Leaf Spring Torque

[PrairieDrifter]

So, I installed before reading your post. I tightened everything up while still on the jack stands.
I ran it about 2.5 miles since. Waiting to get front end aligned as I had the whole front end done as well.
Now that it is on the ground should I loosen things up a bit and re tighten?

Yes. Other than the u bolts, they should be a one time use.

 

[TotalyHucked]

So, I installed before reading your post. I tightened everything up while still on the jack stands.
I ran it about 2.5 miles since. Waiting to get front end aligned as I had the whole front end done as well.
Now that it is on the ground should I loosen things up a bit and re tighten?

Yes

 

[hack_man]

Yes. Other than the u bolts, they should be a one time use.

Are you saying Axle U bolts are one time use once they've been installed?

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Are you saying Axle U bolts are one time use once they've been installed?

Yes. They should be torqued only one time. They stretch for clamping force.

 

[hack_man]

Yes. They should be torqued only one time. They stretch for clamping force.

Darn wish I knew that 40 years ago. I don't even remember using a torque wrench.

 

[idahovette]

HUMMM....so I've been doing it wrong? for the last 60 years?? Never replaced axle u-bolts unless they broke??

 

[nvrenuf]

A lot of people view ubolts as a 1 time use part.

That said, I’ve reused a lot of them and I’ll be reusing my current rear ubolts when I do an upcoming project. IMO, the quality of the part plays a big roll in their reuse abilities. I probably wouldn’t reuse lift kit ubolts because they’re likely a grade 5 / lowest bidder product but US made / high grade ubolts have never failed me.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I reused a set of decent u bolts once, had to swap the axle used the u bolt again, may have slightly over torqued it but barely. Snapped the thing. I'd rather not find out the hard way if I can snap one pretty easy by hand.

Everybody can say I've done blah blah blah for 50 years. Luck is real. Fate is real. Some people have it, some people don't. I don't chance it.

An axle flies out? Truck totaled, possibly kill yourself and passengers, kill somebody else. I'm all for saving money and reusing stuff but some **** ain't worth it man.

Why does everyone get so butthurt about not reusing head bolts, but nothing else? lol. I'll be a Guinea pig for a lot of stuff, but I draw the line at sudden death at any moment.

Some of the vehicles on the road today make me sick. Bald tires, clapped suspension, engines screaming for dear life. Brakes that are metal on metal for months, literally no rotors left. It's insane man. Maintenance is expensive yes, but parts failures are twice as expensive if not more or deadly.

 

[hack_man]

Honestly If somebody told me 40 years ago when I reused some Ubolts on my 83 K10 it could be a problem I would not have done it, I was a dumb 25 year old kid what did I know. Now I'm a dumber 64 year old. The same truck is still in one piece so all is well. I certainly wont be using these ubolts over if I ever take them off again.

 

[Ricko1966]

The reason people get butt hurt about not reusing headbutts is the design has changed. The head bolt stretches as it's torqued and tightened,and will never be able to duplicate the original torque as intended. Some rod bolts are one time use only as well. I've never heard that by design an axle U bolt is a torque to yield one time use bolt,I've never replaced one that was in good shape when swapping axles and never had a problem. I will certainly investigate it now,but I suspect they were not meant to be a one time use bolt. A one time use bolt usually has a different method of tightening like 15lbs,30lbs, 45lbs plus a quarter turn. Etc.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

New stuff headbolts and aftermarket, yeah sure torque to yield. I understand how and why.

The argument was just mainly u bolts could very easily mean life or death, why test it for $80?

The problem with u bolts is if just one side of a u bolt let's go, all the tightness of the whole perch is gone. And the axle is coming out.

 

[Ricko1966]

New stuff headbolts and aftermarket, yeah sure torque to yield. I understand how and why.

The argument was just mainly u bolts could very easily mean life or death, why test it for $80?

The problem with u bolts is if just one side of a u bolt let's go, all the tightness of the whole perch is gone. And the axle is coming out.

You know I never thought about it before,and have never had a problem or heard of anyone having a problem. But you are right new quality hardware would definitely be a worthy investment.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

You know I never thought about it before,and have never had a problem or heard of anyone having a problem. But you are right new quality hardware would definitely be a worthy investment.

That's probably because they're dead or a vegetable!

If I can snap one easily by hand, then the stresses and forces of being under a big ol truck, they will be no match. Especially when all it takes is one side of one u bolt to come even a little loose.

 

[Ricko1966]

That's probably because they're dead or a vegetable!

If I can snap one easily by hand, then the stresses and forces of being under a big ol truck, they will be no match. Especially when all it takes is one side of one u bolt to come even a little loose.

Now you are being a little bit dramatic, I've reused lots of rearend ubolts,so have my friends,family and coworkers. I can and have broken plenty of lug studs by hand,but never broke a rearend ubolt that wasn't rusty AF,and I don't tell everybody change their lugs everytime they take off their wheels or they will for sure crash and die.

 

[nvrenuf]

If I can snap one easily by hand….

….you’re buying junk hardware. Seriously.