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u-bolt problems

nstarry

nstarry

1/2 ton status
Joined
Feb 13, 2004
Posts
349
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1
Location
st.cloud minnesota
this is probably a stupid question and it is plane as day!
I pulled my front end from a 3/4 ton pickup, and set it under my truck and now i cant get the u-bolts to line back up with the plate. The u-bolts came off the axel so you would figure they would slide right back on but no! I slide them up the axel and they spread apart, does anyone have a easy way of getting these things on there? They are in perfect shape so i cant justify buying new ones.
 
If you've got a big set of lock jaws, you can get em on. Just giver it a little squeeze to make it smaller.
 
This always happens with u bolts. They're not designed to be reused. Muffler clamps are the same way.
 
The easiest way I know is using plastic wire ties .Squeeze the U bolts with your hand as you pull the ties tighter. Worked great a few times for me. You know you can link a couple together to make a long one.
 
I smash them in a big vise to close them up.
 
I hit that problem putting the axle back under the project and I found something I should of known .........the springplates are proprietary to the side they came off of , they are left and right , the long u-bolt for next to the pumpkin only goes into the wider bolt pattern of the passenger side springplate . Maybe you have them backwards /forums/images/graemlins/k5.gif /forums/images/graemlins/k5.gif
 
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I tried that they just spread back apart

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I smash them farther than they need to be so that when they spring back they will be the right size. When they are in the vise I smash them until the ends are only a couple inches apart. Be carefull not to damage the threads. Try a few times with more pressure each time so that you don't go to far. If you do go too far, put the nuts on the end of the bolt to protect the threads and using two long pipes you can open it back up by standing on one and lifting the other
 
I've used hose clamps to pull the u-bolts closer so they will go thru the spring plates--its tedious,but it works.I put two large clamps together to make them big enough to work.A C-clamp or the welders vise grip thing work well too. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
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