EATON Detroit Spring

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

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      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.

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  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Products
    • Suspension Parts
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Shocks
      • Attaching Parts And Hardware
      • Installation Kits
      • Leaf Spring Shackle Replacement Kits & Parts
    • Street Rod Suspension Parts
      • Mustang II Front End Springs
      • 48 Inch Truck Springs
    • Allstate - Chrysler
      • Allstate
      • American Motors
      • Bricklin
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chevrolet Truck
      • Chrysler
    • Daimler - Ford
      • Daimler
      • DeSoto
      • Dodge
      • Dodge Truck
      • Edsel
      • Ford
      • Ford Truck
    • GMC - Jeep
      • GMC
      • Honda
      • Hudson
      • Hudson Truck
      • Hummer
      • International
      • Jeep
    • Kaiser Darrin - Nissan
      • Kaiser Darrin
      • Kaiser-Frazer
      • LaSalle
      • Lincoln
      • MAHINDRA
      • Mercury
      • MG
      • Nash
      • Nissan
    • Oldsmobile - Rambler
      • Oldsmobile
      • Plymouth
      • Plymouth Truck
      • Pontiac
      • Rambler
    • Sterling - Willys
      • Sterling
      • Studebaker
      • Studebaker Truck
      • Toyota
      • Willys
    • Request A Custom Quote
    • Search For Parts Here
  • Spring Tech
    • Learn About Leaf & Coil Springs
      • Spring Tech Articles
      • Tech Questions
      • Spring Tech Videos
      • Featured Elsewhere
      • EATON Detroit Spring Podcast
      • Buy Ford Manuals
    • 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.

    • Browse By Topic
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Attaching Parts
      • Ride Height & Stance
      • Ride Quality
      • Manufacturing Springs
      • Replacing Springs
      • Modifying Springs
      • Ordering Springs
  • About Us
    • About EATON Detroit Spring
    • Customer Showcase
    • Send Us Photos Of Your Ride!
    • Free Stuff For Car Shows!
    • Facebook
    • YouTube Channel
      • Spring Tech Videos
  • Order Here
    • Lookup & Purchase Your Vehicle's Parts
    • Request A Quote
    • Email Our Sales Team
    • Dealer Information
  • Find Parts That Fit Your Vehicle
  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839

U-Bolt Torque

Recommended U-Bolt Torque Specs

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: Tech Question Tagged With: Attaching Parts, Installing Springs, Leaf Springs

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OEM Replacement & Custom Springs

  • Classic Cars Springs, Hot Rods, & More
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  • Spring Experts Since 1937
  • Made in Detroit, Michigan
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How To Order Springs For Your Vehicle

To find the correct springs for your vehicle, you need to provide as much information about your car as possible. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all spring.

We try to make this easy by providing many ways to order your springs and send in as much information as possible:

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WARNING:

This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

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Locate & Connect To EATON Detroit Spring

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

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