02-20-2017, 02:14 AM
so i've wandered into the seemingly simple task of finding 2 u-bolts and a tie plate (the bit that allows the u-bolts to sandwich the leaf spring) and its now an endless and chaotic search that will probably lead to my ruin.
the dynamic load thing is a great point, so i'm looking to find 1/2" or 9/16" bolts which are typically intended for 3500lb axles (mine is a 2000lb) and will provide a better safety buffer than the stock 5/16" bolts.
first up, my wonky axle and spring dimensions. most 2k lb. axles are 2" wide, and the springs are 1-3/4" wide. this trailer is the opposite, 1-3/4 axle w/2" wide springs, because 'Gina. so i've gotta find really narrow u-bolts in a bigger size than they usually come in for that small of an axle. then i can't find a matching tie plate, because they're all designed for thinner leaf springs. then find out that these parts come in zinc coated, galvanized, and stainless, and if the parts don't all match they'll turn into belligerent drunks and fight each other if you smoosh them together, thanks to galvanic reactions and all kinds of other brainy crap. which led me to trying to source all the parts in the same metal type, for a weird bolt and tie plate dimension, which nobody really carries for this kind of piecemeal nonsense.
good news is i'm now intimately familiar with most of the major trailer suspensions retailer catalogs and i'm pretty sure i'm going to find the limit of how many tabs you can have open in Chrome before it catches on fire
the dynamic load thing is a great point, so i'm looking to find 1/2" or 9/16" bolts which are typically intended for 3500lb axles (mine is a 2000lb) and will provide a better safety buffer than the stock 5/16" bolts.
first up, my wonky axle and spring dimensions. most 2k lb. axles are 2" wide, and the springs are 1-3/4" wide. this trailer is the opposite, 1-3/4 axle w/2" wide springs, because 'Gina. so i've gotta find really narrow u-bolts in a bigger size than they usually come in for that small of an axle. then i can't find a matching tie plate, because they're all designed for thinner leaf springs. then find out that these parts come in zinc coated, galvanized, and stainless, and if the parts don't all match they'll turn into belligerent drunks and fight each other if you smoosh them together, thanks to galvanic reactions and all kinds of other brainy crap. which led me to trying to source all the parts in the same metal type, for a weird bolt and tie plate dimension, which nobody really carries for this kind of piecemeal nonsense.
good news is i'm now intimately familiar with most of the major trailer suspensions retailer catalogs and i'm pretty sure i'm going to find the limit of how many tabs you can have open in Chrome before it catches on fire
2010 Civic Si
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
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Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
--------------------------
Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT