Ubolt eliminators

[Thumpszilla]

Anybody running them? A friend of mine put some on his xj and loves them. A local fab shop is starting on mine tomorrow for the front with a 1/2" lift built into them. It will be a while before the rig is ready but I will let you know how they do. They are made out of 1/4" steel and the top plates are 3/8" plate that is threaded for 4 1/2" bolts and the drivers side will have a dual steering stabilizer mount built in.

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

Whats a U-Bolt eliminator? :confused:

[Tad]

Whats a U-Bolt eliminator? :confused:
I'm picturing a captive nut spring plate that allows you to use bolts instead of u-Bolts, ours, in an SUA setup sort of hang down below in the way there.

Sam,
Did you have them spec your existing setup out?
You have a mismatched hole placement on the diff side (one goes over the tube and one over the diff).

[unclethumbtack]

When I dropped the hammer I did one of those it broke a block, a yoke, a u-joint and eliminated a u-bolt. ;) Seriously I have seen these but I don't know what the advantage is.

[Thumpszilla]

tadsal- Yeah the guy has an axle to mock them up with. You still use one u-bolt on the cast housing. The rest go to 1/2" bolts.


Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81- this is a u-bolt eliminator set for an xj.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j108/thumpszilla/web%20pics/ubolteliminators.gif

unclethumbtack- The purpose of a u-bolt eliminator is it gives a much wider spring mounting surface to help prevent axle wrap and keeps the mounting bolts for the axle up out of harms way. This will also give me perches for soa and eliminate the need for longer u-bolts.

If I like the way these turn out I will be getting them for the rear also. My freind with the xj that has these got them from tntcustoms. They make them for xj with up to 1.5" lift built in. Here is a pic of his installed on the rear.
http://www.4x4grace.com/Coppermine/albums/userpics/10027/el002.jpg

[AlsChopShop]

forgive my ignorance, but what is the appeal to a u-bolt-less setup? i don't recal seeing many rigs being hung up by the u-bolts.

if anything i see more stress on the perch, and if the perch fails you have much more of a disaster than if the perch fails on a rig with u-bolts.

Al

[Thumpszilla]

Well one thing for me is after 3 different sets of ubolts on the front of my last soa rig I am just tired of retightening u-bolts. Also as I said it helps prevent axle wrap and gives a wider spring mounting location.

[Tad]

Not exactly how I pictured it Sam.
Keep us posted on how it comes out please.

[Thumpszilla]

Will do man I actually like the design and it got rid of all axle wrap on that xj.

[AlsChopShop]

i don't see how you would have less axle wrap when the perch is taller, if anything you would have more. or is the perch longer like tads? why wouldn't you be tightening these bolts just as often as u-bolts? :huh:

i don't mean to sound like a skeptic, but i just don't get the benifit.

Al

[Thumpszilla]

Yes they are longer than original and mine will actually only be a 1/2" taller than factory perches. The bolts will thread into the top plate and I will use lock nuts on top of that to put the bolts in a jam nut situation. I talked to him today and I should have them in a few weeks. He has them designed in cad but has to finish a 3 link setup first.

[bigun]

i don't see how you would have less axle wrap when the perch is taller, if anything you would have more. or is the perch longer like tads? why wouldn't you be tightening these bolts just as often as u-bolts? :huh:

i don't mean to sound like a skeptic, but i just don't get the benifit.

Al
If you ran rocks a lot you would under stand it is a lot of fun getting back off a trail after you have ripped a u bolt through the bottom plate!:drivin:

[Thumpszilla]

Dang haven't had that happen but it would definately suck. I will definately get to test my setup. This is one of the places we run and this is actually some of the milder stuff there.
http://www.4x4grace.com/Coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_Harlan_012007_00.JPG

[AlsChopShop]

If you ran rocks a lot you would under stand it is a lot of fun getting back off a trail after you have ripped a u bolt through the bottom plate!:drivin: won't the bolts still hang down in a SUA configuration? or is the plate thick enough that they are recessed?

i was originally thinking about how they'd help in an SOA configuration, and thus my confusion.

Al

[Thumpszilla]

I am not really worried about sua configuration. I am using them to do an soa. The xj posted above is the same way and he has had no problems at all.

[The PIG Smith]

Here is the result of U Bolts and Blocks.
Blocks are BAD.
But, its the U Bolt failure that make Blocks dangerous.
So, my point, if a person can eliminate U Bolts, go for it.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/79j10peso/84800.jpg

[KaiserMan]

Here is the result of U Bolts and Blocks.
Blocks are BAD.
But, its the U Bolt failure that make Blocks dangerous.
So, my point, if a person can eliminate U Bolts, go for it.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/79j10peso/84800.jpg
No, that is the result of a BODY LIFT!

Blocks are safe if used properly.

[bigun]

My damage was caused by a real odd ball chance luck of the draw call it what you may tire slipped off the rock and the whole front end landed on the u bolts when I turned the wheel to get back up on the rock it tore the bolts out. Now the caveat the bolt were to long and needed to be cut back and we hadn't done that, if they had been shorter maybe they wouldn't have hung up.

[skeletor]

everytime i see that picture i am still amazed that it didnt catch on fire. by the way didnt that happen in virginia?

[The PIG Smith]

No, that is the result of a BODY LIFT!

Blocks are safe if used properly.

Maybe so. I could be wrong.
I was told front block/U bolt failure.

The point I was making is that U-Bolts can be a bad thing.
I agree with you 100%, Blocks can be safe if used properly.

For example, 6" block on the front axle is not what I would call proper!
Which brings me back to my point and the root of this thread of posts; blocks that tall need crazy long U Bolts to hold all that together.
The longer the U Bolt, the more leverage working against the strength of the bolt.
Meaning when the axle gets stressed/twists, like when it hits something on the trail,
will more have leverage on the U Bolt because it is further away, longer, than a stock U Bolt.
My position the preferred way to lift a rig equipped with leaf springs is to install replacement springs.

[Thumpszilla]

Well we aregonna use mine as a test platform for these and if they work out they will be availible for purchase.