Leaf Spring center bolts
DTR's 'Wrench thrower...' And he aims for the gusto...
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 3
From: Smith Valley, NV (sometimes Redwood City, CA)
Did you guys that are replaceing your soft center pins is not really a good idea. Besides holding the spring pack together and centering it on the axle there is another purpose for them and that is why they are soft and can shear the head off rather easy. They are designed to shear on hard impact to lessen the chance of major damage to the axle housing like bending. also torque the U-Bolts to the proper spec, over-torqueing does nothing but strech the U-Bolt and weaken them. Over-torqueing can also bend the housing. I am speaking from experence and also from a talk I had with a long time spring shop owner in Sacramento. I was talking to him about making the springs and hardware last longer on my RockCrawler.
You may be right, I don't know. But I am not looking for a fusable link in my center bolts. You naysayers are making a mountain out of a mole hill.
If you've had your Dodge apart you'll know what I mean about hex head bolts "fitting better" in the perch pocket. The stock hole in the top of the axle that receives the center bolt head is big enough to receive a 1/2" bolt hex head. Way sloppy for a little round bolt head. I think you could get the axle out of square almost enough to make the truck crab.
By the way, lowering the rear of the truck is an excellent mod! Makes way more sense to me than "leveling" with a two inch lift up front.
John
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 553
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From: Texas
Did you guys that are replaceing your soft center pins is not really a good idea. Besides holding the spring pack together and centering it on the axle there is another purpose for them and that is why they are soft and can shear the head off rather easy. They are designed to shear on hard impact to lessen the chance of major damage to the axle housing like bending. also torque the U-Bolts to the proper spec, over-torqueing does nothing but strech the U-Bolt and weaken them. Over-torqueing can also bend the housing. I am speaking from experence and also from a talk I had with a long time spring shop owner in Sacramento. I was talking to him about making the springs and hardware last longer on my RockCrawler.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Manchester, NH
Hey! If any of you guys want to use old U bolts and center pins, be my guest! I hope you are nowhere near me on the highway at 70 with any type of load when you have to jamb on the brakes and your axle decides to shift off its purch because your U bolt had lossened and your center bolt sheared! All I have to say is, Good luck! I've seen it before! But hey you go ahead and take that gamble!
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Hey! If any of you guys want to use old U bolts and center pins, be my guest! I hope you are nowhere near me on the highway at 70 with any type of load when you have to jamb on the brakes and your axle decides to shift off its purch because your U bolt had lossened and your center bolt sheared! All I have to say is, Good luck! I've seen it before! But hey you go ahead and take that gamble!8Valve
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 847
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From: Fair Oaks CA
arm chair Internet Mechanics really work hard to win a Darwin Award.
OK, so I am a arm chair internet mechanic.
Tell me exactly why the U bolts will loosen up agan. and dont tell me because some website or someone told you that it is a no no. Educate me why they will loosen up. I love to learn new things. but not what someone said so.
OK, so I am a arm chair internet mechanic.
Tell me exactly why the U bolts will loosen up agan. and dont tell me because some website or someone told you that it is a no no. Educate me why they will loosen up. I love to learn new things. but not what someone said so.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
arm chair Internet Mechanics really work hard to win a Darwin Award.
OK, so I am a arm chair internet mechanic. Tell me exactly why the U bolts will loosen up agan. and dont tell me because some website or someone told you that it is a no no. Educate me why they will loosen up. I love to learn new things. but not what someone said so.
OK, so I am a arm chair internet mechanic.
Tell me exactly why the U bolts will loosen up agan. and dont tell me because some website or someone told you that it is a no no. Educate me why they will loosen up. I love to learn new things. but not what someone said so.8Valve
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: Concord, CA
Hey! If any of you guys want to use old U bolts and center pins, be my guest! I hope you are nowhere near me on the highway at 70 with any type of load when you have to jamb on the brakes and your axle decides to shift off its purch because your U bolt had lossened and your center bolt sheared! All I have to say is, Good luck! I've seen it before! But hey you go ahead and take that gamble!They did that because no one went back and checked them.
Reusing u-bolts is a myth, with to many holes.
If your truck has 50k on them, might as well add some new ones to it.
But in 5k miles after that, you re do something, you are fine to re use those.
I would re u-bolts 2-3 times, but if they are old, just replace them.
I would never reuse a center pin though. Those are to short and hard to deal with the 2-3$ they cost.
I have always used Allen hear socket head bolts on my center pins, on all my 4x4's.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Manchester, NH
Ok! You guys who fight the argument of useing old U bolts are just making me laugh! You guys make it sound like they're the most expencive part on the truck! THEY ARE CHEAP INSURENCE!!!!
If you can't afford new ones, delay the project till you can! I mean my God what a bunch of cheap f***s!!!
Banned
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 333
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I have reused U bolts on lots of rigs and never had an issue. It would be the same as saying you can't reuse any other bolt on the truck.
If the U bolts are beat up, sure I'll replace them. But if I just remove them to let's say put another axle under, install another leaf or two, etc I will re-use as long as they are the correct length.
The center pin is usually rusted all to hell so I don't usually re-use that unless it's in good shape.
U bolts are not too expensive, but why spend the $20-30 if you don't need to?
As for the "armchair" mechanic... not here... I am a real world mechanic.
If the U bolts are beat up, sure I'll replace them. But if I just remove them to let's say put another axle under, install another leaf or two, etc I will re-use as long as they are the correct length.
The center pin is usually rusted all to hell so I don't usually re-use that unless it's in good shape.
U bolts are not too expensive, but why spend the $20-30 if you don't need to?
As for the "armchair" mechanic... not here... I am a real world mechanic.
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