Suspension damage, check periodically
While adjusting the brakes on our fiver, my attention was immediately drawn to the springs and shackles that attach the springs to the equalizer in the middle. The bolts had eaten their way through t...
Forum Discussion
camperkilgore wrote:Rvpapa wrote:
When inspecting undercarriage taking the weight off is a good idea, but DO NOT try to remove bolts just to check. These bolts are a splined press fit to the shackle link to prevent rotating. They should not be removed /reinstalled in the same used link. The same applies to a new install. Do not allow the bolt to rotate when assembling. Ideally the bolt should be pressed in, and the bolt prevented from turning by holding the head with a wrench while tightening the nut.
Art.
Art, yes that is exactly right.
I discovered that the new shackle bolts that I just bought have those splines just below the head of the bolt, and I had to hammer them into the new shackles. The originals did not have those splines and so could be removed easily. At any rate, I think when I check them in the future I will make sure I pull the bolts and shackle together after removing the opposite shackle and nuts.
Thanks for the head's up.
Tom
Also, if you remove U-Bolts you must replace them as they stretch and should not be reused. Go to the Dexter website and you'll see all the heavy duty replacements for the light duty junk. They sell complete kits too.
