69 rear leaf spring center clinch bolt

[Greg L.]

Which way should this bolt go....threaded end up or down?

I just went to install my spring and the threaded end is up(sticking past the nut about 1/2") and it hits on the diff housing. The first thought was that I'll just cut the threaded stub off and I'll be good. Then I thought that maybe the threaded end should be down....

Do the judges expect to see the threaded portion sticking through the bottom spring plate or should it just be the head of the bolt in the spring plate opening?

For what it's worth my bolt head isn't a hex head...it's just a round but flat head with I think a "W" in the center of it.

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 rear leaf spring center clinch bolt

The head of the bolt goes in the "socket" in the differential cover

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 rear leaf spring center clinch bolt

Also, the head of SERVICE bolts is usually taller than the originals and it won't fit in the recess in the cover without "bottoming". You absolutely don't want the bolt to bottom as this can cause breakage of a cover "ear" when tightening down the spring. Trim the bolt head to simulate the thickness of the head of the original bolt.

The excess thread length on the bolt is cut off after the nut is fully tightened and the spring leaves drawn together. Originally, these were crudely "chopped off" with some sort of "chopping" tool.

[Greg L.]

Re: 69 rear leaf spring center clinch bolt

Thanks guys and thanks for the heads up Joe. I'll make sure it doesn't bottom out.

Now if I can just remember where my bolt cutter is.....