Studs instead of u-bolts for rear springs?

[Zeus33rd]

Been pondering the u-bolt situation for the D70 in my dually. Right now it has the upside down square u-bolt set up. I ordered the D70 spring plates from Kert to convert to normal u-bolts, I just haven't bought u-bolts yet. I started thinking about a way to use studs/nuts and eliminate the u-bolts. I was thinking about a solid spring perch that would replace the stock one, large enough to have holes threaded for the appropriate studs.

I know I've seen this setup before, I just can't remember where. I really liked the way it looked, also seemed like a better method than the u-bolts. Have any of you guys done this? If so, pictures pictures pictures! I'm gonna have to cut the old perches off my D70 to adjust pinion angle anyways, might as well do this at the same time.

 

[BoondocK5]

Didn't someone do this when they swapped to Rockwells? welded the plates to the housing?

 

[George_Pimpdaddy]

Whats wrong with U bolts

 

[Big Blzn]

I saw a pic on CK5 where a guy used the stock ubolt plate that wraps around the bottom part of the axle tube where the ubolt nuts would go and then used a 3/8" plate on the top of the spring pack with four holes drilled into it and he used four 8" or so grade 8 nuts and bolts instead of ubolts. Looked pretty good IMO.

 

[USSkoval]

I saw a pic on CK5 where a guy used the stock ubolt plate that wraps around the bottom part of the axle tube where the ubolt nuts would go and then used a 3/8" plate on the top of the spring pack with four holes drilled into it and he used four 8" or so grade 8 nuts and bolts instead of ubolts. Looked pretty good IMO.

I remember that too, looked good and strong.

 

[Zeus33rd]

Whats wrong with U bolts

Nothing really.


Studs would look cleaner, be alittle easier to work with and be different.

 

[Blazinaire]

I've been running similar since '04. Instead of tapping the perch I welded coupling nuts that have about 2" of female thread to the housing. I use 5/8" f911 bolts through the factory spring plate into the nuts. The nuts are actually welded on the sides of my spring perches which sit on top of my truss (the shape of the truss made the use of u-bolts impossible), so the lowest point is above the top of the axle tube. I can e-mail pics to someone if they care to post them.

 

[Zeus33rd]

Use photobucket.

 

[Blazinaire]

Is 7 months later too late?