ubolt question

[mollyman]

Are the ubolts for a 1 ton 14blt the same as the ones for a 3/4 ton 14blt??
The reason I ask is not to long ago I put in a 14blt in the rear of my 81, 1/2 ton sub but I had a real hard time getting the ubolts on. I had to use a mallet to beat the ubolts on the axle tube and then they were so spread out that I had a hard time putting my diy 4x spring plates on. It has bothered me ever since and I now have the body off and am going to take everything back apart and start over, so now would be the time to but the right ones on if they are wrong. I was able to get them on and bolted up it was just a big pain in the ass, I had to use a c-clamp to get the ubolts close enough together to drop the plate on and even then i had to hammer the plate down. any help would be great, THANKS

 

[Mudstud]

"I put in a 14blt in the rear of my 81, 1/2 ton sub " If you're using the 1/2 ton U bolts then there is your problem. No difference between the tube size in 3/4 and 1 ton 14 bolt axles.

 

[virgilh]

Are the ubolts for a 1 ton 14blt the same as the ones for a 3/4 ton 14blt??
The reason I ask is not to long ago I put in a 14blt in the rear of my 81, 1/2 ton sub but I had a real hard time getting the ubolts on. I had to use a mallet to beat the ubolts on the axle tube and then they were so spread out that I had a hard time putting my diy 4x spring plates on. It has bothered me ever since and I now have the body off and am going to take everything back apart and start over, so now would be the time to but the right ones on if they are wrong. I was able to get them on and bolted up it was just a big pain in the ass, I had to use a c-clamp to get the ubolts close enough together to drop the plate on and even then i had to hammer the plate down. any help would be great, THANKS

you need 14 bolt spring plates that are available at most wrecking yards or aftermarket ones usually 12-16 dollars each

 

[mollyman]

Thanks for the info but I bought 14blt spring plates from diy4x and the ubolts I bought at a local 4x4 shop, I did not reuse my old ones. I just wonder if the guy at the 4x4 shop gave me the wrong ubolts? Should it be as hard as I described to get them on?

 

[Mudstud]

If you had to fight it like that then I'd say you got the wrong u-bolts. Compare one to your old 1/2 ton u-bolt and see. I don't buy off the shelf u-bolts. I go to Truck Pro and have them bent up. They are cheaper and the guy does a fantastic job. If you take him the spring plate he'll make sure it slides down the new u-bolts with ease.

 

[mollyman]

I would if I could but I had to cut my old ubolts up to get them off and besides wouldn't they look different now if they were the same since I have them installed?

 

[Mudstud]

Yea good point! basically, if your U's turned into V's once you beat them onto the axle tube I'd say you got the wrong U bolts. Did the round part of the U bolt fit the curve of the axle tube or is/was there a gap in the bottom?

 

[virgilh]

a 10 bolt uses 3 inch inside diameter u bolt and the 14 bolt uses a 3.25 u bolt so measure the u bolts inside the u