Installing new U-Bolt mounting plates and I don't want to bind up the U bolts.... (1 Viewer)

[alex e]

How do you install the skidplate style u-bolt plates without torquing them all crooked and destroying the threads on the u-bolts and getting all hung up as you tighten them? Do you do both sides simultaneously? Do you tighten both sides a bit at a time and spend the day under there? I slapped the set on before these and thrashed the u-bolt threads plus the plates went on crooked and it became a nightmare.......

Is there a SMARTER way to do this?

 

[mooker82]

Drill out the top plate? If you have a lift or have replaced the U bolts they are probably standard sized 9/16.

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Alex, are you speaking of the Con-Ferr "rock toboggans?"

Or, the low-profile u-bolt plates like LCAH used to make?

Two different beasts.

I never had any issues with the u-bolts on the Con-Ferr 'plates. Tighten' the u-bolts down to 100 foot-pounds or so.

The LCAH style low-profile u-bolt plates are a bit more sensitive to over-tightening. IIRC three of the four LCAH u-bolt plates I have on my rig have had cracks fixed by welding. Gusseting this style of u-bolt plate seems to be a really good idea!

Regards,

Alan

 

[alex e]

These are Downeys. Do you do them one side at a time, each of the four nuts a little at a time so the plate remains fairly flat the entire time?

Alex

 

[nuclearlemon]

don't know what the downeys look like, but when i've got snug fitting plates, i work the plate up using the two diagnol nuts until it's in place (not tight). then run the other two up, tighten in a cross pattern

 

[alex e]

Of course I tried fitting them today and the damn centered guiding holes on top of the plates are smaller than the centering pin and nut on the bottom of the spring pack. I want to enlarge the hole in a proper manner now. Drill press? What bit should I use?

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Drill press, for sure. Use a "uni-bit." They cost like $30 at Home Despot are worth the $$.

Regards,

Alan

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Of course I tried fitting them today and the damn centered guiding holes on top of the plates are smaller than the centering pin and nut on the bottom of the spring pack. I want to enlarge the hole in a proper manner now. Drill press? What bit should I use?

 

[Downey]

Alex, I'd cross-tighten as has been suggested. A possible reason our center hole was not large enough is that different springs have different centering bolts and/or customers may change their centering bolts?????

 

[alex e]

I am going to slightly enlarge ALL the top holes to keep my u-bolt threads intact 100%. When I go SOA i'm sure I'll cut them off, but I definitely don't want to have them stuck on there if I had a trail repair to make. The issue is how to cut/enlarge the top holes smoothly. A carbide burr tip might work well in a heavy duty hand held engraving tool? We have one in our shop for knife blade and guard work.