front end alignment question

Continuing on.....   I may have found the true problem.

If you look at the photo with the reamer in the hole; there are 3 white vertical lines.   A new one and two old ones (one is hidden).  The old ones were drawn when I replaced the springs.  The old ones are not dead straight stepping about on the lower leaves.  (Where as, on the other spring, the lines are still straight.)

I pulled the spring today to inspect the centre bolt in case it was broken. Not broken, but under size.   The spring maker fitted  3/8 centre bolts in a 7/16 centre hole.  And then, the head is loose in the axle locating hole. The axle and spring has been moving about.  grrr.  At worst, I reckon the axle could be slipping about 6mm along the spring saddle.

New centre bolt and U bolts tomorrow.  

Me thorght Centre bolts were ment to B a sloppy fit
the U bolts are spose to hold it all together  and not allow the spring to move on the axle

But
Wadda Eye kno

cya

Swishy,

Thanks.   This is all new to me.  I've checked further.  I'll popping into a different spring joint today to get new U bolts and will ask them.

The original spring holes:  10.45mm (d)
Replacement spring holes: 11.71mm (d)

new Bolt Diameter: 9.3mm
original bolt diameter: 9.3mm

And then, I checked another Bedford pack and the bolt is a close fit with the hole.

Me thinks the center bolt is meant to hold the axle in place
Dunno how it achieves this if it is sloppy in the hole

Amd when I have busted a center bolt the steering wheel gets very busy very quickly, so to me the U bolts definitely don't hold the axle in place, they jus hold the whole shooting match together
Unless it is on Mack Camel back, but even those use a center bolt and spring shape

Paul

Has there been any rouge coming out between the axle and spring? If I suspect something's loose, I look for rouge. Marking seems to have been a good idea.

Jarrod.

Got new centre bolts.   They are meant to be a little loose.  But, maybe not that loose.  Also, centre bolts are mild steel. High tensile shear with any movement. (didn't know that.)

I'll fit them and new U bolts over the week end.


btw, if you're planning on having leaf springs made in Victoria, better get to it very soon. Most are closing down or have closed down  their manufacturing facilities.

 

I was always taught the correct torque setting for U bolts was FT. So the spring can’t move on the axle.

Din have to look too far in our spring shelf to find a spring leaf with a elongated center bolt hole as standard 


 

Yes .............  'U' bolts F tight

cya

 

Second side almost done. Just need to refit the drum.

The tricks you learn on the way. I was having trouble getting the last little spacer (5 thou) between the stub eye and axle eye. I'd already slipped in 10 thou. The stub was pushed up hard from underneath.

Then I had the brain wave.  I know this will be the last spacer.  So,  remove the thrust bearing, slip in the spacer, and then just tap the thrust bearing back into place. Brilliant.