Help:Kicker Brace Install

[ScottzZ]

I have been fooling around with these things for days! First, the kicker braces weren't the correct lenghts (1 was too long), then neither one of them lined up to existing holes, so I had to drill. No big deal.

Now, the bolts that they supplied are only threaded about half way, which is normal, but according to their cheezy diagram (which doesn't even look like my truck) included with instructions, the bolt should go all the way through the crossmember and the nut should fasten on top. My crossmember is too thick. The bolt is not long enough. I tried to just fasten the braces to the bottom portion of the crossmember by placing the nut inside the crossmember, but i run out of tread before they are tight. So, I used the supplied gold spacer sleeve between the crossmember and the brace, but that looks weaker than crap to me. It looks like this now:

http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/c/scottz71/braces.bmp

The tech at Superlift told me that I shouldn't need any sleeves.

Should I go to the store and find some shorter bolts that will work? Anyone ever had this problem?

[Luke2kZ71]

Originally posted by ScottzZ
I have been fooling around with these things for days! First, the kicker braces weren't the correct lenghts (1 was too long), then neither one of them lined up to existing holes, so I had to drill. No big deal.

Now, the bolts that they supplied are only threaded about half way, which is normal, but according to their cheezy diagram (which doesn't even look like my truck) included with instructions, the bolt should go all the way through the crossmember and the nut should fasten on top. My crossmember is too thick. The bolt is not long enough. I tried to just fasten the braces to the bottom portion of the crossmember by placing the nut inside the crossmember, but i run out of tread before they are tight. So, I used the supplied gold spacer sleeve between the crossmember and the brace, but that looks weaker than crap to me. It looks like this now:

http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/c/scottz71/braces.bmp

The tech at Superlift told me that I shouldn't need any sleeves.

Should I go to the store and find some shorter bolts that will work? Anyone ever had this problem?

Okay... some trucks have a differnt corssmember for some reason.... and those factory holes have a indention type thing on top.... what i recommend doing is going to a local hardware store... and matching the bolt you have, and just get it in a longer length... since u ahve allready drilled your holes :read: Let us know how that works out (im sure it will)

[ScottzZ]

Luke,

I just got off the phone with the shop that installed my lift. I told him how I have the braces installed now using the spacer sleeve. The mechanic said that is how they do their installs with my particular crossmember. The crossmember bolts to the frame on each side with a bracket and 2 bolts that go from front to back, unlike the SL diagram that shows bolts going top to bottom. He said that those bolts get in the way, and they have to attach to the bottom only of the crossmember using the spacer sleeve to keep from running out of thread on the bolt.

Looks like that is how it will have to be. The mechanic said that is what SL told them to do with that particular crossmember.

Thanks for your help. I can't believe Chevy has so many different crossmembers for similarly equipped trucks.

[tphillip23]

scott,
your diagram and description look exactly like how i installed mine.
true-it does not look to be very sturdy, but that's how my SL instructions showed so i guess it'll do. hopefully they'll never really be tested
as far as the lengths, i think that is normal (or common)-mine were different lengths-but the part #s were right.
BTW-i had to drill too

[chvythndr]

A Superlift tech told me the same thing...

[ScottzZ]

Thanks guys!

[chvythndr]

No prob, that's what we're here for!:head: