Shock bolt sheared despite Van Compass Baja bracket

[ePhoenix]

I didn't trust their concept when I compared to the Agile Offroad's. I liked VCs adjustable shocks better than the AOs and this is why I went with an hybrid install. AOs much stronger bracket (top and bottom) and VCs adjustable shocks. A little grinding to make them fit and I believe it's the best of both worlds.

 

[sprint2freedom]

I didn't trust their concept when I compared to the Agile Offroad's. I liked VCs adjustable shocks better than the AOs and this is why I went with an hybrid install. AOs much stronger bracket (top and bottom) and VCs adjustable shocks. A little grinding to make them fit and I believe it's the best of both worlds.

Pics?

 

[Boxster1971]

I didn't trust their concept when I compared to the Agile Offroad's. I liked VCs adjustable shocks better than the AOs and this is why I went with an hybrid install. AOs much stronger bracket (top and bottom) and VCs adjustable shocks. A little grinding to make them fit and I believe it's the best of both worlds.

I'm planning to do the same thing using the AO bracket and VC adjustable shocks. My Airstream conversion has diesel heater fuel line in the corner area where the VC Baja bracket would be mounted on driver side. The AO bracket would fit fine.

What did you have to grind off? I though the VC shocks could work with the latest AO bracket.

 

[ePhoenix]

I'm planning to do the same thing using the AO bracket and VC adjustable shocks. My Airstream conversion has diesel heater fuel line in the corner area where the VC Baja bracket would be mounted on driver side. The AO bracket would fit fine.

What did you have to grind off? I though the VC shocks could work with the latest AO bracket.

You'll have to shave off about 1/8" from the width of the top shock mount to fit inside the AO bracket. The Falcon top mount is wider than the AO.

 

[ePhoenix]

Pics?

Here are a few pics. It's rust proofed now so it looks dirty. I also installed rear wheels liners so it's harder to see the suspension from the side.

 

[ePhoenix]

Pics?

 

[stayalert]

For removing undercoating easily, a sharp scraping blade on a oscillating multi-tool works pretty well. Just use it like a paint scraper, almost parallel to the surface. This typically will leave most of the primer intact. Which reduces the need for primer touchups.

This is a big time saver thanks!...I just started my install of the Baja Bracket (BB) and even with thorough removal of the body glue stuff it looks like I will need to chisel/saw/grind my way upo into the corner as the bottom of the floor and the pinch weld type metal won't allow for proper alignment of the BB. Dang, this will definitely slow my install down.....BAcking up a bit my upper shock bolkt didn't brerak buyt one of them backed out and vanished.....I noticed this during routine poking around and prep for a trip....a few months back...Easier than having to remove a broken bolt....on my van the threads seem to be fine, and I didn';t notice any residual red loctite anywhere.....

 

[ePhoenix]

Like many of you, I had the Van Compass Baja Brackets installed while my upfitter was doing some additional mods to my 2023 Winnebago Revel 4X4. Returning home from a Montana trip I noted some noise from what I assumed was the sliding door area on rough pavement. I thought I had some cargo rattles and resolved to trouble shoot further when I got home.

When I went to check torque on suspension bolts I immediately saw the problem. The upper shock bolt had sheared, leaving the top of the Van Compass Falcon adjustable shock restrained by the brake hose and hitting the leaf spring and the threaded portion of the broken Van Compass replacement bolt (installed with red loctite per instructions) remaining in the frame. The Baja Brackets had been installed approximately 20,000 miles ago, nearly all highway mileage.

Incredibility frustrating that I will have to struggle to extract the threaded portion of the bolt, especially since I had installed the Baja Brackets expressly to avoid having this happen. According to the sales rep I spoke with at Van Compass he had never heard of this bolt breaking before. He is sending a new hardware pack but I will be on the hook for rebuilding bent and broken parts on the shock directly through Terraflex/Falcon.

Maybe I'm just unlucky, but I would recommend users of the Baja Bracket to pull their upper shock bolts for examination on an annual basis.

Be forewarned, the Baja Bracket's touted double shear protection design apparently isn't foolproof.

I personally kept clear of the Van Compass bracket because I considered it flimsy compared with the Agile Offroad one. It gave me a few more steps to install the rear Falcon adjustable shocks since it has a larger eyelet than the AO Fox so I ha to trim them shocks brackets a little. But I'm happy with the hybrid result. As for why I did that this way, it is because when I installed my upgraded suspension Agile Offroad didn't have the newer and better Fox shocks yet and the adjustable Falcons were then superior.

