Dana 60 U-bolt Spring Plates?

[special-K]

My concern is with adding a block into the mix and square u-bolts not made the way factory ones were made.
I had a rear coming loose on a '71 Blazer with 4" lift driving it home from buying. The u-bolts were loose and splayed on the spring. It was shoddy work, but I feel the round bolts would not have allowed as much shift as the square did had they been just as loose. Both u-bolts would have to be loose to allow the axle to wrap with round bolts. It had a 3spd, built-up 350, and locker rolling on bias 37/13-15 Swampers. I wound it out in 2nd on the ramp onto the interstate. When I pushed the clutch in to hit 3rd the whole truck shifted a lane. I pulled it over and fixed it on the spot...well enough to get home and make some changes. It's just a preference and with what I've been through with this simple 2" block installation I'm going with less moving parts. With square u-bolts you have two loose pieces on each side to hold it all in place through being tightened up. With round u-bolts you have one piece on each side holding things in place while the u-bolts themselves are what locate and keep the bottom in place. The spring plate has holes the u-bolts run through with round. That's what you have on the bottom with square bolts and the top is held in place by a loose part sandwiched by the tightness of the bolts. So, bolts get loose and what's holding what?

The GM spring plates for square bolts that Blazerman showed will cost as much as the Ruff Stuff spring plates for round bolts anyway

[jeffahart]

Ya for sure. If I put my hands on mine again I will replace with round. I had the plates for square off the 14bolt and bent my new round U bolts with those cheap plates. So I got square bolts and called it a day. I'm not too passionate about it either way, but will go round if I ever have to replace U bolts again. Plus the damn blocks, and we all run or have run them many times. But once the blocks are cinched in they are generally trouble free. As much as we don't like them they get the extra inches in the rear free and easy! My two favorite things!

[obijuan]

I beat the hell out of my truck. I don't use square ubolts anymore.

Originally Posted by jeffahart

Of course, if anyone wearing a bow tie tattoo wants to argue against the square bolts then you arguing against GM design.... a bit of a paradox... no?

Cause gm has had so many good ideas over the years.

[jeffahart]

Well if I actually took my 70 off roading U bolts would be the last of it's problems anyway! So I'll defer to the trophy truck crowd on this one!

[special-K]

Square u-bolts are a fine design. When you go ultimate, one can be better than the other. My truck got worked all it's life hauling a 5th wheel. It had a trans temp gauge in the dash, big auxiliary trans cooler, HD air shocks on the rear, posi, and those blocks with square u-bolts. There has never been a reason to change them till now, because I'm making some other changes. They must be ok.

The new spring plates have three center hole options, which is handy.

[jeffahart]

Exactly, there's a point based on your application where the argument becomes moot and is more just a conversation. For me, I like overkill. But that's all it is for my 70. It will probably see little more than a dirt road or maybe, and it's a big maybe, Pismo. But I've always liked tough looking well built 4x4s. That's where I'm coming from, on this truck. So I will keep my square bolts and put a winch on the front in celebration of my Mall Crawling expedition!

Maybe I can pull grannies wheel chair out of the mud!

[special-K]

I'm all about the looks. I like a truck to look like it could if I would and it really should which would really be good.

[special-K]

Man, this is a forever project. Partly my fault, but it's one thing after the next. I ordered new tapered 2" blocks. The website showed a generic picture of a cast block (probably 4") for every block they listed. It said "product may vary" and the description was just generic info telling about Superlift,, the company. The blocks come and they are these steel pieces that are like a smashed tube with a center rib. I called and they said that's the blocks they stock (Rough country) and the Superlift ones they'd have to order in. The website doesn't show any steel Rough Country shocks and all the ones shown state they are Superlift. What good is an inaccurate online catalog, especially with pictures that are not necessarily the part you are getting and no description? I sent the other ones back (n/c) and am patiently waiting for the ones I want over a week later (lost two weekends).

[special-K]

Got the blocks, now waiting for spring plates and 5/8" u-bolts

[OLDCHEV4X4]

Hey Tim!
I have come across broken spring plates with square u bolts a couple times. It seems if they are not torqued evenly in increments, they snap. Or maby they get hit by rocks. Also they fill up with mud, water, salt, etc and promote rust. So whenever i can, i convert to round u bolts. Better ground clearance, you can leave the bolts a little long in case you want to add to the spring pack.

[special-K]

Yep, all that!

[ERASER5]

I have thread somewhere from when I install my Dana 60 6-lugger. I broke every nut off of the factory square U-bolts during removal. The reason was easy to see and I knew I would not EVER go back to the square type bolts.

