Angel on my shoulder... Les Schwab (Fabtech 3") Lift Fail!!

[JGayler911]

So 100 miles since you got it back. Got it. But what I am asking is how many miles from when you dropped off to get lift until when you picked up after. In other words did they drive the 50 and then ret-torque, then give to you.

yes, I have a GPS tracker installed, and it looks like they drove a total of 4 miles on lift day

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[BAUS67]

yes, I have a GPS tracker installed, and it looks like they drove a total of 4 miles on lift day

Ok. I can see where this is headed. At least now you have the info, your ace in the hole, so when you talk to them and see what they have to say first. Then you can say did you drive it at all to see if it was safe before giving it back???

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

I have this setup and I definitely think the upper bolts were NOT tight. It is also possible to install the misalignment spacers upside-down on the top (I almost did) so it is a possibility the installer screwed up.....as per instructions lock tight and torque to spec. Those bolts are very specific special high strength. Like 200,000PSI ...highly doubtfully the bolt broke.

 

[JGayler911]

Wow... Thank you everyone!... Super helpful feedback!

Should I be worried about the brake line? or lower control arms? seems like there's a lot of things to get bent in a situation like this.

I trust Les Schwab to make it 100% right. but also worried they're going to blow sunshine, and do some jedi-hand waves

 

[akturbo]

The thread should be renamed to Les Schwab fail, this is an install failure, not a kit fail. Les Schwab can’t even torque a lug nut properly.

 

[JGayler911]

I have this setup and I definitely think the upper bolts were NOT tight. It is also possible to install the misalignment spacers upside-down on the top (I almost did) so it is a possibility the installer screwed up.....as per instructions lock tight and torque to spec. Those bolts are very specific special high strength. Like 200,000PSI ...highly doubtfully the bolt broke.

I took a picture of the UCA before this happened because I noticed the beauty cap came off.

is the black bolt the one the one that is supposed to get super torqued?

 

[Ksjrb03]

Wow... Thank you everyone!... Super helpful feedback!

Should I be worried about the brake line? or lower control arms? seems like there's a lot of things to get bent in a situation like this.

I trust Les Schwab to make it 100% right. but also worried they're going to blow sunshine, and do some jedi-hand waves

I would want every component and fasteners in that pic replaced.

 

[airishfan]

So 100 miles since you got it back. Got it. But what I am asking is how many miles from when you dropped off to get lift until when you picked up after. In other words did they drive the 50 and then ret-torque, then give to you.

dont think many shops drive 50 miles on any or many vehicles that they install lifts on thats at least a hour of driving and sense shops charge by the hour what customer going pay 140 bucks to a shop for a hour of driving. shops usually well tell you to bring it back to get re- torqued .

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

I took a picture of the UCA before this happened because I noticed the beauty cap came off.

is the black bolt the one the one that is supposed to get super torqued?

I'm guessing that's why the cap popped off... the bolt was loose enough to push up into the cap. If you had taken a pic from underneath you might have seen a 1/8 " gap developing as the bolt was backing out little by little.

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

This is a big concern and I think the moderator should post a sticky to remind EVERYONE that buys ANY UCS to check and double check and continue to check the upper uniball bolts tightness. Also threadlocker is a good idea here.

A missed loose bolt here could lead to disaster , broken bronco, or worse ....

 

[the poacher]

From what I have seen and what I have read on this thread, I would suggest that the installer did not torque everything down to spec. I believe they owe you a completely new install, with all new parts.

 

[Zero_chance]

Lift was installed at Les Schwab about a month ago. I've put maybe 100 miles on it. About 15 minutes before it happened I was driving freeway speeds on a sketchy two lane highway with 3 kids on board. I dropped off one of the kids, and as I was about to pull out of the driveway, this happened:

Has anyone every seen anything like this? Any advise?

Get a better installer. They should be embarrassed. Maybe sued?

 

[BAUS67]

dont think many shops drive 50 miles on any or many vehicles that they install lifts on thats at least a hour of driving and sense shops charge by the hour what customer going pay 140 bucks to a shop for a hour of driving. shops usually well tell you to bring it back to get re- torqued .

I'm sure there are many shops out there like that. Like I said earlier we always drive the vehicle after a lift install for the exact reason posted here. We have a loop it is about 15 miles. Highway drive then over some backcountry 2 lane blacktop. the whole idea is to "settle" the suspension a bit.

Most times we charge 10hrs for a lift kit. In all fairness it takes more like 15. Shit never goes as the directions say.

 

[BroncoAZ]

A torque wrench and red locktite should be used on all lift installations. Maybe there is some reason why red couldn’t be used on that uniball, I’ve never installed one.

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