Spring hanger loose

[FluByU]

Has anyone ever experienced the riveted spring hangers loosen up on the frame? I replaced my tired springs and non existent bushings this weekend with an OME kit and found the driver front and passenger rear spring hangers loose. I am thinking about just taking the load off and re-weld since tightening rivets is almost impossible. Just curious if anyone else have seen this.

 

[Poser]

Not unheard of but I would not say it is common.

It is far more common for the spring hangers for the rear to rust/crack away from the frame and for the rear shackle mounting point to simply rust away.

 

[DSRTRDR]

I have seen two front spring hangers crack on different trucks - both needed welding

on my truck, the frame was boxed on the passenger side in the repair process - I have not seen what the other guy did

 

[AZ Roadrunner]

Has anyone ever experienced the riveted spring hangers loosen up on the frame?

Sorry I'm joining this party nearly 13 years late, but I was just installing a Dobinsons lift in my '84 FJ60 and found that my front-left leaf spring's rear hanger is loose. (See photo below.) I'm no auto mechanic, but from (1) looking at my wiggly hanger and (2) perusing this and other similar threads online, it indeed seems that tightening it with fasteners would be impractical, and that I should just weld the hanger onto the frame.
Can anybody more knowledgeable than me (1) confirm that I should get out my welder and (2) give any other recommendations, e.g. if I should just tack it in a few places, or try to run a full bead along all the joints?

 

[cruisermatt]

first make sure the new spring pin is a nice fit into the holes, if so I would weld the hanger to frame without concern. Pretty common.

 

[duncanrm]

Sorry I'm joining this party nearly 13 years late, but I was just installing a Dobinsons lift in my '84 FJ60 and found that my front-left leaf spring's rear hanger is loose. (See photo below.) I'm no auto mechanic, but from (1) looking at my wiggly hanger and (2) perusing this and other similar threads online, it indeed seems that tightening it with fasteners would be impractical, and that I should just weld the hanger onto the frame.
Can anybody more knowledgeable than me (1) confirm that I should get out my welder and (2) give any other recommendations, e.g. if I should just tack it in a few places, or try to run a full bead along all the joints?

I drilled out the rivets, upsized the holes to the next available metric size and bolted with High Tensile bolts, lock washered and double nutted. I felt bolts was going to give more security/safety than welds. I can weld (adequately, not professionally) but really didn't think it was the best approach.

 

[duncanrm]

edit.. Found the photos.. also noted that I've ground out a crack and welded it.. I had forgotten that, another good reason to remove the hanger and inspect.

Got bolts in all 4 holes..

Tig rod welded to one of the bolts to help sneak it into the chassis rail and drop it down into the hole:

 

[charliemeyer007]

That would be my approach. 1. you get to inspect the metal for damage like cracks. 2. not a good welder myself, I'd worry about softening the material. I also would add some large area washers as you get to choose the bolt length.

 

[AZ Roadrunner]

I drilled out the rivets, upsized the holes to the next available metric size and bolted with High Tensile bolts, lock washered and double nutted.

How did you get the nuts onto the bolt? Admittedly I didn't look/feel around the best that I could've, but the frame seems to be an enclosed channel at the point of attachment.

Also, to ensure that we're comparing apples to apples, mine is an '84, and I think they changed the hangers for '85+(?).

 

[duncanrm]

How did you get the nuts onto the bolt? Admittedly I didn't look/feel around the best that I could've, but the frame seems to be an enclosed channel at the point of attachment.

Also, to ensure that we're comparing apples to apples, mine is an '84, and I think they changed the hangers for '85+(?).

Mine is an 81.. pretty sure the hangers are the same as yours.

The nuts are on the outside of the frame rail.. this is a few years ago so my memory is a little hazy - I can double check tonight but I am almost certain all the nuts are on the outside and the bolts are inserted from inside of the frame rail.