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12-01-2007, 08:41 AM | #1 |
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tough as nails rear end ubolts
man, i was amazed at how much umph it took to get off my rearend ubolts when i swapped rears two weeks ago. i litearlly broke the head rigth off of a 2 foot breaker bar that i was using. i ended up using a 6.5 foot pipe on a foot long wrench (total from tip tip tip was 7 feet long) after wire brushing the u bolt threads and generous coats of pb blaster. these things were not that rusted either. i used the 7 footer to loosen them like 2 turns and then was able to man handle them the rest of the way off with another 2 footer breaker bar. the weird part is, after doing all this, i cleaned the threads, and was able to screw on the nuts by hand. for any guys out there doing this, its probably easier and less time consuming to just cut the ubolts and get new ones.
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12-01-2007, 08:50 AM | #2 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
the nuts on my u- bolts came off easy. getting the u-bolt to pass thru the trailing arm was another problem. i had to heat the u-bolt/trailing arm with a cutting torch and hit with a BFH to get them out...i put a nice coat of anti-sieze on them when reinstalled.
Last edited by lilred67; 12-01-2007 at 08:50 AM. |
12-01-2007, 08:51 AM | #3 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
That's what I did!
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12-01-2007, 09:51 AM | #4 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
i didnt put anti-seize on whenever i installed my new ones- I put permanent loctite on there cuz its just how i like it. I had a friend who i helped do a rear block lift, and for some reason the nuts wanted to keeo backing off. I made sure that wouldnt happen with mine!
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12-01-2007, 10:21 AM | #5 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
i'm pretty sure from the factory they came with grade8 locknuts// i'm with the cut and replace with new bolts thinking
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12-01-2007, 01:02 PM | #6 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
Yeah, I'm gonna have to attempt to get my rear U-bolts off as well. I bought a 1" lowering block kit from CPP. We'll see how hard it will be.
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12-01-2007, 01:30 PM | #7 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
You should just cut them off. Should always use new ubolts.
Last edited by Morgsie; 12-01-2007 at 01:31 PM. |
12-01-2007, 01:44 PM | #8 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
That's what I have always heard too. From what I've read, these bolts are designed to stretch when torqued and after torqued they loose strength. I know some people reuse them, but I just budget new ones when I'm messing with an axle.
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12-01-2007, 02:05 PM | #9 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
If they loose strength after to torque them????, Then how do they not break?
I have reused them many times. And will do it again. If you want to take them off. Heat them up. Then use a good impact to take them off with a good socket. If its not a Impact socket the heat soak of the nut might cause the cheap socket to break.
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12-01-2007, 02:37 PM | #10 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
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12-01-2007, 02:48 PM | #11 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
I always use the smoke wrenches to heat them up to get them off... even if you are going to replace them when cutting them off you have to get really close to other parts you are going to be using! Depending on how good you are with the torch means alot!
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68 C10 Shorty TPI,Bagged, and all the good stuff. Classic trucks feature June 06, On the cover of Jegs Christmas Catalog 08 67 C10 Shorty Shop truck project Bagged and Z'd under destruction and getting nowhere fast. 64 C10 Shop Truck/Daily driver, Bagged, Dropmember, SOLD!!!! Gone but not forgotten.. 54 GMC under the knife getting a S10 chassis swap and bagged. See my build thread... 07 GMC Sierra 5/7 drop, 22's and 24's Air ride on my mind.. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=339340 See pics of my trucks in my profile |
12-01-2007, 03:10 PM | #12 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
Or just use one of these (my choice)
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12-01-2007, 03:11 PM | #13 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
Also agree. Re-stretched bolts become work hardened and more brittle and prone to failure, maybe not at the shank but certainly at the threads. That being said, I am guilty of re-using them as well, although only ones that looked to be in really good condition that did not fight me all the way taking them off.
