How to remove safety loop

SnickerDoodle

SnickerDoodle

Life's Better Seeing Pink
Founding Member
Location
Winlsow Twsp, NJ
So when we (myself, Hoagie and CrashDan) did my body lift we did not know to remove the safety loop. And since we didn't I kept having a clunk with every turn I made. It felt and sounded like someone hitting a sledge hammer under the two front seats as well as on the floor in the back seat. Here is how to remove it and stop the annoying clunk!

This is your safety loop... it's located between the front and rear tires at the end of the rear out put shaft close to the yolk end. It loops through the cross member.
IMAG0203.jpg


You will need a 14 ratchet and perhaps some PB Blaster. If you can't get the two bolts loose, blast it and wait a bit. I thankfully didn't have to blast them.

IMAG0206.jpg


Be advised- if you already did your body lift then the first bolt is under A LOT of pressure. With that being said, be careful because the first bolt will fling out of the threads once loose enough.

IMAG0207.jpg


Once you remove both bolts you can turn the safety loop and slide it out of the holes on the cross member.

Ta da!! Removed and no more clunk on the test drive.

IMAG0211.jpg
 
idratherbe

idratherbe

Skid Plates
Location
North Shore, MA
The AC, BL kit has the longer bolts and sleeves for the bolts so you can keep the safety loop on. I'm not sure if its needed or not but if it has the word Safety in its name I tend to err on the side of caution.

Nice write up though!
 
X

Xtacular

Bought an X
Founding Member
Location
Washington
SnickerDoodle said:
So when we (myself, Hoagie and CrashDan) did my body lift we did not know to remove the safety loop.
Click to expand...

idratherberidin said:
The AC, BL kit has the longer bolts and sleeves for the bolts so you can keep the safety loop on. I'm not sure if its needed or not but if it has the word Safety in its name I tend to err on the side of caution.

Nice write up though!
Click to expand...

Yeah, you're not supposed to remove it... you're supposed to extend it. I've seen a couple of cars on the side of the road with the front of the DS hanging down. If Nissan says there should be a safety loop, I believe them.
 
X

Xtacular

Bought an X
Founding Member
Location
Washington
SnickerDoodle said:
I pieced my body lift together. I know of other people on here that are also running no safety loops as well.
Click to expand...

To use one of TJ's examples: there are people out there that claim that you don't need trailer safety (there's that word again) chains. Those that have towed without them with no problems say it's fine. Those that either have had to use them, or needed them when they weren't using them... tell a different story. Personally, I have had to use them :)
 
NMTerras

NMTerras

Suspension Lift
Location
New Mexico
If your drive shaft pops out you already have problems. The safety loop prevents worse ones once it happens. 99 percent you'll be fine without it. Still, better safe than ... Well, you know. I'll be heading back to lowes to get spacers and put mine back on this weekend


Sent from my frontal cortex via the ghost of Steve Jobs
 
ChiXterra

ChiXterra

Wheeling
Location
Northern Illinois
I may get chastised, but I think the reason that so many laws were put in place on lifted vehicles, was because they were generally thought to be unsafe (BL's with PVC pipe, etc.). I know people like to do things cheaper, as do I, but when it comes to your safety, as well as others, you owe it to yourself to do it right. Making an extension for it is pretty easy. That's why I was planning on installing the whole AC BL, because I didn't want to take shortcuts, even though people say it doesn't make a difference.

All the loop does is add a little bit of insurance.
 
SnickerDoodle

SnickerDoodle

Life's Better Seeing Pink
Founding Member
Location
Winlsow Twsp, NJ
well until I can get out and buy proper spacers for the safety loop mine is staying off. I do understand the safety measures. And like it was mentioned before, if your DS comes out.. you have bigger problems then just the loop. While under the truck i see that the loop prevents the DS *if it comes loose* from swinging left or right. Which the bell housing i would guess would also try to prevent the swinging as well.

