EATON Detroit Spring

The leading manufacturer of leaf and coil springs for the street rod and restoration industries

We Help Maintain American Icons by Manufacturing Leaf and Coil Springs Right Here in America

Phone: 1 (313) 963-3839
Fax: 1 (313) 963-7047

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Products
    • Leaf Springs
    • Coil Springs Mustang II Springs
    • Shocks
    • Attaching Parts And Hardware
    • Installation Kits
    • Leaf Spring Shackle Replacement Kits & Parts
  • Applications
    • We Manufacture Leaf & Coil Springs For...

    • Restorations
    • Resto-Mods
    • Street Rods
    • Modern Vehicles
    • Custom Design
    • Makes We Have Available Online

    • Allstate
    • American Motors
    • Buick
    • Cadillac
    • Chevrolet
    • Chrysler
    • DeSoto
    • Dodge
    • Edsel
    • Ford
    • Hudson
    • International
    • Kaiser-Frazer
    • LaSalle
    • Lincoln
    • Mercury
    • Nash
    • Oldsmobile
    • Plymouth
    • Pontiac
    • Rambler
    • Sterling
    • Studebaker
  • Spring Tech
    • Learn About Leaf & Coil Springs
      • Spring Tech Videos
      • Replacing Springs
      • Ride Height
      • Ride Quality
      • Custom Spring Design
      • Spring Manufacturing
      • Browse All Tech Questions
    • Spring Tech 101

      We have been manufacturing springs for American vehicles for over 80 years. Our process and expertise has been continuously refined and improved over the century and our Spring Tech section reflects some of that specialty knowledge.

      Browse our many articles, watch videos produced in partnership with AutoRestoMod, and learn all about your spring suspension here.

  • About Us
    • About EATON Detroit Spring
    • Customer Showcase
  • Order Here
    • Lookup & Purchase Your Vehicle's Parts
    • Request A Quote
    • Email Our Sales Team
  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Products
    • Leaf Springs
    • Coil Springs Mustang II Springs
    • Shocks
    • Attaching Parts And Hardware
    • Installation Kits
    • Leaf Spring Shackle Replacement Kits & Parts
  • Applications
    • We Manufacture Leaf & Coil Springs For...

    • Restorations
    • Resto-Mods
    • Street Rods
    • Modern Vehicles
    • Custom Design
    • Makes We Have Available Online

    • Allstate
    • American Motors
    • Buick
    • Cadillac
    • Chevrolet
    • Chrysler
    • DeSoto
    • Dodge
    • Edsel
    • Ford
    • Hudson
    • International
    • Kaiser-Frazer
    • LaSalle
    • Lincoln
    • Mercury
    • Nash
    • Oldsmobile
    • Plymouth
    • Pontiac
    • Rambler
    • Sterling
    • Studebaker
  • Spring Tech
    • Learn About Leaf & Coil Springs
      • Spring Tech Videos
      • Replacing Springs
      • Ride Height
      • Ride Quality
      • Custom Spring Design
      • Spring Manufacturing
      • Browse All Tech Questions
    • Spring Tech 101

      We have been manufacturing springs for American vehicles for over 80 years. Our process and expertise has been continuously refined and improved over the century and our Spring Tech section reflects some of that specialty knowledge.

      Browse our many articles, watch videos produced in partnership with AutoRestoMod, and learn all about your spring suspension here.

  • About Us
    • About EATON Detroit Spring
    • Customer Showcase
  • Order Here
    • Lookup & Purchase Your Vehicle's Parts
    • Request A Quote
    • Email Our Sales Team
  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839

U-Bolt Torque

Mike,

I painted and installed the new springs I received from you and was following the Ford manual to torque the U bolts.

They had a range from 30-45 ft lbs and we stopped at 30 because the axle pads were getting extremely smashed and the
upper and lower plate were almost touching. I notice your web site states 45 ft lbs for 7/16 U-bolts which is what I installed.

Can these be torque with the vehicle sitting on the ground?

I am hoping the test drive did not damage them, it was only a couple of miles but we put some stress on them to see if the vehicle would hook up.- Steven

Steve,

First, snug up the u-bolts while the vehicle is in the air, then torque them when the vehicle’s full weight is on the springs. Then re-torque again after 50 or so miles. Then check the torque any time you are under the car.

Now, while we do show a torque of 45 foot Lbs. for a 7/16 u-bolt, we also say to follow the Manufacturers recommendation. In your case this would be a torque of 30 to 45 foot Lbs.

But as you pointed out the rubber pads were being squeezed. The rubber is there to help the rubber spring eye bushings isolate the suspension from the road imperfections. Nice thought but bad idea.

The weakest part of any leaf spring is the centerbolt area. The purpose of the centerbolt is not only to clamp all the leaves together, but also to locate the spring to the axle.

Any movement of the spring in the u-bolt area will cause the springs to break. So ideally, the spring should be clamped metal against metal with no rubber axle pads.

The sad part is, no matter what you torque the u-bolts to, the torque will not remain there because the rubber will continue to “give”.

But, heck, the old springs lasted for years and so will the new ones. So go forth and enjoy. – Mike

Filed Under: Replacing Springs, Tech Question Tagged With: Attaching Parts, Leaf Springs

The Correct Springs For Your Vehicle

  • Over 24,000 OEM Spring Blueprints
  • 166,000+ Stock Spring Applications
  • Design Staff Available For Custom Applications
  • Spring Experts Since 1937
  • Made in Detroit, Michigan
  • Made in the U.S.A.

The Many Ways To Order Your Springs:

  1. Call Us at 1 (313) 963-3839
    For Quickest Order Completion
  2. Email Us
    For When We’re Out
  3. Fill Out Our Quote Request Form
    For Less Back-And-Forth
  4. Order Online
    If You Want To Place Your Order Immediately
  5. Fax It In at 1 (313) 963-7047
    If You Still Have One Of Those

Need Spring Wisdom?

Just ask the Spring Guru!
We love helping with any leaf or coil spring problem.

Learn About EATON Springs

  • About EATON Detroit Spring, Inc.
  • An American History
  • Free Stuff for Car Shows
  • Customer Showcase
  • Consumer Policies

Contact EATON Springs

  • Request A Quote
  • Order Online
  • Ask Suspension Questions To The Spring Guru

Locate & Connect To EATON Springs

EATON Detroit Spring, Inc.
1555 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48216
Phone: 1 (313) 963-3839
Fax: 1 (313) 963-7047
Email: inquiries@eatonsprings.com

Content Copyright 2018 EATON Detroit Spring, Inc.