Just installed a "Nostalgia Sid's" 2" Dropped Axle and dropped by C&G for new U-Bolts all around. I don't have a Manual but after a search, it appeared the torque spec was 108-125 lb/ft in a criss-cross.

After cranking the Axle down @ 115, I thought it wise to question if that clamping force (which must be enormous) would crush my '60's 9" Housing Tube? Is the torque spec the same for front and rear?

Thanks as always.

Dawg-a-saurus

 

9"ers are stouter than Dana 44's, IMO. The manual shows the rears same as the fronts, for F-1. What spring plates are you using in the rear? If they are just flat plates, I'd worry about them.

 

Thanks Ross, Spring Plates are Gennie.

E

 

I realize nobody talks about or considers this but in my line of work spring u-bolts are re-torqued every twelve months.

 

So what would that line of work be? Commercial trucking?

 

I tried to look at mine to see how thick the tube wall was. Didn't have the correct measuring tool to get around all of the flanges welded on the ends. Anyone know how thick those tubes are?

 

Fire engines & fire trucks, ambulances, etc. It's just become a habit to check them and only takes a minute or two. Not often, yet not uncommon to find a loose nut or two.

 

You may be able to measure it where the vent assembly screws in, if you remove the vent. My guess would be around .100".

 

Occasionally you can see a truck going down the road in front of you doing what we used to call "dog tracking" usually due to a loose U bolt connection.

 

More than likely the center bolt through the spring has sheared its head first then the u-bolts loosen as the axle slips back and forth over the spring.

I probably average replacing at least one set of springs each month and 4x more spring pins. We keep about ten sets of springs on hand and service around seventy trucks/engines.

 

Hard to accurately measure but visually at the vent tube it looks to be about 1/4"...could that be right?

 

Found this with a google search





1/4"!! I'd never have guessed it was that thick.

 

Hey Beav, just wanted to say thanks! Was chasing another issue on my truck and noticed my rear end was cockeyed. A quick search of the thread brought me here and sure enough, the center bolt on my drivers side spring had sheared and the rear end had shifted. Gotta love FTE and all the helpful advice on here! Thanks again