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LOS-YJ 03-13-2002, 11:21 PM I am going to be doing my SOA soon.I did a search but nothing really answered my ?? And was wondering if 1/4 steel would be thick enough for the spring plates. I have a shit load of 1/4 so I would like to use that you know, just wondering if i should go thicker or will I be fine. Thanks elf_cruiser 03-13-2002, 11:34 PM yeah, 1/4" will be fine just make sure you leave plenty of room around the edges for lock washers to make good contact... good luck! TODDK 03-14-2002, 02:07 AM I have seen 3/16 I think 1/4 will be good enough my coil pads are 1/4 and they have been good. YJ4RoX 03-14-2002, 06:56 AM Damn man, thanks for posting this i have been needin to ask the same question! I think1/4" is plenty strong, but I am going to go with 5/16" or 3/8" just to be safe. Most likely 5/16".:D PBB rocks! LOS-YJ 03-14-2002, 07:16 AM Cool, thanks guys didnt feel like buying a big sheet of thicker steel for some spring plates you know......:smokin: :smokin: lt1yj 03-14-2002, 07:17 AM I replaced the 1/4" plates I had with 3/8" the last time I modified my suspension. Flat 1/4 plates without reinforcing ribs will bend over time and the U bolts will loosen. If you can form the plate or add a couple of stiffening ribs 1/4 should be fine. I've had the flat 3/8" plate on for about a year and it does not look like it's bending. TyTy 03-14-2002, 07:23 AM Ive seen 1/4 bend. Might not be safe. Id go with 3/8. Get a big bar, can be used for a lot of stuff on trucks... Beef...its whats for dinner! morpheus 03-14-2002, 10:36 AM if you use 1/4" definitely need to weld a piece perp the plate to keep it from bending ... i'd just use 3/8" - jack The Rockslut 03-14-2002, 10:45 AM 1/4 will bend. if you use 1/4 you will have to but something on top to stiffen the plates. I would recommend the extra stiffening even with 3/8 Nothing worse than your u-bolts constantly coming loose. morpheus 03-14-2002, 10:47 AM very true. even with 3/8 the plate bends some requiring constant attention to keep the ubolts tight. - jack Keith 03-14-2002, 01:04 PM 4 3/4" x 8" plate, 1/4" thick. Bend it at 45*, one inch in from each end..... BlueJeep 03-14-2002, 01:12 PM I don't know what size U-bolts you intend to use, but I've bent 1/2" plate with 9/16" U-Bolts. I made my new ones for the dana 60 out of 1/2" x 6" plate, then welded 3/4" x 1/2" ribs on both ends of it, and it works great. My roommate did just the 1/2" plate on his and they are bowed up in the middle. Steel is cheap and I'd take a little more time and do it right. My U-bolts don't come loose. LOS-YJ 03-14-2002, 06:28 PM What about stacking two pieces of the 1/4 steel would that work just as well... onetonwillysands10 03-14-2002, 06:58 PM I would suggest going to a minium of 1/2 or thicker. I have seen 1/2 bend . The ones on my willys are 1/2 inch with 1/2 u-bolts and the ones on my s10 are 3/4 inch with 9/16 u-bolts.Just look at the thickness of a stock dana 60F spring plate and that should clue you in on where to start.Hope this helps. Dan 0 03-14-2002, 07:33 PM I made mine out of 3/4,don't know why,I just though thicker is always better:D LOS-YJ 03-15-2002, 03:04 PM So what do you guys think about just stacking two pieces of 1/4 steel .... H8monday 03-15-2002, 03:17 PM 1/2" or thicker, is what I would use. 2 pieces of 1/4" could twist and shift, in relation to each piece, causing a shear affect at the bolts. Most steel fabricators, will cut you 1/2" pieces, sized how you want, for a reasonable price. mytzlflick 03-16-2002, 02:59 PM I used 2 1/2 square tube for mine, capped at the ends, seems bulletproof. oh yeah it was 5/16 wall I think LOS-YJ 03-17-2002, 08:43 AM Thanks for the info guys....I am probably gonna go with 1/2 inch plate then, fawk i guess your right Monday cant be that much for a few peices just have to find the right shop that will do it alot of shops around here are lazy bastards they wont cut anything for ya you have to buy in big sheets... | |