rear leaf u-bolt

I would definitely get new u bolts. My u bolts go all the way through the nuts and then some. Even if gm didn't do it that way I would change it. Threads there stretch under the stress and you don't want to ruin something because a bolt didn't hold.

You can buy u bolts from auto stores. I think I got one from advanced auto once. And I just bought 4 new ones for my new rear from a place that fixes springs on big rigs and stuff. Just gave him the original and said I wanted the curve matched but longer ends.


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bulldoguk said:

Is it normal for the threads on the rear leaf u-bolts to not pass completely through the end of the nuts on a 72 SS?

I started taking my rear suspension apart and was kinda shocked to see that the nuts were only holding onto the u-bolts buy a few threads. I am debating getting new, slightly longer u-bolts (if available).

Click to expand...

not normal...get new u bolts...you should always have 2 or 3 threads past the nut:yes:

You should have at the minimum of at least 8 full turns of nut by hand before tightening with tool.

Thanks, it didn't seem right to me at all that a nut would be that tall and then the bolt won't even go all the way through. Rockauto.com shows the bolt to be 7.5 inches long, the ones that are on the car are only 7" from the end of the threads to the top of the u-bend (outside dimensions).

Would it be necessary to replace the t-bolts also or is that overkill? FWIW, none of the bolts were torqued down particularly tight, so I don't think there was too much stretching.

You don't need to replace the t bolts. I actually replaced the t bolts with u bolts so now I have 4 u bolts holding my rear in. I like it better but that's just me.


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bulldoguk said:

Is it normal for the threads on the rear leaf u-bolts to not pass completely through the end of the nuts on a 72 SS?

I started taking my rear suspension apart and was kinda shocked to see that the nuts were only holding onto the u-bolts buy a few threads. I am debating getting new, slightly longer u-bolts (if available).

Click to expand...

Get new u blots yours are to short.