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Front diff housing bumpstop

Mastiff

Mastiff

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What's the word on the bumpstop that would potentially contact the webbing of the front differential? I found one thread indicating that maybe not all trucks even have them? It looks like there's a lot of bracketry related to this bumpstop, and it might be a pain to work around if I try to install some taller shock mounts. Can I safely get rid of all that stuff? I'd be surprised if it ever made contact when I have a 4" lift and 4.5" extended main bumpstop.
 
Haven't had one on my truck for over a decade, as far as I can tell there is no issue with not having it.

Not even sure what its there for, as it would seem very ineffective at whatever it was intended to do.
 
There is supposed to be a bumpstop on BOTH sides of the truck and they are designed to keep the springs from going "over center" when the suspension is articulated or even worse, the vehicle is "jumped".
 
4X4HIGH said:
There is supposed to be a bumpstop on BOTH sides of the truck and they are designed to keep the springs from going "over center" when the suspension is articulated or even worse, the vehicle is "jumped".
Click to expand...

Of course. My truck has a main bumpstop on each side, plus a small one toward the back of the spring on the frame, plus another small one on the passenger side that would contact the webbing of the diff if you went crazy somehow.
 
As mentioned, there are already 4 bumpstops in the front without this thing, yet only two in the rear.

Since the wheels are outboard of the bumpstops, if jumped, a center bumpstop isn't going to serve any purpose, no? I guess you'd have to measure to see which stop would hit first, the spring or diff.

FWIW, I'm running shortened bumpstops in the front of mine (the ones over the spring perches) as well, so if there was an issue, I would think I would have found it. Of course, I'm not jumping the thing, but even if I was, I don't see how a center bumpstop is going to help with four outers already in place.

Even with axle-wrap/pinion climb this thing would be worthless, the springs are bumpstopped for wrap already, and the amount of climb the center one could control would only come into play with the suspension compressed.

*Perhaps* if the suspension is fully compressed and the pinion climbs, the front shaft could run out of play?
 
Mastiff said:
Of course. My truck has a main bumpstop on each side, plus a small one toward the back of the spring on the frame, plus another small one on the passenger side that would contact the webbing of the diff if you went crazy somehow.
Click to expand...



I just left it. I cant see what its hurting being there. And im lazy to remove it.
 
Deuling said:
I just left it. I cant see what its hurting being there. And im lazy to remove it.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I'm only thinking about it at all because I was looking at what it would take to install Ford front shock mounts and it looks like the brackets for this would be in the way.
 
Mastiff said:
Yeah. I'm only thinking about it at all because I was looking at what it would take to install Ford front shock mounts and it looks like the brackets for this would be in the way.
Click to expand...



Might as well remove it then. I can say with some shocks that fit in the stock locations up front, I am giving up like 4 inches of spring travel. And it really sucks.


Ive got shocks to fix that later though. But will require much more fabrication than ford towers.
 
I read in one of my Chilton's manuals some K5's and pickups back in late 73 had a third bump stop added,as a factory "upgrade", that contacts the diff carrier (on the front) ,because some trucks had the front driveshaft take the starter out,after going over "severe road conditions"...that would certainly suck!.:doah:

I'd say if a truck was lifted,chances are you'd never have to worry about the driveshaft ever going that far up any more..but every truck is different..
 
I should take a pic I guess. This thing is no joke with the amount of steel in the brackets and stuff. I wonder if this came along with the dual front shocks. That was an option too, right?

"severe road conditions" means jumping a stock truck with the primary bumpstops rotted away? :D
 
My truck was originally a 6.2L and dual shocks optioned. But I'm pretty sure we figured out it wasn't a diesel-only thing.

Never thought about the starter. And yes, that bracket setup is a LOT of extra metal/weight.
 
dyeager535 said:
My truck was originally a 6.2L and dual shocks optioned. But I'm pretty sure we figured out it wasn't a diesel-only thing.

Never thought about the starter. And yes, that bracket setup is a LOT of extra metal/weight.
Click to expand...

Not diesel only. Mine was more of a mall machine at first: silverado with 305ci.
 
Yet another discovery project. I guess by measuring bumpstop clearance at the axle, then simulating full compression, one could check where the driveshaft would end up.

Just thinking, but the starter seems like it's WAY up there. Perhaps not as far out of the way as I imagine? And yes, that would ruin your day lol.
 
For anyone who cares what these things look like:

20140129_205139.jpg


20140129_205130.jpg


Kind of PITA to get off. Top mounting bolts pretty much inaccessible on the back. I ended up just demeling the nuts off. The bracket was actually scraping the starter heat shield.
 
I removed the one from my 1988 V10 Suburban years ago. It was a 350 gas, but did have the quad shocks.

Martin
 
My '83 K5 has quad shocks, I can't remember if it has that bracket. I don't think it does.
 
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