Which radius arm bracket is strongest?

[JAYNESS the Great]

I'm going to replace my radius arm bushings soon and I'm contemplating replacing the brackets since I'll be taking them off anyway. I'm not sure if the radius arm holes in the bracket are ok or not (there's some bushing left), but the bracket is rusted enough that the factory coating is flaking off. The ones from Ford are pretty expensive, are the aftermarket ones equivalent or thinner/weaker?

Oh yeah, I have ProComp extended radius arms so the brackets have already been moved using bolts instead of rivets.

Thanks.

[Kingfish999]

there all gonig to be bout the same strength. i cant say i ever heard of someone breaking them from wheeling. only that they rusted out. also if the bushing is completly worn out and the arm is rubbnig the lip of the hole, it will wear them out and you do need to replace them. jsut get a cheap set of them that are still in good condition.

[Steve83]

Rust doesn't cause the factory coating to flake; the flaky coating traps water & salt, causing rust. There's no point even guessing until you know what yours look like, and you can do that quickly by simply removing the big nut, rear washer, & rear bushing. That's all it takes to inspect the bracket for wear, then you can put it all back until you're ready to fix it. If it's OK, reuse it. If it's trash, buy a replacement - there is no "strongest"; they're all the same (EXCEPT lifted ones which are effectively weaker). If you don't know, take some GOOD pics, and I'm sure plenty of opinions will be offered!

[JAYNESS the Great]

Originally Posted by Steve83

... (EXCEPT lifted ones which are effectively weaker)...

What do you mean "lifted ones"?

[Kingfish999]

dropped radius arm brackets used for lift kits over 4" such as this

[JAYNESS the Great]

I had some time after working on the exhaust last weekend and spent some time on the radius arm bushings. I was surprised to find that the inside of the bushings looked pretty good. (the outsides were crumbling) I'm thinking that the brackets look ok, I just need to clean them up and POR-15 them.

Here's some pics:

Pass side 1


Pass side 2


Driver side 1


Driver side 2


I did go ahead and replace the rear half of the bushing since it was taken apart anyway. I'll get the front half when I have time to remove the bracket.

[Kingfish999]

whats welded to the bottom? i wish i still had the brackets form my friends lift kit. they were in great condition and i woulda gave them to ya free.

[JAYNESS the Great]

That's the side post lift I was using. The truck is about 5ft off the ground in these pics. I HATE lifting it by the brackets, but with the way these particular lift arms were designed and the extended radius arms in the way, it was my only option.

[Alvin in AZ]

Originally Posted by Kingfish999

dropped radius arm brackets used for lift kits over 4" such as this

I got bigger better bolts on my stock radius arm bracket than you got on that
longass drop radius arm bracket. xD

...9/16" fine thread grade-8 bolts with pinched top nuts and ->NO<- washers
from McMaster-Carr. |-p

Alvin in AZ

[Steve83]

Originally Posted by JAYNESS the Great

I HATE lifting it by the brackets, but with the way these particular lift arms were designed and the extended radius arms in the way...

There's nothing wrong with lifting by the RA brackets, and the stock RAs are the alternate lift points. IDK if those aftermarket ones can handle it, though...

[Kingfish999]

Originally Posted by Alvin in AZ

I got bigger better bolts on my stock radius arm bracket than you got on that
longass drop radius arm bracket. xD

...9/16" fine thread grade-8 bolts with pinched top nuts and ->NO<- washers
from McMaster-Carr. |-p

Alvin in AZ

thats not mine, i found that pic on google. i have extended radius arms with stock brackets. 1 bracket is 1/2" bolts and the other is 7/16" all grade 8 fine thread of course. 9/16" is way overkill IMO