Flat Top Perch Bolts

If you have a ride with a straight front axle and the spring is mounted either fore or aft of the axle do yourself a favor and check and be sure you have the correct perch bolts. When I replaced the kingpins I removed the axle from the bones and had the old kingpins pressed out. When I reinstalled the axle I reused the same perch bolts which of course were regular grade 8 machine bolts and new lock nuts. 31Apickup raised the question about these bolts when I posted about severe bump steer. My first thought was “It’ll be ok, what’s there will work just fine”. Well, I looked at it again, did a little research and came to the realization that I needed to get the correct bolts. True, the incorrect bolts weren’t the whole problem, but they were sure a piece of the puzzle. I ordered the correct ones and when I received them I saw just what they did and how they aligned the bones and the axle. The cone shape bolt heads and cone shaped washers are significant to stopping any slop. I’ve got my welder coming tomorrow to install the panhard bar and I believe that should solve most of my problem. I have new spring shackles and we must also align the bones with the spring to prevent any binding. I also have no front shocks so we’ll weld the upper shock mounts tomorrow also. Of course B4 the picture police cite me I will post pictures when I get done.
I have enclosed pictures of the correct perch bolts as compared to the standard grade 8’s. I also have a picture of the perch bolts installed. 31Apickup is that a better picture? Again 31A pickup a big thanks for pointing me in the right direction. If I’m plowing old ground with this post then just work around it, after all I’m a FNG.
Gary aka cornbread-red

 

It was by chance that I noticed it in the picture in the earlier post regarding the bolts. Having torn apart several early front ends, the proper bolts are a tight fit. In the new picture it does look like the shackles do need some attention. Just go about it systematically, you eliminate one possible problem after another. I learned as I went too, good luck.

 

Scary ****.

 

Interesting 31Apickup I went ahead and bought new shackles and bushings when I ordered the perch bolts. Just haven't gotten there yet.

 

Could be the picture angle, but it looks like the shackle bore hole is not aligned in the smae plane as the hole in the leaf spring?

You will know for sure when you start fitting the new shackles.

 

F&J, there is a lot of slop in the shackles, the bushings are either not there or completely worn out. I have new shackles to install when I get the other loose ends tied up. The spring and the axle and the bones are in the same plane. I believe what you are seeing maybe camera angle, but for sure the lack of bushings. Either way I will address that next. I will enclose pics when I get it all back together, plus a report on how it drives. Keep the suggestions coming.

Gary aka cornbread-red