Spring plates and U-bolts --1/2-3/4 ton different??..

[diesel4me]

Had a nasty surprise today with my 82 K2500 GMC..went to put thespare tire on and saw the spring U-bolt "clamp plate" had ROTTED right in two!..and the center bolt in the leaf spring had no nut any more either,just a 1/4" peice of the shank there instead..

I had a 2" lift kit I took out of my '74 GMC many years ago stashed away,with the U-bolts and plates and blocks--but the plates seemed to be too small as far as the bolt spacing in the holes for the U-bolts,bit it looked like the U-bolts would not have fit..are the 3/4 ton SF ones the same as a 1/2 ton or different??..

I know in years past I had a bitch of a time getting u-bolts through that plate,had to use huge channel locks or c-clamps to compress them inwards,but it looked to me like these plates had the holes too close together for even that to work..I didn't have much time to fool around--

Anyway,since a 15" blizzerd is approacing tomorrow I had to do something--
I ended up cobbing some angle iron to fit over the existing U-bolts and used nuts to fasten it on top of the nuts that are already there,and I welded a flat washer to the center bolt,so it cant come apart (the existing u-bolts and remains of the old plate was still torqued tight and hadn't moved yet)..then I welded a 1/4" flat plate across the two angle irons bolted to the u-bolts,so at least they cant flex and come apart (hopefully!)..glad I noticed this today,and not tomorrow,after I ripped the rear axle out plowing,or worse,while driving down the ROAD to get fuel!....

Guess I'll be searching junkyards in the spring for some 3/4 ton spring plates,unless GM still sells them,and they are CHEAP!..my lift kit U-bolts are too long,suppose I should buy new ones instead of cutting more threads in these,since they were used,huh???....

Sigh--I go to put air in a tire,then decide to change it--and it turns into an all day beating!....I helped a friend remove a ford contour rear suspention after that too,and I was BEAT when I GOT there!..got a nice shiner too,when a track bar whacked me below the eye as we were lowering it to the ground..he wanted me to go with him to pick up another Contour he'd bought that needs that rear suspention and help put it in,but I said no thanks..my back was hurting before I went to his place,and it was already after 8 pm!..I need the money,but I also need to be able to plow ,snowblow and shovel tomorrow..I wont be in good shape in the morning..I'm headed for the muscle relaxants and BED!..

 

[cybrfire]

Front spring plates may be the same rears are different. Goes for ubolts as well. Ubolts are torque to yield. They aren't supposed to be reused. Many people do though.

 

[andyblack]

Kert, do you think it would really hurt to reuse u-bolts? What are the odds of one giving out, in your opinion? Have you ever heard of a case of one letting go because it was used?

 

[George_Pimpdaddy]

3/4t and 1/2t axles are different sized tube on the housing so you do need to find the right u bolt plates and get your self some new u bolts as reusing them is not safe

 

[diesel4me]

OK,now that I know they are different,
I guess I'll have to go boneyarding or see how much a GM dealer gets for the plates,IF they still sell them..

I'd use the used U-bolts in a pinch,but seeing I can buy new ones for about 10 bucks each at parts stores ,I guess I'll buy them,even though my truck only went a bit over 500 miles the past year!..(thats why its crumbling away in places,letting it sit sucks)..

As for the SNOW,its still BARE GROUND here,what little fell so far melted as it hit the ground..the weather guessers still insist "it's coming",and say we'll still get near blizzard conditions and 12+",but I'm beginning to think they are full of S***,I'll beleive it when I see it!..not that I want snow,but after all that work yesterday I would not mind getting to USE the truck,ya know??..but I'll be glad to see no snow and be able to RELAX instead if it misses us!..most likely if it comes ,it'll be tonight,so I'll have a frigging drift 6' high my truck cant move come morning..I hate having to plow at 3 am!!..

 

[cybrfire]

3/4t and 1/2t axles are different sized tube on the housing so you do need to find the right u bolt plates and get your self some new u bolts as reusing them is not safe

I think this is incorrect. Difference is on the outers.

 

[diesel4me]

The U-bolts I had will fit over the axle tube OK,its just the plates that seemed to have the holes in a different pattern..dont matter,I wont be using them..I'll keep them for spares for my K10 85 Burb instead..

I have the cast plates that came off the 1/2 ton front axle too,those DO have a different "outer" bolt spacing on the passenger side due to the U-bolt having to straddle the diff housing there,where as the other 3 only go around the axle tubes....

 

[George_Pimpdaddy]

I think this is incorrect. Difference is on the outers.

Sorry i was mostly talking about rear axles

 

[Speedo]

Early 70s used something like a 2 3/4" axle tube on the 44 fronts and around '76 or '77 they upped the tube size slightly on the Dana 44s.

Gus

 

[POORBOYK5]

Do you have a Fleet pride any where near you? They make excellent u-bolts. reasonably priced. I used them when I lived in Mass. Just try to bring whats left of one of yours for them to compare to. as for the plates, I'm sure one of us western guys can send you some decent plates. get a hold of someone like 1967k10 on here. He sells parts like that. Theres a couple other guys on here too..

 

[JDNobodi]

Early 70s used something like a 2 3/4" axle tube on the 44 fronts and around '76 or '77 they upped the tube size slightly on the Dana 44s.

Gus

GM used 3" tube size on the later model dana 44s--same as the 10 bolts.
I've fought with this problem many times. I only have one set of the later model springs plates but have to use later model housings.
3/4 ton and 1/2 ton has nothing to do with axle tube size, but the years do. However, there is a difference between wall thickness between 1/2ton and 3/4ton on the early model Dana 44s.