Rear Axle U bolts question

[DBear]

got a 72 K5, and rear axle tube measures right at 3 inches. Everywhere I look, it calls for 2.75" U bolt width.....probably a dumb question, but am i missing something here?

*** I am changing it round U bolts with spring plates on top of leafs....

[DBear]

And it is the stock axle.....

[buckkoo]

Most places have 3 specs for the U bolts; A - bolt diameter, B - Distance between shafts, C - length.

So I would take measurements and order based on that, but I'm curious as to why you would change.

I have 5/8" diameter square U bolts on my 4WD K5. The leaf springs are 2.5" wide and about 2.75" high. The bolts face downward, where they connect to a serrated cradle that keeps the U bolt from slipping on the axle.

I'm in the process of installing a rear sway bar that I purchased from SD Truck Springs and had considered flipping the U bolt to facilitate mounting the sway bar.

In the end I elected to add a third U bolt for sway bar mounting as I did not want to compromise the leaf spring/rear end mounts.

[tjsblazer]

I'm sure you got this figured out by now but if you are using regular style u bolts facing up around the axle tube (not square style down facing factory style) then yes the factory 12 bolt axle tube is 3". It is common to go this setup when replacing. Often the factory style bottom plates corroded out from water and debris gathering in them.