That bottom plate has pockets around every bolt leg that filled with dirt, water and salt. ( I kept the bottom plates, someone may want them someday) What was left of the bolts would have been laughable if it were not so dangerous. There was not more that a 1/4" left of any one leg of the U bolts!

So Round U-bolts from AutoZone and spring top plates from a Cherokee in the junk yard and I was golden. Done.

[special-K]

That's a good point against square bolts...after many many years. I was amazed at how easily my truck came apart. I squirted PB Blaster, but all 8 nuts backed off with no problems on this truck. The front spring eye bolts all 'slipped' right out of the bushings and are still perfectly usable. Standard procedure is get mini-grinder with cutting wheel out, start cutting u-bolts and spring eye bolts

[OLDCHEV4X4]

Originally Posted by special-K

Standard procedure is get mini-grinder with cutting wheel out, start cutting u-bolts and spring eye bolts

I hear that! Had to have a new, big diameter wheel to get up in there. I had tried a saw-z-all and the teeth were all knocked off in no time.

[special-K]

Them eye bolts will send a sawzall home with it's tail between it's legs. They hard, that what they iz. On the rear, I've ended up putting a cut into the spring hanger to get the wheel all the way in, then weld it back up. I think that same truck had one u-bolt plate with a broken ear.

[special-K]

I finally ordered the u-bolt plates and 5/8" u-bolts from Ruff Stuff. Can't wait to get them and get this thing buttoned up. I'll be doing more business with them in the future.

[special-K]

Ordered Monday, got them yesterday! I can't wait to get moving on this, but gotta run to the mountain for Thanksgiving. I'll paint it all up in a bit and it'll be good and cured this weekend. Have to work Friday. I have had this truck since 2001 and have wanted to do this since! The excuse used to be I had too many trucks (and Harleys) and kept putting others in front of it. Then it became a money thing. Well, now this is my only old 4wd and it gets all my attention and pennies!

[72MARIO]

You lucky Americans still have pennies.

[special-K]

That's right, you no longer do. I'm wondering when the smallest piece of currency becomes a five dollar bill. A $100 bill spends like a 20 anymore it seems and when looking at the cost of about anything but food, I look at it in increments of $5.00. If one brand is $3 more than the other, so what? With food, I look at it like it all adds up no matter the difference. Afterall, it's a product I use three times every day and it sure doesn't last long

Well, it's Black Friday!! For me, that means I have all these new parts paint gloss black with Dupli-Color engine paint that now has ceramic...woo woo. It is noticeably tougher. I painted that stuff yesterday and put it by a heater to cure. Hopefully this weekend things can move again. I'm excited. It's been 20 or more years since I've had a K/20 with aluminum slots.

[special-K]

Ok, not long after I posted this morning I decided to take a day at home to catch up on some much needed things. I completed a big job (3 months) last week and my situation here was on hold (other than before or after work). Just before dark I went out, pulled the square u-bolts off, swapped new blocks in and assembled with new u-bolts and plates. The center hole in the plates was too small to fit over the nut on the center pin. Fortunately I had an 11/16 bit from when I had to bore some lug hols out in a set of turbines to accept mag-style lug nuts. Perfect size to clear the nut with no slack! all that's left is move back to the front to do brake hoses, add dual steering stabilizer, and bleed the brakes. I figure it will be done with the aluminum slots & 35s mounted just in time for snow/salted roads. I'd be able to look at it and dream of driving next spring. Woo Woo!

I may just tear back into it and pull the engine to rebuild for a winter project. Story of my life. I would have done this lift a long time ago but thought it best to do the motor while the truck sat lower. Finally said, "Screw it" and went ahead with the lift. Now, it looks I'm looking at pulling the motor no sooner than I'm done the lift that never hit the road! Oh well.

[special-K]

Well, I didn't tear the engine out and rebuild it, but I did get the rear all buttoned up.


Got a teaser shot with just the rear done. I had moved to the rear when a brake hose/line union was acting ignorant. Now I have to deal with that, put steering stabilizer and shocks on, bleed brakes, finish refurbishing the Selectros, and put tires on!

[OLDCHEV4X4]

Put a aluminum cap on it and go camping at Line Mountain!

[special-K]

Keep your eyes open for me. Old fiberglass would be cool, too. Back in '01 when I bought this thing the plan was for a Four Wheel pop-up camper. Still would like that. This thing ain't nothin' but a '72 GMC K2500!

[special-K]

The lift is done. Still have to put the calipers and hoses on the front and make sure the hubs work properly. Not moving (stopping) yet, but sits still with a new look that looks old. Truck looks like it's always been this way. Just how I like them

[68post]

Looks good !! I really wish they still made those AL slots.
That is also a very decent looking ladder rack, seems to be well made. Where did you find it ? Old or new ?