I'm wanting to elmininate my rear U-bolts. I have seen people do it on pirate and I was wondering if anyone on there has done it. I thinking of using 3/8s plate and welding it to the spring perch and axle tube somehow. I'm not sure if I would drill and tap the 3/8 or weld nuts to it. Anyone on here done this and have any pics? This would be on a Dana 60 rear.
looking at ditching my u bolts
- Thread starter 1stgenxxx
- Start date
Jeff B
Thanos was right
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2006
- Location
- Lincolnton N.C.
If you drill & tap make sure the plate your threading is as thick as the cross section of the bolt you are using. 1/2" bolt you need at least 1/2" of plate threaded.
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
- Location
- Greensboro, NC
Curious! Sounds like a WHOLE lot of WORK when you already have some thing that works just fine. What is the benefit to doing something like this? Only thing that comes to mind is that the plates would act as an anti wrap device? Sorry I don't have any tech advice for you 
I'm using miss matched u bolts right now that were long and we thorched the extra off so I'm pretty sure they arnt gonna come off with out the hot wrench. I need to make a new top u bolt flip plate to I can put my lower shock mounts on it. I have 1/2 and 3/8 plate to make the new stuff allready.....
Reid
Hasnt Seen Dirt in Years
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2005
- Location
- Winston Salem
Im with JC, is there some advantage to doing this? I could see where you would no longer be dragging the ubolts over rocks. but...if you break a Ubolt on the trail its an easy fix.
braxton357
Robot
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2005
- Location
- Morganton
I just did this on my xj. I didn't do it for clearance reasons or anything though. One of my centerpins and U bolts broke at mtn city the other weekend (Gonovrit's fault 
) and I don't feel like finding new ubolts, plus they just piss me off in general. I have $400 worth of g8 nuts and bolts in the garage plus tons of scrap steel, so I'll use them instead. Also my degree shims were trashed.
The plusses are no more degree shims, about 1.5" more contact area with the spring, stronger bolts, cheaper bolts, less stupid bolts, could add some lift if you wanted to, and you could easily add 1-2" of wheelbase while doing it if you wanted.
:edit: I'll post some pics tonight.
) and I don't feel like finding new ubolts, plus they just piss me off in general. I have $400 worth of g8 nuts and bolts in the garage plus tons of scrap steel, so I'll use them instead. Also my degree shims were trashed. The plusses are no more degree shims, about 1.5" more contact area with the spring, stronger bolts, cheaper bolts, less stupid bolts, could add some lift if you wanted to, and you could easily add 1-2" of wheelbase while doing it if you wanted.
:edit: I'll post some pics tonight.