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12-01-2007, 03:12 PM | #14 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
Took a week and 6 sawzall blades to get mine off, also broke a socket and a ratchet handle in the process.
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12-01-2007, 03:21 PM | #15 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
Thats patience! I would have sold it!! Plus with that being said your tag line at the end fits!!!!
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68 C10 Shorty TPI,Bagged, and all the good stuff. Classic trucks feature June 06, On the cover of Jegs Christmas Catalog 08 67 C10 Shorty Shop truck project Bagged and Z'd under destruction and getting nowhere fast. 64 C10 Shop Truck/Daily driver, Bagged, Dropmember, SOLD!!!! Gone but not forgotten.. 54 GMC under the knife getting a S10 chassis swap and bagged. See my build thread... 07 GMC Sierra 5/7 drop, 22's and 24's Air ride on my mind.. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=339340 See pics of my trucks in my profile |
12-01-2007, 08:56 PM | #16 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
145 ft/lbs and 35+ years of weather and dirt makes those suckers some real gut busters to break loose.
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12-01-2007, 09:58 PM | #17 | |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
Quote:
BTW, if the impact doesn't get the u-bolts off, zip cuts make quick work of them, I try to minimize the use of a torch anywhere on the vehicle if I can help it. |
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12-01-2007, 10:26 PM | #18 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
Hmmm... replacing ubolts after removing??? Never had one fail, seems a bit excessive.
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12-01-2007, 10:38 PM | #19 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
Hmm, I've been through a couple of sets, new and reused, and have never had any problems getting them off.
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12-01-2007, 11:38 PM | #20 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
Cut them off and City Spring will make you new ones and there not that expensive
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12-02-2007, 11:57 AM | #21 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
If you are under your truck, and you are cutting the u-bolt, watch your head! When I cut mine the pressure on them made a loud pop! The back of my head hit the frame and it hurt like crazy.
Rg
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12-02-2007, 12:48 PM | #22 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
Interesting schools of thought here. Both have good points. I personally have never broke a U-bolt and have re-used the same ones, however only twice.
When I was in the Navy on Nuke subs I was in charge of handling the ordnance (explosive torpedo's & missles) I was schooled on fastners, and their use/re-use. Suprisingly the engineers of the subs, weapons and weapons handling systems were of the same mind, that as long as it passed a visual inspection and showed no signs of distortion, stretching or thread galling it could be reused. Certain fastners were required to be replaced, usually small dinky ones. I've used that knowledge for 20+ years and it has yet to get me in trouble. I know that I've reused head bolts & main bearing bolts over when replacing the gaskets in my 350. Whats the guidance here? Funny thing is I've had more new bolts break than re-used ones! Oh well, to each his own! Frank
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12-02-2007, 01:44 PM | #23 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
I thought this kind of stuff only happened to me!!
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68 C10 Shorty TPI,Bagged, and all the good stuff. Classic trucks feature June 06, On the cover of Jegs Christmas Catalog 08 67 C10 Shorty Shop truck project Bagged and Z'd under destruction and getting nowhere fast. 64 C10 Shop Truck/Daily driver, Bagged, Dropmember, SOLD!!!! Gone but not forgotten.. 54 GMC under the knife getting a S10 chassis swap and bagged. See my build thread... 07 GMC Sierra 5/7 drop, 22's and 24's Air ride on my mind.. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=339340 See pics of my trucks in my profile |
12-02-2007, 03:48 PM | #24 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
There's a few trains of thought on this, and I'll say this. If anyone in the shop I work at got cought re-useing a U-bolt on anything that would see a public road, would get fired on the spot. Period.
I've done it personally (not at work) and while almost every time there was no problem... there was that one time I had one break as I was zipping it on with my impact. |
12-02-2007, 07:05 PM | #25 |
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Re: tough as nails rear end ubolts
I buy new and torch the really old---my time is worth more to me than getting my hands all bloodied up and me in a pi$$ed off mood trying to save the antiquated parts.
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