Front diff. bumper bracket...?

[Rally Smith]

Hey guys, I just put on some new headers and quickly found out that on the passenger side there is a bracket that holds a bumper that is in the way.
I have attached a couple of pictures. I just need to know if I need to modify it to fit back into place or if it's okay to leave it out. It looks to be a stop for the front differential. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[herkdriver007]

FWIW, I ditched mine.....

 

[Rally Smith]

Well as long as you haven't had any troubles with it then that's good enough for me.

I can't imagine how that bumper would make any difference on my application. Not hard core wheeling or jumping anything by any means.
Not that I have planned anyway,

 

[diesel4me]

If the truck is lifted or has stiffened up front springs ,you can likely get away without it...my 82 k2500 has one of those,with two leaf tired saggy springs and a 6.2 diesel crushing them,the rubber bumper on that bump stop bracket has maybe 1" clearance...it'll bash it good when I have my Fisher plow on it--.

I recently had to replace the other two rubber bump stops on the frame near the brake hoses,the rubber came right off them,and it bottomed out BAD a few times last winter with the blade on it...hard enough to bottom out the splined yoke on the front shaft,which could have done the front output shaft in the transfer case in,or cracked the case!..

I bet the starter would have been smashed by the front driveshaft if that "third" bump stop wasn't there..thats is why GM added that one,some years of trucks actually had the driveshaft take out the starter,and ruined the block in the process sometimes..

But as long as you have enough clearance from a lift kit or beefier springs,I think you could ditch the third bump stop bracket..you could put a longer bump stop on the passenger side for insurance or lower it down for extra insurance it wont let the drive shaft whack the starter..

 

[Rally Smith]

I have no lift kit installed or larger tires. I'm rolling stock. The distance between the bumper and the diff. is around 4" or so. I guess just to make sure of no catastrophic failures I can alter or make a new mount so I can reinstall the bumper. Probably be the best bet for insurance. Damn it. I didn't want to F with that. Oh well...thanks again for the input.

 

[dyeager535]

Stock suspension, been running without it for probably 5 years. I don't wheel hard, but I've flexed the stock stuff out pretty good, and have hit a few big bumps very hard. In my experience, your spring bumpstops will do the job.

I assume if there are any starter issues, it would be from the shorter drivetrain setups...the front shaft on my setup is pretty long.

 

[Rally Smith]

That's good news! I think that I will leave it off for now and just see how it does.