Where do you find new spring cinter pins? Went down to the local NAPA and the guy kind of gave me a funny look.:rasta:

u can use pretty much anything. i personally like these allen head bolts i get at my local fastener place here in sac. that way when u change em or have to add a leaf or tak eone out all u do is get the allen wrench u need and the wrench and change i tout rather than vise grips! jiMMy

Blue Boar,

When I sheared a center bolt from a front leaf-spring pack, I picked up another at 4 Wheel Parts in Santa Clara. (I think I paid $3 for a pack of two.) Their web site URL is:

http://www.4wheelparts.com/

They also have a store in Portland (503-774-4000).

Jimmy--do you use grade 5 or 8 for these? Thanks, Don.

Don't even think about using anything but Grade 8.

This pin is VERY vulnerable if you have loose Ubolts and will sheer off.

Overkill is good with center pins.

Been there broke those.

I kept breaking the grade 8 center bolts. In a pinch I ended up running a regular grade 5 bolt. Same thing happend on the other side so I figured I was having good luck with the grade 5 and went with it. I have broke one grade 5, but not at the rate I was breaking the grade 8's. IMHO I will go with just the regular grade 5 bolts, because I am having less problems with them.

I think its because the grade 5 sheer point is less then the grade 8 and the grade 5 will bend before the grade 8 :flipoff2: :rolleyes: (FYI, the last part is a joke)

Spring shop will have them. I have used bolts before but they broke too. If you have too the will work for a temp fix.

center pins from spring shops are cool but pricy compared to a grd 8 bolt.
I use grd 8 bolts (fine thread) and stack grd 8 nuts up to create a longer head for caster shims and stuff.

Don

i just went to central 4wd and bought some center pins. they werre cheep. like 3/8" or sumthin. theyll know if ya tell em fj40

Try 5/16", grade 8......

I just went to Lowe's and got some Grade 8 bolts. I think they were 5/16", they fit nicely and were cheaper than "real" centering pins. Hopefully they hold up.

you can buy a higher grade than a grade 8

Thanks for all of the info guys. I am goin to the hardware store!:)

Originally posted by dog walker
Try 5/16", grade 8......

thats the one!

whats available higher than grade 8?
and are these recomended or will grade 8 be fine?

The 5/16" bolts worked great for the fj40 spring that I am using up front but the back FJ55 springs are more like 3/8". So I am going to reuse the pins because I do not want to wait untill the stores open on friday. What should the pins be torqued to? seems like they were pretty tight coming off but there was some rust on the threds.