Do axle U-Bolts stretch?
While the U-bolt has some flexibility in its ability to stretch after being loosened, the bolt will never tighten enough to allow it to regain its full torque spec potential. The next issue with trying to reuse U-bolts has to do with the threads themselves. When being tightened, the threads stretch out under torque.
Can you tighten loose U-Bolts?
Loose U-Bolts If your u-bolts are loose in any way, please tighten them as soon as you can. Tightening them won’t damage them at all. If you don’t properly tighten them, it could just pop right off and ruin your truck’s suspension.
How tight do you tighten leaf springs?
Tightening the shackle bolts too much will squeeze the shackle straps against the leaf springs and the whole suspension system will bind and cause problems. The best thing to do when tightening down shackle bolts is to use lock nuts and tighten them until they are snug and then backed off 1/4 turn.
What to do if your rear axle comes loose?
There are two options you can try. Cheap Option: Use threadlocker (Loctite Blue) to ensure the cones are secured where you want them. This also has the added benefit of taking up extra space between the threads, hampering the wandering cone phenomena.
What can I do to keep bolts from falling off?
While these devices do prevent the nut from falling off the bolt, they generally do not help the joint maintain the specified clamp force. Prevailing torque nuts. Nylon or metal inserts inside a nut (sometimes called a “lock nut”) can add extra friction to prevent loosening.
What happens when a bolt comes loose on a bolt?
This stretching, or tension, results in an opposing clamp force that holds the two sections of the joint together. If the bolt comes loose, this clamp force weakens. Loose bolts are not just an irritating nuisance.
What should I do if my rear hub comes loose?
And a stray bearing was well on its way to eating through the axle. You’ve had the bike “serviced”… did they take the hub apart? If the cones are coming loose, you need to lock them in tighter and make sure that you’re adjusting correctly (just loose enough that there’s no binding. A little play is okay).
How can I loosen a loose U-bolt on my rear axle?
Start with a generous soaking of penetrating oil. Then use two wrenches. Hold the upper nut to prevent rotation while you loosen the lower nut. Repeat for all eight u-bolt ends (2 u-bolts or 4 ends on each side of car).
What’s the best way to tighten a car bolt?
Hold the upper nut to prevent rotation while you loosen the lower nut. Repeat for all eight u-bolt ends (2 u-bolts or 4 ends on each side of car). Tighten all of the upper nuts equally until they are all snug. Then run the lower nuts up tight against the upper nuts to lock them all in place.
What causes the rear axle to shift fore or aft?
This allows the rear axle to shift fore or aft a little on the leaf spring with acceleration and deceleration. When one end of the rear axle moves more than the other end it changes angle a little, effectively steering the rear end of the car off line. The cure for this is often as easy as simply tightening the U-bolts.
While these devices do prevent the nut from falling off the bolt, they generally do not help the joint maintain the specified clamp force. Prevailing torque nuts. Nylon or metal inserts inside a nut (sometimes called a “lock nut”) can add extra friction to prevent loosening.