akasnajo

I cut out the welded shackle nut while prepping to install HD Offroad relocation brackets I have put off installing for a decade. How muddy is the creek I'm up? I figured both the HD Offroad and Ironman Fab's designs bolted in the same way, but after chopping that nut and doing a test fit I had a moment of concern. Seems that the HD Offroad bracket is supposed to bolt into that nut I unceremoniously deleted. Ironman Fab's design involves removing this nut, so I'll order those if the consensus is that I'm going to otherwise have trouble. I presume we're still looking a sturdier than stock setup even without that nut, but I don't want to make any more bad decisions here. Sadly, I'm neither able to weld nor do I have a welder buddy I can call.

I'm leaning toward... "even with that nut missing, this is going to be way sturdier than the stock setup, which was effectively one nut welded into the body and a 1/16" piece of sheet metal holding the far end of the bolt."

I don't wheel, but I enjoy doing donuts in the yard once the snow/ice pack is thick enough. Otherwise the Jeep lives a pretty easy life. I drive it maybe 300 miles a month.

So... pretend that nut never existed and Send It or order the Ironman Fab version?

Thanks as always!!!


Below is a pic of my handywork with the sawzall and oscillating tool. Below Below is a pic of one of the brackets I'm working with (pretty sure the one pictured goes on the other side). It bolts into three unibody rail bolts, two bolts into the cargo bay floor, and one bolt into the stock shackle nut (the one I cut out).

chop chop

PJB

If I remember correctly, the two holes abovewhere the shackle bolts in, is where you pull the carpet back and drill and bolt the relocation bracket to the floor.

Jim Malcolm

Without that bolt into the OEM nut, there's not a whole lot holding it, the sheet metal floor isn't very thick. Maybe if you can fab an angle to tie the outer face to the rear crossmember, like the Ironman brackets do, otherwise I think I would just buck up for the Ironman brackets.

5-Speed

Here is what they are supposed to look like installed if it helps at all. Definitely uses the side bolt.

akasnajo

I’ll order the ironman fab version and put these for sale somehow. Bummer, but it happens. Thanks for the followup everyone. I’m doing a lot of work on the Jeep, so there is bound to be more learnings along the way.

akasnajo

Thanks for the pic and confirmation. I ordered the ironman4x4fab no-lift shackle relocation brackets that delete the stock nut during install. Not sure how long they'll take, but I have plenty to work on while I wait. You may have answered other questions about stupid things I've done!

5-Speed

I'll buy your brackets off you if you need to unload them. Was in my plans for this current jeep anyways.

akasnajo

While I wait on shackles I’m tackling the zj disk brake conversion job. I beat, pryed, shoved crap inside of, etc. In hind site, grinder took maybe 10 or 15 min, but it felt like 2 cause I really like sparks.

UKXJ

Seems a bit desperate to me - but then you don't actually mention backing off the adjusters.