Aligning Leaf Pack Bolt Into U-Bolt Bracket

[aaronbtxnc]

So I put on a Chevy drop shackle and add a leaf and am having trouble getting the top/head of the leaf pack bolt seated back in the little hole on the bottom of the axle. Am I okay to just lower and drive around the block and hope it reseats itself then finish tightening the u-bolts the rest of the way?

Thanks in advance!

[64 Cheyenne]

Pull it back in line with a come-a-long, a BFH, and  just a little bit of weight on the ground.

[Jeep Driver]

Use a ratchet strap if it needs to go left or right.

[mvusse]

Did you use a new center bolt? If so, did you make sure the head of the new one fits in the hole of the spring perch?

[aaronbtxnc]

I did use the new bolt that came with the kit. I didn't even think to check if it fit. Hindsight's always 20/20. I did all this yesterday when it was much warmer and I didn't have to be at work in an hour. I'll have to try the come-along, trick will be what to tie off to.

Is this bolt head in the hole all that holds it all in line?

[mvusse]

Pretty much, yes. 

[Eagle]

s this bolt head in the hole all that holds it all in line?

 

That's all there is.

 

Do NOT drive on it until it is properly located and the u-bolts have been correctly torqued. Then drive it gently for 25 or 50 miles and re-torque it.

 

What did you use for new centering bolts? The head should just pop into the hole on the axle bracket. If it doesn't, the heads on your new bolts may be oversized.

[mvusse]

The stock center bolts are 10mm metric with a 12mm head. New ones you can choose between 5/16" which is way loose, or 3/8". The 3/8" ones fit the leafs pretty good, but have a 9/16" head. The hole in the perch is 1/2".

 

I usually grind the 9/16 head down on a bench grinder until it fits in the 1/2" hole.

[aaronbtxnc]

So the kit came with 4 bolts. Last night I got the driver side done in about 1 minute after hooking the come-along up, but the drivers side. I spent a while pushing and pulling and cussing and pondering and then remembered the kit came with 4 bolts. I compared the two I had left over and sure enough, one had a small head and the other had a large head. After I figured out I had used the wrong bolt the fix was relatively easy.

 

Thanks for the help guys!