Bent U-Bolt Plate at 130 ft lbs

[jeffahart]

I swapped in a 14Bolt rear axle for the Eaton. Put on a shackle flip and zero rate leaf. I reamed the u-bolt plate to account for the center bolt offset. Did not think the little amount of reaming would weaken the plate. But it bent, and wrecked my new u-bolts. I used an old rancho plate I had laying around. I torqued gradually and using crisscross pattern. I guess they are Junk. I ordered new square over the spring type u-bolts to use with the under axle bracket that came with the 14 bolt. Annoying to wreck my new bolts.