Leaf spring center bolts

Hello Forum,

When I installed my 3 leaf AAL I removed it a few days later to remove the smallest leaf (just to lower it slightly). I had a hard time with one of my centering pins & I cross threaded it. I know that I can order some from Toytec but I have until Saturday to get this done since I wil be on vacation for a week afterwards.

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that someone bought allen-head bolts (grade 8, maybe?) that fit perfectly into the leaf spring perch & he/she bought them either at Lowes or Home Depot. This would be great since I can buy them tomorrow & install them before Saturday evening.

Does anyone here know the size or part # of this particular bolt?

Thanks

 

just take one of the bolts and get a head similar size and call it good.

 

socket head cap screw will work since they are hardened.

 

Thank you for your help so far. Forgive my noob question, but: What is a socket head cap screw & where can I buy them, & what size do I need to buy them in?

 

OK, I googled socket head cap screws. If no one has the size off hand then I will take the old one out to compare. It's just easier for me to buy it before I tear down my springs & have to borrow a car so I am still hoping that someone has the size.

Thanks again

 

3/8" IIRC

 

This is correct, you can get a grade 8 (doesn't even have to be that) bolt from home depot (or simliar) make sure its threaded all the way down (no shank unless you measured carefully) grind the corners off the head & it'll drop nicely into the perch on axle...

 

You can get them from any hardware store.

The head of the leaf spring centerbolt is 10mm. So an M6 socket head cap screw is perfect because the head of it is also 10mm.

 

I just finished measuring the thickness of my leaf pack & it measures almost 2 1/2"'s. How long is this M6 bolt supposed to be? Does Home Depot or Lowes sell these? Maybe Ace Hardware?

 

That's what I have done . Bench grinder and grade 8 bolts.

 

Are 3" bolts long enough? The pack measures just under 2 1/2"'s. That way I don't have to cut them when I slip the timbrens over them.

 

I bought these 3" long 3/8's bolts a few minutes ago. I bought the M6 bolt since it has the same diameter head as the leaf spring pins & I can use it as a reference. If they would have had the M6 bolts 3"'s long I would have bought those but they don't sell them.

The head of the hex nut is smaller than the leaf spring pin. Is that going to be a problem?

 

Well if the head is smaller than the existing pin, you may not have to grind anything if it fits the hole in axle (which BTW isn't as tight a fit as you would think) even the OEM pin sets in the axle perch fairly sloppy, is it me or are those coarse thread ?? Fine thread is preffered because it;s less resistant to loosen up, but its not a deal killer with the coarse thread, I'd run the nut down tight (without any washers, most spring packs do not have) & follow it up with another nut snugging it down behind it, NO LOCKTITE !!

 

Oh, & don't worry about the slightly smaller/thinner head *(unless unreasonably smaller) the bolt head will fall deep enough into perch not to be an issue...

 

Thank you 4WD. I will follow your info. Also, I'm going to exchange these for the fine threaded ones. Home Depot is nearby. Thanks

 

FYI,
I found the allen head bolts that almost mirror the center pins. I will post pics tonight with part #'s in a post
Thanks

 

Thank you all for your responses. I liked Hans Moleman's suggestion best but I wanted to find those bolts locally since I was pressed for time.

I found these at Lowes & I will provide the part #'s in case someone is in a similiar situation that I was in & can't wait for delivery.

Bolt part #880335 $1.87 (each).
Nut part #880269 $1.21 (pack of 4).

I trimmed the heads height down to match the height of the OE center pin but I think it would hae fit regardless, not sure though.

Now, I finally have the vehicle at the level that I wanted. I have:
Billies on all 4 corners (front @ .85).
2012 TRD 2/1 leafs with Wheelers 3 Leaf AAL (I left the OE overload leaf but removed the smallest leaf from the 3 leaf AAL) & Hellwig EZ550 to firm the rear a little. I was actually thinking of adding the OE overload leaf from my original leafs to this leaf pack also to gain another .5" of lift but I did not want to push it into "BAD VIBE" territory. Here are some pics, ENJOY!











Original Height specs (from ground to fender base with P265/70r16 General HT's):
LF 34.00 / RF 34.50 / LR 35.25 / RR 35.50

Current height specs (from ground to fender base with LT265/75r16 BFG A/T's):
LF 36.25 / RF 36.00 / LR 38.00 / RR 37.75

Chassis height measurements (current specs, never measured before today):
LF 15.25 / RF 15.00 / LR 16.25 / RR 16.00

When it is on level ground it looks slighly higher in the rear. I'm glad because I don't want it level or nose high. I understand most people here like them leveled & some even nose high but I am just old school that way.

BTW: I measured the chassis on all four corners right before they bend up in the front & back.

THANKS

 

Glad it worked out for you, the only issue I have with the round hex head you're using is the fact that the side to side shear factor has been reduced by the head not being solid (hardened or not), but just get you're leafs tight & U bolts down tight you'll be good.

 

Looks good (well, everything except the chrome steel wheels ). Sitting level or nose-high can cause windshield seal whistling above 90 mph in some trucks, so you avoided this potential nuisance.

The centering bolt size is fine. Once the leaf spring U-bolts are torqued properly (37 ft-lb is a misprint), the centering bolt doesn't take much shear load.

 

Thank you KenLyns & 4WD!