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This lack of adjustability of leaf setups is emphasised by the fact that the ends of the leaf springs are attached to the chassis, which leaves very little scope for shortening or lengthening of the leafs. In racing and performance car applications, it is vital to be able to manipulate a suspension setup for the driving conditions and for different driving styles, something that is much easier nowadays through adjustable coilovers. Leaf springs coped much better with vehicle damping due to the friction between each plate of steel which made the response time after a vertical flex in the suspension much quicker, thus making for a much more controllable car.Ī big downside of leaf setups is they aren’t brilliant when it comes to suspension tuning. This was a significant characteristic in cars that used helical springs before the dawn of the shock absorber and was disadvantageous to cars when driven at any real pace. If the suspension is under-damped, the car will wallow and bounce around well after hitting any bump or pot hole in the road. In a car, damping can be an extremely important characteristic. Vertical loading is also distributed throughout the length of the leaf spring rather than acutely through a small spring and damper, which can potentially create a concentrated force too large for the suspension to handle. They can take huge vertical loads being applied to them due to their tight-knit structure, hence why heavy duty industries still use them. We can custom bend u-bolts to your specifications, and in most cases, ship the same day.Due to the sheer amount of metal layered together, leaf springs offer a large amount of support between the wheels, axles and the car’s chassis. Can't find the ubolts that meet your requirements? Call us at 1-80. We stock forged top ubolts, square u bolts, round ubolts, and semi-round u-bolts for all types of truck and trailer applications made of the finest grade 5 and grade 8 steel. We have a few tips to help you along the way. Most at home mechanics can replace leaf spring u-bolts without any troubles. There is no getting around the fact that every truck owner should change his vehicle's U-bolts when replacing leaf springs to prevent damage and prevent a potentially bigger and more expensive problem from arising down the road. U-bolts lose their effectiveness in a gradual manner as their threads stretch when coming into contact with Hi-Nuts with each successive use of the truck. Vehicle owners are not encouraged to reuse their U-bolts beyond the initial use. Replacing them ensures that they will provide adequate clamping force that safeguards against spring failure and other harm to the suspension. Though it is not seen with the naked eye, this contact really does cause damage. Truck owners should also know that U-bolt threads are damaged as their threads stretch when connecting to Hi-Nuts. Stretching occurs with each drive and time takes its toll on all parts, including the leaf spring, U-bolt and beyond. U-bolts should also be replaced due to the fact that they wear throughout the course of the vehicle's operation. Why Your Truck or Trailer U-Bolts Must be ReplacedĪs time progresses, U-Bolts rust and lose their shape, making the leaf springs fail to properly contact with other components. You can do your truck an enormous favor by having your leaf spring u-bolts inspected during your next service maintenance appointment. For more information, read this article on broken leaf springs and what causes leaf springs to fail. Tight u-bolts help prevent broken leaf springs. When installed just right, U-bolts will help eliminate spring flexing. This allows for the preservation of the center bolt for extended operational purposes. The horizontal pressure placed on the center bolt is significantly offset when the spring is firmly connected to the axle seat. They offer the force that is necessary to clamp the leaf spring along with its related components to one another, providing a lasting attachment to the axle.Ī firm u-bolt connection allows vehicles to maintain their ride height as well as their handling. Truck U-bolts are used within vehicle suspension to connect leaf springs. Most people have no idea what type of function this little part plays in the average truck's operation. If you haven't heard of a leaf spring U-bolt, you are not alone.