Aftermarket U-bolts wider than leaf springs

Hey all, just got my shipment of new leaf springs from Alcan with a 1" lift. I ordered new U-bolts through them, and told them stock was 2.5" x 6.5". I just got the U-bolts in, and they measure 2 5/8" close to the top away from the open end. When I put them on the leaf springs, there's free play on either side of the u-bolt.

Really don't want to take a chance on such an important part, should these be snug on the leaf springs side to side? I'm also worried about having to slightly bend them to get them through the backing plate holes and not having the bolt sit flush when tightened.

 

Alcan sent me the wrong size u-bolts as well, but in their defense it was my fault. They asked for measurements and I sent them the exact measurements of OME's u-bolts off of their website (since I've used those before), turns out OME measures their ubolts differently than Alcan so I ended up with u-bolts that didn't fit.

The Ubolts need to be the exact right size otherwise they won't go through the holes on the lower shock mounts (for a 1st gen anyway, not sure how it is on 2nd gens). Alcan offered to send me another set but since it was my error I'd have to pay for the 2nd set, and OME's were less expensive so I ended up just ordering another set of OME u-bolts and using those.

 

Yes, you probably do have to spring them to get the bolts through the backing plate. When you torque the nuts down they will sit flush. Having the u-bolts flush against the leaf springs is not an issue. U-bolt flip kits do not cradle the leaf springs.

 

Sorry, pics here. I definitely told them the right width measurements, just wondering if there's a possibility of leaf springs rattling around inside u-bolts that are too wide. Don't want to chance anything.

 

the leaf springs should sit on the axle via the hole that the center pin fits into, as long as the u-bolts are torqued down properly they shouldn't move side to side even if they're wider than the springs.

Not to mention the leaf springs are held in place at both ends via the front hangar and shackle, I don't think side to side movement is something to worry about

 

@rnish Just saw your reply after i posted. So there's no harm in having 1/8"+ on either side? Would it be better to have the right width?

 

I don't think it's something to worry about, like @rnish said above if it were then ubolt flip kits wouldn't work. As long as they go through the holes in the backing plate properly you'll be OK. Mine were so wide that they wouldn't fit through the plate without me squeezing them together and forcing them through at an angle, which was obviously not OK

 

Those look fine.

 

That gap doesn’t look bad at all

 

my ubolts don't fit tight against my leaf's either. Zero issues.

 

Awesome, thanks for the sanity check everyone. Hopefully get them in there this weekend

 

You'll love the Alcans, I went through 4 different leaf spring variations before giving up and splurging on a custom set of Alcans. They are amazing, you won't be disappointed.

Heard they are/have put the company up for sale too, which is why I ordered mine a few months ago just in case things go south

 

@eon_blue I hadn't heard that, but glad i got mine ordered. Super excited to not be sitting on the overload spring with 100 lbs in the back. Got some new 5100's on sale to put in with them, so hoping to feel a big improvement in ride quality

 

If it bothers you by all means do what makes you comfortable. However, an issue you should consider is u-bolt torque. Toyota recommends something like 35 ft lbs on 2nd gen leaf spring bolts. I suggest you follow your after market leaf spring manufacturers torque instructions. I went to 75-80 ft lbs.

 

Damn that's nuts (semi-pun intended)....on our 1st gens its listed at 90 ft/lbs, I couldn't imagine doing 35 and feeling remotely OK about it lol

 

Isn't that torque value a typo in the manual? I've been reading it lists it at 37 ft/lbs and it's supposed to be 73

 

it was a catalogue f-up, said 37 when it was really supposed to be 73.

 

typo or not I would definitely do them at 73 at least, if not more. The u-bolts keep your rear axle attached to the truck, they aren't made of weak metal lol. They can and should handle a lot more than 37ft/lbs

 

Ya, i plan on going to 73 and then checking them every few trips for the first 500 or so miles