Small Square Pads. Between The Spring Leaves?

robert scharp · January 25, 2011

My 2007 short box standard cab LT. has a set of springs installed in the back...belle tech, i would believe, in between the leaves are these small square 1"/16"[appears to be] 2 and 1/2" by about 4 "" long. One hole in the center, are there supposed to be, one of these between each leaf.....only three in a stock spring, one side.right??And the other thing. Is who ever lowered it---------- took out the upper u-bolt spring plate. they left spring plates off each side, can this cause damage, down the road???? hope this is all my questions for awhile and a sincere thank you-------- to you Gm techs that spend all this time with guys like me who are forggeting stuff as we grow older.

Again thanks a bunch, and if i owe you i will pay you. bob s

gmtech4 · January 26, 2011

are you saying that there is no purch on top of the leaf springs for the u-bolts to sit in ???

they are there for a reason Bob, holy crap ......they keep the u bolts from wandering and spread the clamping force evenly on down to the axle ..

i would not drive it like that ,,

if the u-bolts ever break....

robert scharp · January 26, 2011

are you saying that there is no purch on top of the leaf springs for the u-bolts to sit in ???

they are there for a reason Bob, holy crap ......they keep the u bolts from wandering and spread the clamping force evenly on down to the axle ..

i would not drive it like that ,,

if the u-bolts ever break....

No perch exists on this truck I have several OLD cars, 50 merc. 49 ford convert.no upper spring perchs. maybe the older ones didn't need them aaayyy????? thank you govtec. I am headed out to the dealer today to order them.

One more question . Have you ever heard of "replacing "the u-bolts each time you remove and reinstall them?????

cwendel4 · January 26, 2011

There should be plates on the top of the spring that the bolts either bolt to or loop over. That is because, correct me if I am wrong, on trucks the axle is below the spring. They are there to provide a clamping action on the spring and keep the axle in place. No plate, the pressure is not only reduced but there is more stress placed on the points where the u-bolt touches the spring, if it is a round u-bolt and not square bent at the u.

Make sure when the truck was lowered that they did not also move the axle to the top of the spring from below it.

Also, the only block I know of that are put between leaf springs are rub blocks. They keep the leaves from rubbing together and wearing out early. They are placed between the leafs toward the end of each leaf. Trust me, you would not want to take them out, the squeaking would be terrible.

markw8 · January 26, 2011

Maybe the housing has been moved to the top of the springs for lowering. That would put bolts over the top and fasteners at the bottom where the perch is.

Mark

robert scharp · January 26, 2011

Maybe the housing has been moved to the top of the springs for lowering. That would put bolts over the top and fasteners at the bottom where the perch is.

Mark

thanks for the help all. but the axel is in ts stock position[under] the axel hasn't been flipped..bolts [stock GM] but those upper plates are there for a reason. probably as was stated here. to keep them fromsliding around front to back on the spring leaf its self.

robert scharp · January 26, 2011

Maybe the housing has been moved to the top of the springs for lowering. That would put bolts over the top and fasteners at the bottom where the perch is.

Mark

thanks for the help all. but the axel is in ts stock position[under] the axel hasn't been flipped..bolts [stock GM] but those upper plates are there for a reason. probably as was stated here. to keep them fromsliding around front to back on the spring leaf its self.

It was stated on the web here somewhere , that you should replace the u-bolts and nuts each time they are removed then retorqued. does that sound right to you???

markw8 · January 26, 2011

I have reused u-bolts in the past. If your axel is bolted in and the truck is driveable, I don't understand what could be missing. You should contact Bell-tech and see what there installation instructions are.

Mark

I just went to the garage and looked at mine and now know what is missing. I your u-bolts were put on and aligned and tightened correctly, you shouldn't have any problem without it.

robert scharp · January 26, 2011

I have reused u-bolts in the past. If your axel is bolted in and the truck is driveable, I don't understand what could be missing. You should contact Bell-tech and see what there installation instructions are.

Mark

I just went to the garage and looked at mine and now know what is missing. I your u-bolts were put on and aligned and tightened correctly, you shouldn't have any problem without it.

Thank you much Mark!! I really appreciate it, i'll try and leave yous guys alone for a bit of time now. bob s