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Leaf Spring Plates

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by georgecj6, May 20, 2019.

  1. May 20, 2019
    georgecj6

    georgecj6 Member

    Chicago area
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    All four lower shock mounts are no good. I need new leaf spring plates. i have searched different sites. I can find 1976 and up or up to 1971. Does anybody know what years are compatible with 1974?

    Maybe I'm calling it the wrong name.
     
  2. May 20, 2019
    Framer Mike P

    Framer Mike P Member

    Hopkinton, NH
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    I think you need them from an intermediate 72-75. The earlier Jeeps had smaller axle tube diameters so they wont work. The later jeeps had wider springs so they wont work. I think warrior products may still have an aftermarket skid plate version.
     
    FinoCJ likes this.
  3. May 20, 2019
    Chilly

    Chilly Active Member

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    Mine are way overkill, from Warrior Products. They have skid plates. 72-75 for sure will work.
     
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  4. May 20, 2019
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    agreed...try this...
    Warrior Products - Jeep - Leaf Spring U-Bolt Skit Plates
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2019
    timgr likes this.
  5. May 20, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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  6. May 20, 2019
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    I may have some. MAY. I'll have to look. But in the mean time you can do what I did, I broke the stud off the rear.. I too could not find a replacement. So I took the plate off, removed what was left of the stud and welded the proper size shoulder bolt on. If I can remember I'll look tomorrow.

    I removed all my OEM stuff and upgraded to YJ springs.
     
  7. May 20, 2019
    Iandavidh

    Iandavidh Member

    California
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    I would search around a few Jeep specific junkyards if you don’t want to go with the skid plates. I was going to do that but just ended up buying the skids.
     
  8. May 21, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    This will be a continuing story with an intermediate CJ - parts support is not that good. Jeep calls that part a "leaf spring to u-bolt tie plate." There are 6 different part numbers, 2 each for the L & R fronts and the L & R rears.The book says newer front axles have 1/2" u-bolts (with a 17/32" bolt hole) and some have 7/16" u-bolts (with 15/32" holes), but either could be supplied with a '74. Here's the list of part numbers, but none of them come up with anything on an internet search: LF 999447/5353990 RF 999446/5353991 R 999797/999798.

    The rear plates for a '70 or '71 should be the same as a '74, though the u-bolt size could change. You must use '72-75 front plates because the axle type changes for '72, and the shocks move to the opposite side of the axle. Parts from a '76 or newer are wrong because the spring width changes. Almost everything changes for 1976.

    One possibility is to have your existing plates repaired. Not difficult for a machinist/welder to make new pins and weld them on the original plates.
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2019
  9. May 21, 2019
    Chilly

    Chilly Active Member

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    Tim is spot on. My 73 had 7/16 u-bolts, lift kit had 1/2. I drilled them out but that doesnt really work because half of the extra bolt moves toward the spring, half moves away. So the space between your bolt where the spring lays is reduced by 1/16. Thats usually enough to splay your u bolts out at the top of the axle tube. To do it right you need to mill new holes such that space between u bolts remains the same. Then weld on new studs. I punted and wrote the check to Warrior Products.

    My rear upper shock mounts were bad so I remade them using a large coupling nut so I now have the same replaceable shock studs there as are used on the Warrior Product plates.
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2019
    timgr likes this.
  10. May 21, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    To replace 7/16" bolts with 1/2", I suggest you get a sharp new round file and enlarge the holes by hand. Only remove material from the outer sides of the holes, keeping the dimension that spans the axle and the springs the same. If you have access to a mill or machinist with a mill, that would be easiest, but most people don't. I'm sure you could find a machinist to do the work for a price, but filing the holes shouldn't be too heavy a burden for most.

    Note that you are supposed to use new u-bolts. One-time use, strictly speaking.
     
    Bowbender likes this.
  11. May 21, 2019
    georgecj6

    georgecj6 Member

    Chicago area
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    Thank you for the suggestions. I will buy some 1/2" shoulder bolts. The shoulders are 5/8". The threads are 1/2" The shoulders are the same OD as the original.
     
  12. May 23, 2019
    georgecj6

    georgecj6 Member

    Chicago area
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    I cleaned up my leaf spring plates. Which are front or rear? Do the shock bolts go to the front? Am I correct in thinking the bent rod between the boxed plates is a stabilizer bar and I should straighten it?

    When this is ready I will take all the parts and frame to a sandblaster.
     

    Attached Files:

  13. May 23, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Ok, the plates with a truss are not factory. I would assume that those are for the front axle. Not much reason to truss the rear. IMO that sort of a truss will be ineffective, so I would just remove it from the plates. The rears will be left over, and be a perfect mirror image form the other. The fronts are not mirror symmetric, since the inner u-bolt goes over the axle housing on the passenger side.
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2019
  14. May 24, 2019
    Chilly

    Chilly Active Member

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    I have a set from a 73 with broken studs but no other bubba fab. Your for shipping if they'll be useful to you.
     
  15. May 25, 2019
    georgecj6

    georgecj6 Member

    Chicago area
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    I'm interested
    How do we proceed?
     
  16. Jun 10, 2019
    georgecj6

    georgecj6 Member

    Chicago area
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    Thank you for the plates Chilly!

    Now I will cut the studs out and have the plates sandblasted with the frame.
     
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