Flanged 44 U-bolt size?

I just measured my '71 RII, and they're 2 & 3/4" DIA. This dimension is good from the differential out past both axle perches. The diameter gets larger right before the backing plates.

 

Checked mine with calipers, 2 3/4" by 7/16" u-bolts

 

Let me check my stash. Worst case scenario, you're only talking 1/8" on either side of the tube; might just be okay to oval out the holes a little.

 

I will measure mine tonight, but it appears to have come with 1/2" bolts. axle tube OD is a bit bigger than my 27. FWIW, the replacement OMIX-ADA spring pads I bought were not big enough to accomodate either my original 1/2" bolts or the ones supplied with my BDS kit.

 

Mine were 7/16"x2 3/4" also. They were sprung outward at the thread end also. I just took a piece of leather wrapped around them and twisted to squeeze them enough to get them in the plates (at least the ones I couldn't squeeze by hand). I wouldn't alter the holes unless absolutely necessary. :v6:

 

had to rebend mine slightly (1/8-5/32") to fit when I installed the flanged axle.

 

the flanged axle tubes are larger as stated. once i figured that out, i called the guy i bought the flanged axle from and luckily he still had the spring plates for it - which are obviously a wider spread than the tapered axle plates. i'd be incomfortable slotting out the holes in the spring plates from a tapered axle - unless maybe i welded additional material to them. i had a set of U bolts kicking around from a ford explorer 8.8" rear end that i used. almost a perfect fit. the explorer U bolts had to be pinched just a bit to work for me.

 

Just confirming 10 spline 2-piece 44 tube is 2.5". Plate holes @ 7/16" ... noting that 1/2" u-bolts supplied w/ Rancho springs require plate holes to be drilled out to 1/2".