Frame Brackets

[crazedhick3]

Anyone changed any bracketry on frames?  I have a rear spring perch bracket that needs changing while I still have the frame down to "bare bones".  Also, what are you replacing the rivets with?  Just bolts or bolts and weld?  Are aftermarket pieces of good quality?  Thanks

[80stepsideguy]

I changed the front leaf spring hangars on my stepside.It came with grade 8 bolts in the kit so i just put them on with a little dab or loc tite and torqued them down to the reccomended specs.I also replaced the rear crossmember in the very back , the 1 i had had a big bend in it and i bought 1 from a member here.Ground off the rivets, put the new 1 on and did the same, grade 8 bolts and loc tite and torqued the bolts down to 50 ft lbs.But thats about it .

thanks
pat

[123 pugsy]

Use loctite and you're good. Do not
weld the nut to the bolt as it could get brittle and break easy.

[1976Scottsdale]

I used 7/16" grade 8 bolts when I did perches on a friend's  78 K-10.  All I had to do once the rivets were out was use a cordless drill with a 7/16 bit and buzz it throught all the holes, bolts went in really tight and it all lined up nicely.  Same here on torque, about 50-60 ft/lb is all I did then I had him go test it and I retorqued them again.  Same thing I'm gonna do to my 76 3/4 ton 4x4.

[Captkaos]

Grade 8 bolts and a little locktite..

[Blazin]

I too have use grade 8 bolts, but I used lock nuts along with lock washers and locktite.

[xtremjeepn]

4x4 guys do it all the time to flip the rear shackle over. As mentioned before just use good grade 8 and locktite.

http://diy4x.com/suspension.htm

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/shacklekit.htm