Squashed front leaf spring perches.

[ALX4X4]

So did a full overhaul on the front axle for my FJ73. TJM Pro-Locker centre new inner seals, new outer seals, new swivel hub bearings, stripped and rebuilt CV's (they were in good nick) new discs, rebuilt calipers, new TRE's basically anything that moves inside or outside the housing was replaced.
Bolting it all in with even new u-bolts, as you do, tightened up the LHS u-bolts to torque, I think it was 105lb/ft, go to do the RHS diff pumpkin side and geez tightening those u bolts seem to just keep going on and on.. Smell a rat too late - stop to look and the u bolt has pulled in both the bottom, but moreso the top perch and its now nicely sagged way down under the load of the u bolt. Swell.
All that labour to get this far and the very last thing has bent the perch.
Only got a before photo of the LHS (nice and squeakly clean) but any ideas on how to fix a flattened, well at least bowed perch ???

Cheers.

 

[Willis]

That sounds very odd to me, usually a ubolt will stop turning before it bends the bolt perch. Sounds like a weak perch that needed repair anyway. Either leave the bolt and risk it, or reweld a new perch in.

I usually the crank ubolts until the impact gun stops turning. If it's a powerful gun, just go until it's almost not moving. The ubolts usually tighten against each other to keep from loosening. I've never actually heard of a ubolt coming loose(not that it's never happened).

 

[ALX4X4]

Yeah I'll probably leave it cant see them slipping off but its going to annoy me every time I think about it. I "KNOW" its up pretty tight.

 

[roscoFJ73]

I though the U bolts only needed 80-90 ft/lbs

 

[ALX4X4]

I'm using the FSM, not a Haymes or Gregory and its 105 on the front. D'oh !