So it had been several weeks since I installed the Fabtech 6" on my 06 S.Crew.... I figured with the 4th of July weekend giving me an extra day off work I'd actually get a chance to get the truck offroad and in 4wheel drive!

finally getting to where I needed to be... i went for the 4x4 selector switch!

Wasn't even 5 seconds after engaging 4x4 I noticed a problem! Turns out the way Fabtech (at least in my case) has the differential sit after installation makes the pinion angle actually point downwards rather than up towards the T-case.

This slight angle downward is just enough to cause the U-joints to hit the Swaybar when in 4x4.........

From what I can tell there isn't ANY adjustments in the drop bracket that would allow for any upward rotation to correct the pinion angle.....!

as of now I'm not sure what to do? I could remove the swaybar.. but would rather avoid this! It seems the rear drop bracket was made incorrectly for optimal angles!

BTW... the front driveshaft has been re-clocked and turned around with slip towards the T-case as per instructions!

Anyone else have this issue with their fabtech?

Any advice or solutions would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers

Nem


there isn't much to look at, but pictures can be taken if needed!

 

Maybe the front diff drop brackets are on backwards? You would think the pinion angle should be up towards the x-fer case, not down toward the ground.

 

Strange. My driveshaft is close to the sway bar but doesn't touch it and never has. I'd look over your installation and make sure everything is on correctly.

 

05Red,

Drop bracket can only go on one way... but it was a good place to start!

mSaLL,

I've looked it over several times now... Nothing of the obvious! Looks like I'm going to have to start taking things apart and going over everything more closely!

One thing that does come to mind is the part of the factory a-arm mount that must be cut... I wonder if I didn't cut enough and the Fabtech bracket is slightly down more on the diff side? That would actually make sense......?!

Appreciate the responses

Nem

 

I have rubbbing too. Mine only happens though when i'm in 4wd and i turn hard right or hard left. When i first put the lift on my truck i left the sway bar off and at the time i didnt use the 4wd very much so i dont know if it would have rubbed anything or not. However the ride was quite diffferent when i put the sway bar back on. of course with the sway bar came the rub. Don't know of any fix for it.


Joel
Baghdad, Iraq

 

Hey firebolt,

Turns out the Drop down brackets for the swaybar are offset! I just happen to have the driverside in the wrong way.... wouldn't know it to glance at it, but after speaking with Fabtech about this... its apparently a common mistake during installation!

Going to go out and swith it now... I'm fairly confident this will fix the issue! If you get a chance Joel... you might want to take a look for your self.. who knows... you might have the same issue I have?

Thanks for the response

Cheers

Nem

 

Never had any issues what so ever. But when I had the front drive shaft reclocked I had it extended as well. But never had any issues.

 

So heres the outcome:

the Swaybar drop downs were indeed installed backwards... rather than pushing the swaybar away from the driveshaft... I pulled it towards the driveshaft!

With the Drop downs installed correctly there isn't any more vibrations or U-joints hitting the swaybar!

HOWEVER.... with all this changed, now the Impact struts interfere with the swaybar.... they are hitting the SB!!

So i called Fabtech again and they happily agreed to send me the longer Impact Struts at no charge!

Thanks for all the feedback... its very much appreciated!

cheers

Nem

 

I had a similar issue, but the driveshaft was put in backwards. This was in 2004 when the trucks and lift just came out and 4wheel parts had never installed one before.