This is my error for not stating that once i can get the proper spacers that it will be going back on. But i appreciate everyone's concerns and input to make sure that we keep myself as well as all other Xer's safe.

Once i get the spacers I will be adding another How To for adding the spacers.
 
Last edited:
Jmac289gt

Jmac289gt

Sliders
Founding Member
Location
Dickinson, TX
Snickers, After you get your extensions for it while your there, I would also add a rubber hose split down one side to fit between the loop and the metal bracket it goes through and two tie wrapps on each side of the hose and another two tie wraps to go on the loop to keep the hose from moving. This will prevent any squeaking noise you may get from metal to metal touching each other. Some get it some don't, I did get the squeaking noise and had to add it later and it was kind of a pain to get it in there once everything was tighten down as I did not want to loosen the bolts again.
 
SnickerDoodle

SnickerDoodle

Life's Better Seeing Pink
Founding Member
Location
Winlsow Twsp, NJ
Great idea! Thanks for the input! I have some spare hose already in the truck. I learned to keep a selection of different widths and lengths just in case. ;)
 
J Everett

J Everett

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Houma, LA
I had a Dodge 3500 that blew the pinion U-joint and the whole drive shaft fell onto the road and got pretty beat up, which screwed up the balance (I had no idea up to that point that drive shafts were balanced, though it does make sense). So, instead of having to replace just the U-joint for $50 or so, I ended up having to have a whole new drive shaft built for $400. Keep your safety hoops, folks.
 
NMTerras

NMTerras

Suspension Lift
Location
New Mexico
So this thread has got me to thinking...instead of just metal spacers maybe I'll include some rubber bushings to try and alleviate any squeaking/noise issues...hmmm...
 
NMTerras

NMTerras

Suspension Lift
Location
New Mexico
Xtacular said:
To use one of TJ's examples: there are people out there that claim that you don't need trailer safety (there's that word again) chains. Those that have towed without them with no problems say it's fine. Those that either have had to use them, or needed them when they weren't using them... tell a different story. Personally, I have had to use them :)
Click to expand...

Reminds me of a story one of my friends told me about watching his boat and trailer whiz past his bronco while he was driving...
 
R

rjr162

Test Drive
Location
Alexandria, PA
its also possible for the DS to fall and catch something (say while traveling a back road at a fair speed).. and that's never a good thing (think giant lever arm that kicks the ass end up a bit).
I know the chances may be rare but you never know..

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2
 
Hugetanker

Hugetanker

<img src="http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u7/ra
Founding Member
Location
Nesquehoning, PA
rjr162 said:
its also possible for the DS to fall and catch something (say while traveling a back road at a fair speed).. and that's never a good thing (think giant lever arm that kicks the ass end up a bit).
I know the chances may be rare but you never know..

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

There's a cross member for the frame under the driveshaft. I don't see any way it could make it to the ground if it ever fell out.
 
NMTerras

NMTerras

Suspension Lift
Location
New Mexico
safety loop limits where it goes when it falls, mostly side to side. See previous post about damage multiplier to the DS without it. It's there for a reason.
 
RATTFINK

RATTFINK

XN OG Admin.
Founding Member
Location
Conroe, TX
I'm pretty sure I didn't remove this safety loop, unless J.E. or Ricer remember back that far. No clanking, so I may need to take a look to see if I have one or not.
 
R

rjr162

Test Drive
Location
Alexandria, PA
to be honest I never paid any attention to how the setup is on the X... was basing that on other make/models... so disregard my post! :)

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2
 
J Everett

J Everett

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Houma, LA
RATTFINK said:
I'm pretty sure I didn't remove this safety loop, unless J.E. or Ricer remember back that far. No clanking, so I may need to take a look to see if I have one or not.
Click to expand...

We put spacers between the hoop and the body. We couldn't even get the body high enough to put the BL pucks in until we dropped the safety hoop.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top