Leaf Spring bolts

[AndyG]

NO WAY

yours should be ok then no need to replace

Cheers Luke

[Gunslinger]

the reason they were so tight is that the nuts have a concentric section which acts like a lock nut, supposedly stopping them coming undone, however they do wear out, however if they go on a few turns by hand and are then too tight to turn by hand then they are probably ok, either way i would still use some thread lock on them if you dont fit new ones (and even then it wont hurt)

[AndyG]

I can only describe them as locknuts with built in washers on one end

Thread lock it is then

[Gunslinger]

built in washers ... interesting, not seen that type fitted before

[AndyG]

Don't know why it takes me so long
Let's see

[Gunslinger]

hhhhmmmm, maybe a later addition to what i am used to working on, they will have those as the holes are a little bigger than the bolts, so i guess its to ensure that they dont tighten down on the edge of the hole so to speak and are clamping firmly on the saddle metal

[AndyG]

hhhhmmmm, maybe a later addition to what i am used to working on, they will have those as the holes are a little bigger than the bolts, so i guess its to ensure that they dont tighten down on the edge of the hole so to speak and are clamping firmly on the saddle metal

June 2000 model You would have thought they'd ironed out all these things long ago

[Aztran]

Ok they snap, what happens?

im not gonna get this done till after santa pod now

[Luke]

Ok they snap, what happens?

the axle flips up under the van - rips the shocker out of its mountings and snaps the prop! - that is worst case senario! prolly just knock like hell for a bit!!

im sure someone will have a video of a drag car doing it on launch same priciple just more power

[Aztran]

Theres no pressure on em tho, they are proper loose, seems they are doin nothing

i could take em of and it wouldnt matter

or so it seems

[AndyG]

Can you turn them with your fingers

[Aztran]

The bolts are pretty solid but the u bits themselves are rattlin, there isnt alot of movement but they are loose for sure

[baconsdozen]

With the weight on the wheels and the van stationary the bolts do bugger all you could take them off and no one woul be any the wiser.BUT they stop the axle turning about its longditudinol axis when accelerating or braking (Isaac Newton...to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction etc etc) even at a steady speed the axle casing itself tries to rotate in the opposite direction to the wheels.If the bolts break or become so lose that they come out of the top clamps then it will make one hell of a clanging noise.If things develop to the stage where one end of the axle can disengage with the locating pin on the underside of the spring then it will move forward if you are aceelerating or back if you are braking this will be resisted up to a point by the other U bolts.The van will steer from the rear either into the kerb or oncoming traffic ,the prop could possibly break (thats often enough to write the van (and you) off all on its own.If you are going fast enough and the other sides U bolts let go the axle might end up on the road a wee way behind whats left of your van.
I'd sort of rate U bolts as pretty important.

[Aztran]

ok ive just had another look, and one of the springs (bar) out of the three, is out of line with the other two..................

[AndyG]

It sounds like your bolts have stretched

Do yourself a favour and replace 'em quick Shouldn't take long at all. It's a simple matter of jack under axle and remove the wheel and the bolts are there
A piece of cardboard to sit on is a good idea and when you take the wheel off, throw it under the axle if you don't have axle stands
Do one u bolt at a time, you should be fine