spring center pin reuse or replace or alternate to ordering new spring pins

[slickrock]

this allowed me to make a spring pin that is long enough to be used on a stock spring with a ccot leveling block without drilling out the leaf spring. it is made at larger diameter for the exact thickness of the plate then goes to stock size the rest of the way down the spring pin

Great, send me 4 of them and make sure they are long enough to accept an additional spring. THose will be free right?

 

[Chromed]

Let us know how well or how much you level out I have the same issue with my rig thats set up almost to a T to your in fact looks the same. I was going to throw some lift blocks or shackles or junkyard springs. Still undecided.

 

[Fast Eddy]

I have installed hundreds of leaf springs in trucks and can count on one hand the u-bolts that were able to be removed with an impact gun, and could even be looked at as a ‘trail spare’. The rest were removed with a torch.

Point taken. It's pretty dry here. I am continually amazed at how little rust my '40 has compared to the average pictures I see.

Rust wasn't the issue I was arguing. Presumably you've taken apart year old, garaged rigs for maintenance. Do you replace the u-bolts?

 

[Poser]

Rust wasn't the issue I was arguing. Presumably you've taken apart year old, garaged rigs for maintenance. Do you replace the u-bolts?

I am not arguing with you or anyone else. Nor am I trying to sway any opinion on this matter. Like you, I am only stating observations based on my experience.


I have only re-used a pair of u-bolts once, and only on my junk, at one spot on the right rear axle, because I had not planned accordingly for replacing a broken spring pin. The used u-bolts were installed for one outing over a two-day weekend. When I checked them after the first day of use, they were loose, and the others were still secure, so I tightened them back up. When I checked on them after the second day when the truck was back in the shop, they were loose again, and still, the others were tight.


They were subsequently replaced before my Land Cruiser was put back into service.



I do not reuse old u-bolts.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I have reused u-bolts as trail spares, and installed on trucks with broken u-bolts. I would not re-use a u-bolt on my own truck for long term use. They are not that expensive, and are critically important. I think the 5/8 ubolts from Ruffstuff are $10 or so even USA made excellent quality u-bolts are not that expensive.

 

[FJ40 TOOLMAN]

I am learning something new after many years working on all sizes of trucks we never used a center bolt over.We even changed the u bolts some of the time but of course we did not like doing it over again or having my ass chewed out.It should be interesting having two different spring rates on the same axle.

 

[slickrock]

I need to figure out which spring to pull from the front to raise the rear. Anyone know what would be the best guess on which spring to pull to move to the rear to get the most lift in the back? I could go as much as an inch increase in the rear and an inch in front lowering? Maybe somone has figured out which spring in the pack provides the most and least lift. Or is it totally hit or miss?

 

[Coolerman]

Slickrock, the switch was perfect!

Back on the topic of u-bolts: So if I decided to replace the weak-ass spring pins I made up, the opinion is I should replace my brand new u-bolts that have never even been out of the road?

I understand the rust issues, I had to cut the old ones off, but how many of you have worked on the axles several times in a short period trying to get springs right or whatever, and reused the old bolts?

Just how common are broken u-bolts anyway?....

 

[slickrock]

I wouldn't think so becaue they haven't had any stress put on themto casoue them to overly stretch. I think those are fine to keep on your rig.