for the '78-'79,. I can not see working on an EB.

Even tho it Blue (probably a Duff) bracket it is not the right bracket for that year Bronco

Steve83 · Sep 10, 2010

It had definitely been installed, but never welded or cut. All the edges were the same color as the sides, and it's powdercoated. I know because I get lots of stuff powdered, and I tried to sandblast that blue off, especially where I expected it to be welded onto Frank's truck.

So it's looking like dead weight (or maybe I'll put it onto my '76 frame), and I need to fab one for him, or he needs to start shopping again. Thanks to everyone for clearing it up - at least now I know NOT to keep trying to make it work.

bmc69 · Sep 10, 2010

Umm..is it too late to say that I guarantee you that installing that much drop bracket is a really horrible idear unless that rig is 100% street queen or you completely box and channel about 12" of the frame first? I've sure gotten tired of replacing frame sections at campgrounds over the years (my nice mobile welding rig) for fellers that ran those, even though they were all quite gratefull and paid me well in steaks and beer. Frankly, I'd much rather have been sitting back in my camp chair hoisting a cold one.

Drop brackets are truly hatefull things.
Just sayin...%)

br0nc0xrapt0r · Sep 10, 2010

StnePny said:
That is a '76-'77 bracket on Frank's '75. The '66 - '75 Trac Bar Bracket slip & bolt right (weld) over on top of the Factory (Frame) Trac-Bar Bracket & have a large tang.

The '76-'77 Trac Bracket has 'No' (or very little) Tang & a little different angle for the trac bar

Your second picture of the black bracket for the '78-'79,. I can not see working on an EB.

Even tho it Blue (probably a Duff) bracket it is not the right bracket for that year Bronco

ditto, I'm fairly certain that the bracket pictured is for a 76-77

allenfahey · Sep 10, 2010

What Bill said. I would do a track bar riser on the axle and nothing on the frame end.

70_Steve · Sep 10, 2010

bmc69 said:
or you completely box and channel about 12" of the frame first?

Steve83. If you're still intending to install a dropped track bar bracket, you can have the one I removed from my Bronco when I did my frame repair after ripping the frame the last time I went wheeling. It's still welded to the original track bar bracket, but it shouldn't take much to split the welds. It's the blue Duff bracket you pictured in post #8. I would suggest, at the very least, rewelding the stock bracket before installing the dropped bracket.

bmc69 · Sep 10, 2010

70_Steve said:
Steve83. If you're still intending to install a dropped track bar bracket, you can have the one I removed from my Bronco when I did my frame repair after ripping the frame the last time I went wheeling. It's still welded to the original track bar bracket, but it shouldn't take much to split the welds. It's the blue Duff bracket you pictured in post #8. I would suggest, at the very least, rewelding the stock bracket before installing the dropped bracket.

LOL...I have literally a pile of new drop brackets..every flavor. WH, Duffs, CAGE, etc. Why? Because they always come with lift kits, I have installed a LOT of EB lift kits..and I know not to ever use the drop brackets.

;D

The weird thing is..why don't I just throw them in the scrap pile?...LOL

Steve83 · Sep 10, 2010

bmc69 said:
...you completely box and channel about 12" of the frame first?

The frame IS completely boxed from one end to the other. ?:? Got a pic of what you're talking about?

70_Steve said:
...you can have the one I removed from my Bronco when I did my frame repair after ripping the frame...

Thanks, and I may take you up on that. But for now, I'd rather see pics of frames that have been damaged by a properly-installed track bar drop bracket.

70_Steve said:
I would suggest, at the very least, rewelding the stock bracket before installing the dropped bracket.

We inspected the whole frame before Herculining it, and you can see in that first pic where I peeled the Herc off that it's in great shape. No cracks or rust. So IDK where any re-welding would need to be done. Got pix?

bmc69 · Sep 10, 2010

Steve83 said:
The frame IS completely boxed from one end to the other. ?:? Got a pic of what you're talking about?Thanks, and I may take you up on that. But for now, I'd rather see pics of frames that have been damaged by a properly-installed track bar drop bracket.?

I should have plenty of both..but finding them is another matter. The best ones of all are the ones of a beautifully welded on track bar bracket still nicely attached to a rather large section of frame that is laying at my feet on the ground ..as the owner of the EB looks on it forlornly.

No..the frame is not completely boxed for a dropped track bar bracket until you sleeve the entire box with another 3/16" worth of steel.

70_Steve · Sep 10, 2010

Steve83 said:
But for now, I'd rather see pics of frames that have been damaged by a properly-installed track bar drop bracket......

Got pix?

Pics of the damage and repair in this thread.

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158544

bmc69 · Sep 10, 2010

70_Steve said:
Pics of the damage and repair in this thread.

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158544

You got lucky..and its still ugly.

I'm still trying to find those pics from Blue Rocks where the entire frame section with track bar still attached in lovely fashion is laying on the ground at my feet.

My 1st Q: what is UP with this track bar bracket???

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