Flexy Nerf Bars...any way to fix?

[teamramrod215]

I have a feeling this is a "get what you pay for" type scenario, but I wanted to see if anyone else has come across the same thing.

I ordered these nerf bars from eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fit-09-18-...K:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649#rwid). I liked the look and they claim to be able to hold 500lbs, plus they were cheap. I know some other members here have bought eBay bars before and had good experiences. I figured worst case they would rust in a few years and then I would get nicer ones. I installed the one side today exactly as the instructions say, and boy are they flexy. I am 170lbs and when I stepped on them there is noticeable flex in the bracket that attaches to the truck frame. There is no way I would want anyone much heavier than me (let alone 500lbs) step on them.

My question is...did I just happen to choose a bad knockoff option? Has anyone ever had similar situations and remedy it in any way (add additional support, etc)? Should I just message the seller and get my money back and put it toward nicer ones?

 

[sbarron]

"I have a feeling this is a "get what you pay for" type scenario" - There's your problem, lol...

You might look at the bracket and see here it's actually flexing to see whether you could beef if up somehow.

Or just pitch them and order a set of AMP powersteps...

 

[TatertotScott]

Show some photos of yhe brackets and their attachment points. Sounds like yhey aren't attached to the frame, but the rocker panel? Or even the pinch weld.

Mine connect to both the rocker AND the pinch, never flex.....but they are very heavy duty, and I used grade 8 hardware to ridiculous toque specs as I am a ******....

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[et todd]

Pricey but hard to beat oem mopar.

 

[teamramrod215]

Show some photos of yhe brackets and their attachment points. Sounds like yhey aren't attached to the frame, but the rocker panel? Or even the pinch weld.

Mine connect to both the rocker AND the pinch, never flex.....but they are very heavy duty, and I used grade 8 hardware to ridiculous toque specs as I am a ******....

They attach just to the rocker panel using the hex holes that are there from the factory. Is it normal for bars to have some flex if they are only secured at the rocker panel and not at the pinch or frame? Mine probably flex down about an inch or so with my 170lbs on them. After looking at it more and trying to flex them while under the truck, it looks like it's the rocker panel sheet metal is possibly flexing a little some as well as the bracket sort of shifting ever so slightly on the surface of the sheet metal. I could try to get some grade 8 bolts along with the mopar rivnuts and really crank them down.

 

[brad325is]

Can't tell from the ebay photo, but it doesn't look like there is a center bracket. In any case, I would get them off your rockers at the least. See if a local shop can make you some brackets that will reach your frame. I'm 6'1" and 250...mine have no flex.

 

[SportinaHemi]

They attach just to the rocker panel using the hex holes that are there from the factory. Is it normal for bars to have some flex if they are only secured at the rocker panel and not at the pinch or frame? Mine probably flex down about an inch or so with my 170lbs on them. After looking at it more and trying to flex them while under the truck, it looks like it's the rocker panel sheet metal is possibly flexing a little some as well as the bracket sort of shifting ever so slightly on the surface of the sheet metal. I could try to get some grade 8 bolts along with the mopar rivnuts and really crank them down.

I have the Tyger step bars. They mount to stock holes but also had brackets to mount to pinch weld. Pained me to drill 6 holes in the pinch weld but it was everything they needed to be firm and not flex. Sounds like you need some sort of similar brackets. GL man!

 

[TatertotScott]

I have the Tyger step bars. They mount to stock holes but also had brackets to mount to pinch weld. Pained me to drill 6 holes in the pinch weld but it was everything they needed to be firm and not flex. Sounds like you need some sort of similar brackets. GL man!

My Tyger's didn't require new holes drilled, the holes in the pinch already existed, but, like Sportina said, mine have exactly 0 flex.....I weigh 290 and I have bounced on them.....even landed the truck on yhem with no issues.

Much of the rigidity comes from the lack of leverage they have against the rocker panel by having yhe pinch weld included for the vertical stress. It moved the lever piint much closer to your foot and converts the twisting torque against the rocker into an opposite vertical force only.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[SportinaHemi]

My Tyger's didn't require new holes drilled, the holes in the pinch already existed, but, like Sportina said, mine have exactly 0 flex.....I weigh 290 and I have bounced on them.....even landed the truck on yhem with no issues.

Much of the rigidity comes from the lack of leverage they have against the rocker panel by having yhe pinch weld included for the vertical stress. It moved the lever piint much closer to your foot and converts the twisting torque against the rocker into an opposite vertical force only.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Yeah unfortunately mine did not have the pre-drilled pinch weld holes, but I am 220 and have stood and shifted my weight back and forth pretty hard on them now and it rocks the truck, they don't budge individually one bit. Those brackets made ALL the difference.

 

[teamramrod215]

I think I figured it out. Included in the package were some random extra brackets, but the instructions didn't mention anything about them and didn't even include them on the parts list. I assumed they were for installing on other make/models of trucks, so I just set them to the side. After reading the back and forth about having a second bracket that mounts to the pinch weld, I took one out the truck and sure enough...it looks like it lines up as another brace from the nerf bar bracket up to the factory holes in the pinch weld. Later tonight I'm going to try and install it and see how it goes, but it looks like that's the missing link. Thanks everyone, hopefully that solves it

 

[SportinaHemi]

I think I figured it out. Included in the package were some random extra brackets, but the instructions didn't mention anything about them and didn't even include them on the parts list. I assumed they were for installing on other make/models of trucks, so I just set them to the side. After reading the back and forth about having a second bracket that mounts to the pinch weld, I took one out the truck and sure enough...it looks like it lines up as another brace from the nerf bar bracket up to the factory holes in the pinch weld. Later tonight I'm going to try and install it and see how it goes, but it looks like that's the missing link. Thanks everyone, hopefully that solves it

If you do not have factory pre-drilled holes in the pinch weld. TAKE YOUR TIME! Don't get the hole too low don't get the hole too high! I had to flatten off an edge of a few washers to get them to fit cause i had the hole just a hair too high. Take your time and do it right or call around and find a shop that will do the drilling for you!

Good luck bud!

 

[teamramrod215]

If you do not have factory pre-drilled holes in the pinch weld. TAKE YOUR TIME! Don't get the hole too low don't get the hole too high! I had to flatten off an edge of a few washers to get them to fit cause i had the hole just a hair too high. Take your time and do it right or call around and find a shop that will do the drilling for you!

Good luck bud!

Luckily I've already got the factory drilled holes there, so just put some bolts through and tighten everything down. Thanks for your help!

 

[SportinaHemi]

Luckily I've already got the factory drilled holes there, so just put some bolts through and tighten everything down. Thanks for your help!

Awesome! Sometimes those bolts for cheap bars are weak and the threads on the bolt strip at high torque, just beware. I also had to replace a few of mine with some actual quality machined bolts.

Post up some pics once you get it done! You can kind of see mine in this pic.