2 U bolt or not 2 u bolt, That is the question

fcsarebel

After researching the forums about lifts for my DS, I have found some very valuable information. I was looking at some of the lifts (Jakes, RHOX,Madjax) when I came across one thread that was discussing the u bolts twisting or breaking, in some instances causing harm to the occupants of the cart. There was a recommendation to get a lift with 4 U bolts not the standard 2 u bolts. The only lift I can seem to find with the 4 u bolt system is from All sports. Are they the only one that makes them? Has anyone found away to make use of the other lifts with that concerned addressed? As I use my cart to run the kids (don't let me forget the wife ) around the last thing I want is to have them eat the dash at 15-20 mph because I wasn't thorough. For those in the industry, how common do u bolts break or get warped? From the thread I was reading it seemed fairly common. The All Sport kits are a little steep for me right now but I must have safety for the kids in mind.

BGW

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TahoeDawgZ71

You get what you pay for. I'm not a Jakes dealer, but I was under the impression that their double A-Arm lift kits were along the same prices as the All-Sports kits.

Bobthefish19

Get the all sports kit with 4 UBolts. I have the A-Arm with one UBolt on each side and it started to bend I put 2 on each side and it hasn't bent. But I called them and they have some kits that have 4 U bolts

TahoeDawgZ71

The "Super Sport" version of their lift kit comes with 4 U-Bolts. All All-Sports Precedent lift kits have the "Super Sport" rear.

dundeebarnbuggy

Not saying it can't happen, but I would like to see the U bolts that bent or broke. A decent heat treated U bolt will take incredible tensile loads to break. It is far stronger than the 5/16 plate it bolts to. My jakes kit has only one and have had no problems so far. Mind you I have extra heavy washers under it to spread the clamping on the spring plates. But, that said and given today's average chinese hardware quality, 2 are probably better.

NCPW

I don't think it's necessarily breaking or bending of the bolts that's the concern. It's more to do with gradual or sometimes sudden twisting of the rear blocks on the axle due to the 1 U-bolt setup that cause the rear drums to lock up or become very "touchy."

I haven't had to adjust my rear blocks at all with my AS Super Super lift in over a year of having it installed.

dundeebarnbuggy

gotcha. I welded my lift blocks to the axle to minimize the threat.

2016CTD

I have the jakes lift in my cart. One day the wife was driving into the camp site and she hit the brakes hard like I do messing around. I was siting in a chair by the fire pit and watched the rear axle and springs twist with the breaking force. I immediately got up and checked the u bolts for tightness and they were just as tight as I installed them. I had read on this forum about the all sports super sport 4 u bolt setup so I ordered just the rear kit and installed it. I had her try braking hard after the install and it didn't twist the axle or springs like it used to. I have also watched the rear axle of other brands of lift kits people have in there carts do the same thing to some degree or another.
Then I installed the jakes front disc brakes, now it stops on a dime at any speed.

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/elect...stall-way.html

lockman1

I'm not saying that it happens to everyone,
But, I hope for anyone's sake, that my old 98 48V DS is the only cart that will ever have a catastrophic failure...

>>> http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/elect...-sparkies.html

Axle twist on a lifted CC sparky is pretty common, so the Super Sport 4 U bolt rear lift will ALWAYS be my recommendation!

.02

thetonywarren

I know this is an old thread, but just wanted to share my experience. I just installed my Jakes lift kit and on the rear it only has a single U bolt for each side. My daughter was driving the cart and all of a sudden when she used the brake, they locked up....I took a look under the cart and saw that the whole rear axle had rotated and put tension on the brake cables, which I believe was caused by the single u bolts bending and allowing the axle to rotate out of position. I'll put in the pictures showing the bent u bolts. I replaced this kit with a new All Sports Super Sport rear lift kit which has double u bolts for each side....I can provide pictures of the new kit installed if you think it will help at all.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Nk5tTNXPaDSER41m9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/H5AiWR2hXCUNoaG39

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KjASPe5RmRfd7QXW6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HPjeHdpyJpzKcoPD6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/AKxVaQTZF6Wf6qxSA