Mounting Chevy D60 front under 2.5" springs

ncjeepers

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2005
Location
Locust, NC
The Chevy D60 front came out of a truck with 2-3/4" wide springs. I'm mounting them under 2-1/2" wide springs. There's already evidence of side-side movement. How do I take up the extra 1/4" between the springs and the u-bolts to make sure everything stays put? About the only thing I can think of is have some 1/8" sheetmetal bent into a channel that will sit on top of the spring perch and come up the sides of the spring. Any other ideas?
 
you nee to use a larger bolt through the springs. I think it might be the pin that is moving in the hole on top of the axle. I re drilled my rear stock leafs on my 14bolt in my Chief
 
Thanks for the input.
I plan to check out the spring pins and holes when I pull it apart.
I don't like the idea of relying solely on the spring pin to locate the axle side-side, especially on the steering end. That's why I would like the u-bolts to be tight against the sides of the spring.
 
I use allen bolts a spring center bolts, much stronger. Many aftermarket springs are only 2.5" wide for GM applications.
 
why not just change to 2 1/2" wide perches & top plates or maybe grind the sides of the old perches until they match the spring width ?
 
ncjeepers said:
I don't like the idea of relying solely on the spring pin to locate the axle side-side, especially on the steering end. That's why I would like the u-bolts to be tight against the sides of the spring.
Click to expand...

My u-bolts were never right against the spring for many years..

The right size center pin head (i like hex head cap screws) and big bolts that can take a bunch of torque kept my springs from moving at all, and I never broke a center pin.

did you re-torque the u-bolts after your first outing?
 
No telling what the PO did to it. I'm sure tightening the u-bolts might have helped, but I drove it a mile and decided to tear the whole suspension out.
 
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