2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission spring pack bolt size?

[CEpp]

i need to know what size the bolt that holds the spring pack together on my truck. if anyone has had one of those apart. i need diameter not length.

 

[Joe Mc]

spring pack

Ah, sorry to be so dumb but, what the heck's a spring pack

 

[MrDiesel]

Technically it's a center pin. It's round on the bottom to keep your axle centered (or your lift block from popping out if equipped)-no bolt head on it. Stock they are also fine thread, but I have used a grade 8 corse thred 1/2" bolt before. Some times you have to round off the head a little on a grinder to get it to fit the lift block hole. What ever you do DO NOT use it to try to pull the pack togather. If you remove the center pin first clamp the pack in at LEAST 2 spots to keep it from comming apart. Be carefull it is under extreme pressure...

 

[Nate]

I believe it's 1/2", but it's been a little bit.



All I did to reinstall everything was hand tighten the bolt and I put like 2 turns on it with the ratchet and it was tight. The spring have all about the same arch.



Normal spring packs you need to use a C clamp though. I don't know if my springs are that shot or just the setup on these trucks?

 

[CEpp]

cool... im adding these bolt in 1" block. and i need a 5. 5 " long bolt to rebolt them together. i wish i could just drop the rear. . pull the bolts out and install the block and slide the bolts in. . but i think it would be easier to just remove the springs. i dont think i can get 5. 5" of space without removeing brake lines and other stuff.

 

[Nate]

Sure you can do it that way.



When I put my add a leaf in, I just put short jack stands under the axle, took the wheels off. Unbolted the u bolts and set the axle down bascially to the ground. Had plenty of room to work.

 

[Joe Mc]

Technically it's a center pin. What ever you do DO NOT use it to try to pull the pack togather. If you remove the center pin first clamp the pack in at LEAST 2 spots to keep it from comming apart. Be carefull it is under extreme pressure...

Ah, yes the center pin in the spring stack, to true the housing/spacer to the suspension, now I see. Indeed you are correct clamp in at least two spots.

 

[CEpp]

are they a special bolt head? or will normal grade 8 work? did u remove the bolt to but the helper u have in? how much pressure are we talking about?

so what your saying is clamp, then remove the nut, then remove the u-bolts, right?

use the clamps to squeeze it together or the u-bolts?

 

[Nate]

I'm not sure what your trying to say.



The spring pin/bolt is a special bolt, but you can use a regular bolt if your really want to. The actual spring bolts you can get at a spring shop for a few $$s. The head is round and it's a fine thread. Otherwise it's a just a regular bolt.



To put your spring pack back together what you normally need to do is bolt it together and then use C clamps to suck all the spring together and then you can tighten the bolt. I didn't need to since all the springs were about the same arch.



You can just remove the U bolts without doing anything special. Park the truck somewhere at least semi-level and chock the front wheels. Unbolt the u bolts and then you can jack the axle up a bit to pull the wheels and then lower it on small jackstand so you have enough room to work. Edit... forgot to mention put some jackstands under the truck's frame.



Now just pull the overloads off, the small block and the spring pin is right there. More than likely it's rusted up and you'll have to cut it off, but you may be lucky. Get that cut off and the springs will come apart. You can put a clamp on it so it doesn't all fall on the ground. Install your zero rate add a leaf ( I think that's what you have) with the locker spring pin. Tighten up.



Get that down on both sides, then you can jack the axle pack up to the springs, install the U bolts and tighten them up. Tighten those to about 100-115 ft/lbs. What I do is go half torque and then full torque, makes it easier for me.



Let me know if you have any questions.



Nate

 

[CEpp]

i can see the top of the nut on mine. it goes clear thru to the top. does the round headed bolt fit into a pocket in the lift blocks?

yes i have zero rates. .

just wanna be perpared when a take it apart. its half the battle. .

 

[Nate]

Do you have overloads? If not than yes, that would be the nut for the spring bolt. The round head fits in a hole on the perches on the axle.

 

[CEpp]

your right... now im confused... i have overloads and can still see the nut on the top. .

 

[Nate]

On top of the overloads?? The overloads have their own seperate center bolt. Once you undo the u bolts, the overloads come off as a pack (2 springs). There's a 1/4" plate on top of the overloads, a ~1" block under the overloads and then the main pack.