Shock mount bolt sizes

[RatLabGuy]

The posts that the rear shocks on my Toy mount to seem to be about 3/4" (I guss that's 19mm). I need to replace them since I'm switching to flipped U-bolts.
It seems aftermarket mounts are for 1/2" bolts/posts... but that's too small for the ID of the shock bushings. Why is that?
I could fab a bracket and just weld on a 3/4" bolt, but geez that means a massive (1"?) socket to have on hand for the matching nut...

 

[1stgenxxx]

Want me to dig through my bucket of bolts and see if I have 2 19Mmmtoyota bolts for ya?

 

[RatLabGuy]

Want me to dig through my bucket of bolts and see if I have 2 19Mmmtoyota bolts for ya?

I appreciate it, but that's not really the problem.
What I mean is that the stock shock mount is 19mm dia across, hence so is the inside hole diameter of the shock bushings.
However aftermarket shock mounts like this
http://www.budbuilt.com/new/shock_mounts.html
or
http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-133572-toyota-lower-shock-mount.html

Are for 1/2" (13mm) dia across.

Do most people just replace the bushings so they have the smaller ID? That's easy enough but you lose the "beef" the of 19mm mount, plus have to find the irght bushings.
Or is there someplace you can buy a mount like the OE ones that is a 19mm shaft that a smaller bolt (M14) threads into to cap it?

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Methinks you can get a steel insert for the inside of your shock bushing that will reduce to 1/2".

 

[RatLabGuy]

Methinks you can get a steel insert for the inside of your shock bushing that will reduce to 1/2".

That's the otehr thing I was thinking.
Althogh, that means the insert is riding directly on the bolt, metal on metal, is that a problem?
Would a piece of, say, 1/2' EMT work for such a sleeve?

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Not too sure what EMT is, but if it fits in the bushing OK it'll be fine. The tube you get with shocks is just a piece of steel rolled into a tube shape. Not even welded together. The metal to metal will be OK as it is basically clamped in the shock mount and the bushing rotates around that like it would the bolt.

 

[shawn]

Would a piece of, say, 1/2' EMT work for such a sleeve?

I don't think an ambalampse can help you with this, but I've been wrong before.

The ID of the sleeve in your shock bushings is 3/4"? That's big. Really big. 1/2" dia bolts are plenty. I wouldn't use more than a 9/16" for any reason.

Do you have fatter bushings with a smaller ID sleeve you can use? Maybe a piece of 1/8" wall x 3/4" OD tube you can cut to length and slip into the existing sleeve? Only tricky part then is getting the smaller sleeve the same length as the bigger sleeve.

The magic about that steel sleeve is that it creates a mechanical connection with the bolt. Tighten the bolt, pinch the sleeve in between, torque to spec. The sleeve should be long enough that the rubber bushing can float and not bind up.

 

[RatLabGuy]

There is no "sleeve". The stock mount is essentially a 3/4" (19mm) OD tube that has a thread (14mm?) into its ID, a bolt goes into that to cap it in place.
So the bushings that are on my Bilsteins are 3/4" ID x maybe 1.25" cone shaped.

EMT = electrical metal conduit.

 

[shawn]

Oh, okay. So it was basically a 3/4" ID dowel that necked down on the end for some threads and a nut. Then you just need a sleeve in order to use a regular bolt. Get some 1/8" wall x 3/4" OD tube and cut to length, or see if you can find something prefab at the hardware store. I think I've seen them at Lowe's even.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Get some 1/8" wall x 3/4" OD tube and cut to length, or see if you can find something prefab at the hardware store. I think I've seen them at Lowe's even.

Yeah so that was my plan- but aparently I'm an idiot or somethjing and can't find anything that is actually 1/2" ID and 3/4" OD at the HW store?
"1/2" pipe is aparenttly actually .840 OD, ID .622
"1/2" EMT conduit is .706 OD (close) but .622 ID

Do thy have "real" .120 "tubing" somewhere? I only need like 6" total.
Oh shizzit, maybe where they have the sq tubing w/ thebolts etc?
may try local fastener store, I know they have misc size stuff too.

This really shouldn't be so f-ing hard.