Grade 8 bolts

[cagcig]

Any problem making my own leaf spring center pins? Can’t find them in town.

 

[IowaOffRoad]

No, I do it all the time. If you can find G8 socket head cap screws (Allens with the tall head) even better.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Done it a bunch. Try to get a bolt that is the shank goes all the way to the top, cut extra off, then stick it in a drill and sand the head down until it fits in the leaf pad hole

 

[cagcig]

Cool. I figured as much.

 

[total newb]

Taper the tip for assembly points

 

[M92PV4U]

I used a gr5 bolt, rounded the head and made a short bushing out of a ⅛" pipe. Not sure how long it will last though.

 

[Dan]

I have done it several times. Properly shanked like a fastener should be, those all thread center pins are ridiculous.

 

[Weasel]

yep also nice to be able to bump up the pin diameter to something reasonable.

 

[arse_sidewards]

yep also nice to be able to bump up the pin diameter to something reasonable.

Bigger hole = spring more likely to crack.

 

[welndmn]

O'riley auto parts does stock them.

 

[Sterlingfire]

Why do you need grade 8's for the leaf spring pin?? Have you had issues breaking them?

 

[bad zuki]

Why do you need grade 8's for the leaf spring pin?? Have you had issues breaking them?

I Think I broke 3-4 in the last rig before I started using grade 8's. IIRC stock bolts are grade 5's.

 

[Etyler2]

I’ve broken 1-2 as well.

 

[Weasel]

Why do you need grade 8's for the leaf spring pin?? Have you had issues breaking them?

Yep real common the brake the standard pins. Stock stuff is like 5/16" or 8mm irrc..

Bigger hole = spring more likely to crack.

Never cracked a spring at the hole. Bump up to 3/8" or 7/16" and they hold up better.

 

[Sterlingfire]

Hmm something I'll need to keep in mind since I'm getting back into a leaf sprung rig very soon. It's an easy upgrade when axle swapping.

 

[arse_sidewards]

Yep real common the brake the standard pins. Stock stuff is like 5/16" or 8mm irrc..


Never cracked a spring at the hole. Bump up to 3/8" or 7/16" and they hold up better.

I've cracked a few springs, always through the hole if the crack is near the center. I've also never broken a pin. But I use socket head cap screws as pins and they're grade 10 or something like that.

 

['84 Bronco II]

I've cracked a few springs, always through the hole if the crack is near the center. I've also never broken a pin. But I use socket head cap screws as pins and they're grade 10 or something like that.

They're ASTM 574. Stronger than Grade 8, weaker than Grade 9.

 

[M92PV4U]

Why do you need grade 8's for the leaf spring pin?? Have you had issues breaking them?

My truck was a ½ton 4" blocks 44" tires, both bolts were sheered off.

 

[Big4x4ride]

Bigger hole = spring more likely to crack.

When I was running leafs I started drilling every set to 1/2", no issues at all. Drilled em with a Masonary bit, and it was like butter. Now that being said, never used a set for more than a year or 2, but still no issues.