SOA U bolt trick.. (1 Viewer)

[chicago]

Hey all,
I was wondering what the trick is to get the pass, diff side, u bolt into the plate. I know there is some bening involved, but I dont wanna mangle a u bolt, doing trial and error...
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Chicago

 

[hicruise55]

Some people bend the U-Bolt, sounded less than perfect to me so I was trying to come up with something outside the box when I remembered that I had the 60/62 square U-bolt setup sitting around. Take a look at how these work, instead of wrapping around the axle, they clamp the axle using a corosponding "perch". I removed lots of metal to make it as low profile as possible AND I am 100% confident in its safety.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Keith-my set-up involves a square ubolt on the inside, wrapped fully around the axle. The spring plate is modified to move the hole forward. No u-bolt bending needed. This pic sort of shows it.

In many ways, it would just be easier to bend the forward arm of the u-bolt at the axle, and to bend the rear arm of the u-bolt at the bottom.

Things have since been trimmed, with the small spacers welded to the plate. I can get some more pics if needed.

 

[chicago]

Keith-my set-up involves a square ubolt on the inside, wrapped fully around the axle. The spring plate is modified to move the hole forward. No u-bolt bending needed. This pic sort of shows it.

In many ways, it would just be easier to bend the forward arm of the u-bolt at the axle, and to bend the rear arm of the u-bolt at the bottom.

Things have since been trimmed, with the small spacers welded to the plate. I can get some more pics if needed.

Hey Andy,
I really like this set up you have...
However, I really dont have the resources to be able to pull that off effectively.
I was considering a variation of that (after I saw YOUR pics), and re drilling the plate holes, but there actually fairly close, and would most certainly "bleed" through one another in the process, particularly the rear hole.
If I bolt the outermost side up, the inner side is only about 1/2 in off the mark.
Its making me CRAZY!

Thanks,

Chicago

 

[chicago]

Anyone else?
Please?


Chicago

 

[2badfjs]

Took me a couple u-bolts to get the bend right and the length of the bolt.

the angle to bend them is a different story. maybe andrew can get you the angle his are at.

i can measure mine after awhile if you want.
it really was'nt that hard.

each bend was at a different point on the bolt. iirc

 

[chicago]

Hey 2bad,
How did you do the bend?
I was thinking of clamping it in a vice and bending it that way, between 2 boards to protect the threads...

Chicago

 

[2badfjs]

Hey 2bad,
How did you do the bend?
I was thinking of clamping it in a vice and bending it that way, between 2 boards to protect the threads...

Chicago

i think i may have put just a bit of heat on it. not much!
i had a nut on the threads just in case i booger'd the threads. remove nut to chase the threads.
use a vise for sure to hold it.

 

[hicruise55]

This is scareing meBending a streched component??? Fuel for the people that want to shut us down! Do it right

 

[lowtideride]

Hmmm, I just used a u-bolt that was designed for the rear of the 60. Pulled it apart a little with my hands and it went in...

 

[2badfjs]

This is scareing meBending a streched component??? Fuel for the people that want to shut us down! Do it right

this is spring steel, you can put just a bit of heat on it, and all u-bolts start off as a straight piece of metal so bending is not an issue.

and who are we shutting down again?

 

[Mark W]

Just bend it a little. Nothing special about ubolts. Afraid to bend them because it is somehow unsafe? The Ubolt opolice gonna shut us down?!?!?

Everytime I get a Ubolt made they start with... A straight piece... And then they... Bend it to shape.

Clamp it in a vice. run a couple of nuts down over the threads to protect them. Slip a piece of pipe over it and gently bend it a little. You don't need to bend it enough that I would bother using heat. In fact for a small bend like this I would worry more about the heat fatiguing the metal more than a cold bend.

Don't get yourself wrapped up overthinking this.


Mark...

 

[2badfjs]

Just bend it a little. Nothing special about ubolts. Afraid to bend them because it is somehow unsafe? The Ubolt opolice gonna shut us down?!?!?

Everytime I get a Ubolt made they start with... A straight piece... And then they... Bend it to shape.

Clamp it in a vice. run a couple of nuts down over the threads to protect them. Slip a piece of pipe over it and gently bend it a little. You don't need to bend it enough that I would bother using heat. In fact for a small bend like this I would worry more about the heat fatiguing the metal more than a cold bend.

Don't get yourself wrapped up overthinking this.


Mark...

x

 

[hicruise55]

Well, I guess I'm wrong! But when my 3 yr old little girl is gonna be riding in my truck I want it to be as overbuilt as possible. Where I grew up, the State Patrol is very picky and and quick to point fingers. My best friend went though this himself, the accident was the other drivers fault- but they sure tried to paint him as a criminal for driving a lifted truck-as if dealing with a fatality accident wasnt enough! Just my thoughts, wasnt trying to offend anyone.

 

[chicago]

How do you "do it right?"
The BEST way ive see this done so far has been cruiserdrews method...
Without the resources, I dont see anyother way of doing it than bending it.
Its not like anyone sells this stuff specifically made for this process.

Im not trying to flame you...HONESTLY!
What is "doing it right" for U bolt placement against the dif on the PS of the housing?

Chicago

 

[chicago]

I bent the u bolt, and it worked out GREAT!
I used the pipe vice to clamp it, and bent it with pipe...Took about 10 min including marking where I wanted the bend to be...

Thanks for the help!

Chicago