Yeah some people learn how to read... but wait that's on other forums.


BTW what do you polish?

 

Nothing. Unless the wife's too busy...or has a headache.

 

that cracked me up...

 

Same here as I haven't ever had a problem reusing U-bolts.Granted the ones currently on my XJ are aftermarket ones but I see no reason to **** money down the drain on new ones.I just always check and re tighten them if need be after driving on them for a few days just like everyone should do after doing any work on there vehicle.

 

You be the man lol. That pic was taken when they were in stalled before the guards were installed.


You might consider grinding that lip off the bottom of the 8.25 to keep it from hanging up on things rocks, stumps, surprising how much they can hold you up being so small a deal. Nice job on the disc setup also.

 

I have to agree with you 100% especially when we're talking a rig that probably doesn't even put down 160whp.

Sorry, but on a gutless street vehicle if you can't feel somethings wrong as a u-bolt gradually loosens then I put that on the driver.

It's not going to just suddenly snap, loosen or fall out.


Now, if we're talking about rigs that live their lives 1/4 mile at a time then none of what I just said applies. All IMHO

 

U-Bolts are something you recheck after or a hundred miles.
They can stretch but just servicing rear axle and take it loose, just reuse them if the nuts are still good.
Typically its a matter of the fine threads in the nuts pulling when removing them with an impact.

Again NEW or OLD torque them down, I use 80 ft lbs, then retorque them after a good flex ride or 50 to 100 miles.
Then again any vehicle being used beyond its intended purposes needs to be checked more often.

 

Or no girlfreinds to be had...lol...

 

I need to get new U-bolts anyway, because the stock ones are too short to accommodate the 4* wedges I'm going to install. THis to eliminate the driveline vibes and the 1" T-case drop. (hopefully).

 

If I might add a little food for your thought 160HP that never even entered my mind about them nor most anyone here. The point is when you off road think gears x low transfer case x larger lugged tires x rocks/mud/etc. and what they are subjected to then. I'm just dumb hell they almost cost a tank of gas.


As far as breaking any only one when I used to run a big tire car on NOS and under 1k hp just when I released the transbrake. Broke one side and slick tore up the fender.


One other thing I have never been able t5o do in my home shop is to figure stress on a fastener or bolt thread stretch on used ones. Do I replace everything no not like some of the kids think but have found out mostly the hard way (expensive) when to do so.


I have no problems with what anyone chooses to do with there money or what they spend it on and had no intention of causing any hard feelings over by passing information on the forum I had learned from.

 

Four U-bolts are less than twenty bucks at most part stores. I'd say its just some cheap insurance.

 

SO...lets put this bullzhit to rest right now. 4ea 8" U-bolts are $40+tax at Autozone - which is the only place I could find them. I bought these.

Pulled them out of the box at the store and saw that the bend was not smooth - it was a bit pointy (like my head). I said "what are these...made in China?" The kid looked on the box and said "Well, yeah...they are. I'll knock 10% off." So now I'm $39 out the door. (not 20)

Brought them home and installed, and I'm torquing them down with a 1/2" plastic Chinese ratchet thats about 10" long and BANG! The nut stripped the threads right off the U-bolt. So I buzzed all of them back off with the impact gun and re-installed the original U-bolts, which are WAY better quality than the new zhit I just bought.

So right here is one good reason to re-use your OEM U-bolts. (if you can)

 

Holy crap did you get ripped! I only pay 5-7 per U-bolt at the Napa by me.

I'd have said hell no to that "quality" of that set there as well. (That's the set that comes in that red box right? China's finest. Lol)

 

I know exactly which brand you used but post a pic of the box up so others here can see what NOT to buy. (I'm not downing you by any means. That is a major safety hazard to anyone.)

 

Delta Truck Equipment in Breslau Ontario bends my U bolts up from their blanks inventory while I wait. (Bought my leaf springs here at much less than dealer). At 8$ +tax (tall nuts included) each I picked up a few sets and couple of different lengths. Can you reuse them, depends on how much service life they've seen and what kind of abuse you've put your rear end thru. If you know the application and condition that a fastener has been living in, then make an informed decision. If the history is unknown, why have your rig possibly fail when your putting it through the paces. That reworked 8.25 looks really good. Why not spend $40 and put on some U bolts that you know the history of going forward. In most applications, if a fastener is aligned and torqued correctly it can be reused. A U bolt may be subject to additional stretch due to fluctuating and cyclic stress and strain placed upon the drive train. A fastener can also be weakened by corrosion, clean em up and check for damage, knicks, deformation, things that could propagate a crack. If in doubt, replace with know quality.
Notes: I only use nyloc nuts once. I sand off any burrs caused by split lockwashers. If the situation calls of thread locking use loctite blue (medium), not red (takes the fires of hell to free that up), and I use antiseize, it's a favour you do for yourself in the future.
I've also found my Napa dealer also sells quality fasteners.
Chinese fasteners, I am NOT a fan; I've found many many failures, I toss them into the scrap, they are a direct attack to undermine the infrastructure of our Cherokees and our mechanical social systems. Don't use them, they are too plagued by counterfeit inferiors.
For fastener torque values, google is your friend, you can print off a torque table from many sites.