Hey all! I have finally gotten around to installing the rear suspension on my 53 F250. I was getting everything mocked up to install the new rear end when I noticed my new U-bolts were a bit odd. I distinctly remember the old ones (which I cut because I was in a hurry and in one of "those" moods) had much squarer tops. When I had the new ones resting over the leafs there is a good 1/2" if space between the top of the bolt and the top plate that goes over the leaf spring. It also looks like the bottom plate/shock mount that the bolts go through is a bit narrower than the bolts and I will have to "compress" the ends of the u-bolts a pretty decent amount to get it to fit right... Please bear in mind I am a massive noob... Is this normal or do I need to find some different bolts?
I'm not sure what you mean by "Squarer", but it sure sounds like the wrong bolts and/or plates. A pic would be helpful.
Pics would go a long ways to better understanding what you have, and you did good by cutting the old u-bolts: never reuse u-bolts
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7959/dscf0144.jpg http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7959/dscf0145.jpg
Whoa! That bolt is meant to wrap around the axle and have the threaded section at the top, so that a plate will clamp the spring to the axle. If your plate bolts to the bottom of the axle then you definitely have the wrong u-bolts...
God damnit...LMC, I expected better of you... Is there anywhere online I can just order these things by size?
I'm just talking out my butt here, but there might be a chance that the springs were mounted different between the 1/2 tons and the 3/4 tons...maybe. You can take your measurements and plates into NAPA and they should be able to hook you up with the right bolts too (at least you could the last time I swapped an axle, in '87)
Local spring shop here makes them up for me. They take straight stock that is threaded and bend to get the spring width I need. Pretty cheap, $25 for a set of four. Record your leaf spring width or distance between the holes in the mounting plate, length, and bolt diameter. Never tried napa but good tip.
We have a large truck repair shoppe (WWW.WHEELCO.COM) that will make the u-bolts while you wait. You just have to tell them what size you want them and how many. I have to imagine truck shoppes like this exist all over the place. This place banged some out for me for a Bronco lift job in about 5 minutes, and they fit perfectly.
Yep, I just go down to my local Truck Spring shop with my old U-bolts and they make what I need right on the spot from straight threaded stock. I think the cost was about 24 bucks for two.
Back to the 1/2 ton v 3/4 ton spring position. I've seen the 1/2 ton spring under the housing and the 3/4 ton springs on top of the housing. Of course this can and does change from make to make and year to year.
LMC have it pictured in their catalog with the axle below the spring, ubolts going downward. I think a refund will be in order and I'll try skipping down to the local parts house... Thanks all!
Umm, if it's all the same to you, I'd "stroll" or possibly "strut" on down to the parts store. If you were seen skipping into any of the old parts stores you might be greeted with some derision
The Jalopy Journal
