Spring clamp bolt size?

x MadMAX DIESEL

<<<< No Horsepower
Dec 30, 2008
7,535
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Lexington, Ky
I cut 4 2x4.5x3/4 inch peice's of steel out the other day to use for spring clamp's.... Just wondering what diameter bolt everyone is using, I'd like to use 1/2 in but that will leave only 1/4 inch on each side of the clamps.... Now granted that should be strong enough with a washer and grade 8 setup still, but maybe I'd be better off using a 3/8th??

To make this easy to answer I guess, What diameter bolt do yall have, and how much material do you have left on the end's?

Thank's
 

SDP

AKA Dmax15
Dec 20, 2008
261
0
16
Port Angeles, WA
Mine are either 3/8 or 1/2 but I can't remember which. Here is a pic though if it helps.
 

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jraymer

<--Tree Hugger
Oct 31, 2008
1,421
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0
Las Vegas, NV
Mine are 1/2" by 4" we had to squeeze the spring with a c-clamp a bit to get the bolts to reach but it worked out well.
 

Dozerboy

Well-known member
Jun 23, 2009
4,896
473
83
TX of course
I'm good with 1/2" Ubolts and only 1/4" plate (hey its what I had). I get nasty axle wrap at the beach too. I don't have then on the front and back of the spring packs though since they stay on all the time.
 

x MadMAX DIESEL

<<<< No Horsepower
Dec 30, 2008
7,535
1
38
34
Lexington, Ky
Got mine put on with 5 incher's.... Man does it right awesome!!! I'm gonna pull them both off again and drill and tap for a 5/16 bolt right in the middle of the bottom side stock's. Then put them back on and use that hole I made as templete to drill and small pilot hole, then take the stock back off and finish out that pilot hole to be a 1/4 in deep 5/16 hole... I picked up some 5/16x1 in bolt's at work so when that's all done I shouldn't have any trouble with them sliding back toward's the axle..
Ohh and I'm pretty sure I've the biggest clamp's around 3/4 inch!!! SWEET lol
 

whitetrash21

put on da damn helmet day
Apr 29, 2008
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Got mine put on with 5 incher's.... Man does it right awesome!!! I'm gonna pull them both off again and drill and tap for a 5/16 bolt right in the middle of the bottom side stock's. Then put them back on and use that hole I made as templete to drill and small pilot hole, then take the stock back off and finish out that pilot hole to be a 1/4 in deep 5/16 hole... I picked up some 5/16x1 in bolt's at work so when that's all done I shouldn't have any trouble with them sliding back toward's the axle..Ohh and I'm pretty sure I've the biggest clamp's around 3/4 inch!!! SWEET lol

Shouldn't be anyway. Mine rode on my 03 for about a year and on this truck for the last 7 months and never moved. Crank them down tight and they wont move.