YIELD DESIGNS™
Bracket Set for installing OE Tow Eyes on '92-96 Broncos
These brackets allow OE Ford tow eyes (salvaged from junkyards) or aftermarket copies (commonly available new) to be mounted to '92-96 Broncos without any drilling, welding, or bending. No tow eyes are included in this listing! This is for the brackets ONLY. The tow eyes shown are only to illustrate what will fit on these brackets. These are intended for unmodified Broncos with intact front frame horns and original bumper fasteners, but they may fit those with body &/or front-bumper lift. They will not fit with lowered bumper, or most aftermarket (winch) bumpers.
Broncos weren't originally equipped with any recovery points front or rear, nor were they offered optionally from Ford. It's easy & common to add an aftermarket hitch receiver to create a rear hard point, but this is the first & only way to add genuine Ford recovery eyes (towhooks) to the front without an aftermarket bumper. Common grill guards are only cosmetic, and are not strong enough to use for vehicle recovery - and they normally require drilling through the factory bumper, which is also not strong enough.
For Broncos with the original plastic air dam, 4 small cuts are necessary to create openings for the eyes; otherwise, NO MODIFICATION is required. Simply remove the two 21mm nuts from one frame tab, set that side's bracket (laser-engraved for proper assembly) onto the sway bar tab and onto the 2 studs, then replace the nuts (50~60 lb-ft), making sure the bumper has not shifted down. Repeat for the other side. Place the tow eye's nut plate on the side bracket over the holes, lift one end of the crossbar into place, and start the rear bolt through the crossbar's rear slot and the bracket's rear hole into the rear nut; repeat for the other side. (The crossbar can be installed in any position, but if the lip is up to the rear, there may be interference with the transmission cooler lines; and either up position will interfere with the rubber flap between the core support & bumper.) Lift one end of the crossbar to expose the bolt head, and (passing the eye through the air dam if present) hook an eye's keyhole slot over that bolt head, then start the 2nd bolt; repeat for the other side. Tighten the bolts, checking for interference between the eyes & the bumper's bottom edge. Loosen the 21mm nuts to slide the bumper up if necessary; if there's still interference, remove the side brackets & cut up to 3/4" off the bottoms of their rear edges, so they sit that much lower on the sway bar tabs. When the bumper & eyes are aligned properly, tighten the four tow eye bolts (50~60 lb-ft).
For best results, ensure that the body mounts are tight, and holding the body at the correct height (black Energy polyurethane 4.4109G recommended); and that the body & bumper are centered on the frame, with the bumper as high as possible without contacting the body.
Used, restored, or new Ford tow eyes made for '97-20 F150s (and possibly other Ford/L/M vehicles) can be installed, or new aftermarket eyes including hooked shackle mounts (which might NOT be supplied with bolts & nut plates). These brackets will NOT fit F-series with leaf front suspension. It's possible that they could be installed on those with sway bar tabs welded under the frame rails (all F150s) or without front sway bar, but the tow eyes will be substantially weaker. Certain F250/350 with front sway bar have inboard mounts bolted to the frame, but the left bracket must be notched to fit.
Check my other listings for some used refurbished eyes.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296456244659
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296456233483
If you'd like to combine these brackets with a set of eyes and have them shipped together, contact me before buying either and I'll create a new listing for you.