 

[EBS-P]

because I considered it flimsy compared with the Agile Offroad

What?? VCs are stout and not stamped. Square C Chanel.

 

[The_D]

@EBS-P I assume post was removed/edited, however it was total BS, and definitely shitposting against VC

 

[ePhoenix]

What?? VCs are stout and not stamped. Square C Chanel.

It's not how they're built. It's how they attach to the frame compared to AO.

 

[gas_sprinter]

It's not how they're built. It's how they attach to the frame compared to AO.View attachment 415903View attachment 415904

I'm not a structural engineer, but with my naked eyes, looks like the AO brackets will hold the bolt in place tighter than anything else in the market due to the closed loop design compared to the VC bracket (as shown above) has the open end where the slight flex might be allowed and over time the bolt shears off?

 

[ePhoenix]

I'm not a structural engineer, but with my naked eyes, looks like the AO brackets will hold the bolt in place tighter than anything else in the market due to the closed loop design compared to the VC bracket (as shown above) has the open end where the slight flex might be allowed and over time the bolt shears off?

I have seen at least one VC bracket that was destroyed offroad. This is why I opted for the AO's. Never heard anyone who destroyed one of those yet. By the way, I don't work nor benefit from either businesses. I pay for everything full retail price. I mixed VC and AO components. I didn't use the VC Opti leaf pack because so many people reported issues with noise and chaffing. But I used VCs shocks and progressive bumpers front and rear. I mix what I consider the best and fit them for my need.

 

[gas_sprinter]

I have seen at least one VC bracket that was destroyed offroad. This is why I opted for the AO's. Never heard anyone who destroyed one of those yet. By the way, I don't work nor benefit from either businesses. I pay for everything full retail price. I mixed VC and AO components. I didn't use the VC Opti leaf pack because so many people reported issues with noise and chaffing. But I used VCs shocks and progressive bumpers front and rear. I mix what I consider the best and fit them for my need.

Smart, the brand loyalty isn't something I'm interested either.
Whatever the worlds say, I buy what fits my needs

Just on the bracket itself alone, I didn't like the way VC upper rear brackets installed, simplicity is the essence of life, AO wins on that category for me. Although I haven't yet gotten into the suspension, but plan to order Fox or Bilstein rear shocks with AO rear upper brackets when the time comes.

 

[Rocksnsalt]

Imnsho, the time came for a rear shock upgrade once one drives the van off the lot lol.

I have Agile brackets and liked the ease of install.
That said, I cannot help but wonder if some if not all the VC Baja Bracket failures are from installation issues- not clearing the undercoating cleanly and completely.

This creates an area of possible movement later and whoops there it is.

 

[EBS-P]

I have seen at least one VC bracket that was destroyed offroad. This is why I opted for the AO's. Never heard anyone who destroyed one of those yet.

How??? It’s designed to transfer load by contact to the body both forwards and upwards. Not just clamping force. I can totally see that AO is easier install without making an error. Like in the picture the VC bracket doesn’t look like it’s installed square. The forward tab appears low.

 

[Sonntag69]

How??? It’s designed to transfer load by contact to the body both forwards and upwards. Not just clamping force. I can totally see that AO is easier install without making an error. Like in the picture the VC bracket doesn’t look like it’s installed square. The forward tab appears low.

"I can totally see that AO is easier install without making an error."

All other things being equal, that makes AO's product superior. The proof will occur over time as installations grow.

 

[Maslin]

How??? It’s designed to transfer load by contact to the body both forwards and upwards. Not just clamping force. I can totally see that AO is easier install without making an error. Like in the picture the VC bracket doesn’t look like it’s installed square. The forward tab appears low.

I've only done one set (and will never do another...), but the two "pins" through the frame dictated the location of the bracket. There's no wiggle room beyond that.

 

[EBS-P]

I've only done one set (and will never do another...), but the two "pins" through the frame dictated the location of the bracket. There's no wiggle room beyond that.

For got about those. Get those all lined up was not fun. But somehow I forgot….

 

[AllanB]

I have Agile brackets and liked the ease of install.
That said, I cannot help but wonder if some if not all the VC Baja Bracket failures are from installation issues- not clearing the undercoating cleanly and completely.

I fitted the Van Compass brackets and had no installation problem. Certainly it was some effort to fully remove the original underbody coating but I considered it necessary to be thorough in order to achieve positive clamping.
I removed the coating using a sharp wood chisel. No metal removal was required other than drilling the holes in the crossmember. I applied a sprayed coat of zinc primer to the scraped area before mounting the bracket. This primer coat was thin enough to not interfere with the clamping. I am happy with both the bracket design and its installation.