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Greasable Spring Bolts

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by givemethewillys, Aug 13, 2020.

?

Greasable or regular bolts

  1. Greasable

    4 vote(s)
    80.0%
  2. Regular

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. Regular with nyloc nuts

    1 vote(s)
    20.0%
  1. Aug 13, 2020
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    Greasable spring bolts, yes or no? Will they make my polyurethane bushings last longer than regular bolts?

    And, are leaf spring bolts just regular grade-8?
     
  2. Aug 13, 2020
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    I've never really understood the greasable bolts. you would need to have a cross drilled center sleeve to the bushing since the bolt clamps the shackle halves to the sleeve and they should move together and the bushing should flex in the rubber and not be sliding, it's not a heim joint.

    Yes nyloc, fine thread grade 8.
     
  3. Aug 14, 2020
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    You haven’t lived till you installed greasable bolts and drilled the shackle hangers for grease fittings.
    Night and day....
     
    Fireball likes this.
  4. Aug 14, 2020
    Rick Whitson

    Rick Whitson Detroit Area 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I live South of...
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    When I done my restoration, in 2007 there were a lot of choices, not sure which was the right one I went with silicone bushings, had to be be better than the old school rubber ones that came with all leaf springs? How do you know? My Jeep is mostly for Forest Viewing and Cruising the Black top roads in Northern Lower Michigan where our Cabin is. To be Honest I have not even looked at them since. I have 10K miles on my Jeep and see no problems yet. My jeep is just for Car Shows and riding around on the 11K acers of hunting land where our Cabin is, so they may be failing, but I haven't even Looked to see. My Jeep drives great, My kids and Grand Kids love it, that is what I wanted when I started the build. Good Luck.
     
  5. Aug 14, 2020
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
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    3,083
    I put all greasable bolts in Ted. I noticed a difference, the main one being the reduction of noise and squeaks. I'm running daystar rear and rugged ridge in the front. I needed tall shackles in the rear to level Ted out after putting rear springs in the front. I put the lift in 3 years ago with non greasable bolts and all the steel sleeves in the bushings were cracked. I hope that the grease prevents that from happening this time.

    Daystar Greasable 2-1/4" Lift Shackle Pair for 46-75 Jeep CJ

    Rugged Ridge 18265.03 Greaseable Front and Rear Shackles in Black for a 55-75 jeep CJ

    You can just buy the daystar bushing kit. I'd get 3, one for the front shackles, the rear ones and then one for the 4 spring pivot bolts (flat fenders already have grease points at the spring pivots).

    Daystar KJ02018BK Greasable Shackle Bushings for 45-75 Jeep CJ
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2020
  6. Aug 14, 2020
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    Jun 21, 2005
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    1,998
    Thanks for the insights guys. When I look at the two options, it looks like stock-sized bolts are 7/16' fine thread. The greaseable bolts all seem to be 1/2". Does this mean that I would have to use them without the center sleeve? That seems to be a bad idea....

    I'm leaning towards regular grade 8 yellow zinc bolts from McMaster. They seem to be MUCH less expensive than 4wd specific places. I mean, they're just bolts, why are places charging 8 bucks a pop?
     
  7. Aug 14, 2020
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
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    I made my 3B bolts from grade 9, from McMaster-Carr. I think you can dispense with the sleeve and use a solid polyurethane or Delrin bushing. I'm trying the latter. I also made my own shackle hangers and used a 9/16 bolt there.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Aug 14, 2020
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
    Joined:
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    Well this is intriguing.... I like it :) Are all your bolts 9/16th"? I'm unclear on what size bolts are recommended. I assume 7/16" while keeping the sleeves, and maybe 1/2 or 9/16" for a greasable one, without the steel sleeve?
     
  9. Aug 14, 2020
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
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    I used 1/2" in the spring eyes. Not much diameter to work with there and still have a functional bushing. The shackle hangers I built are 1 1/4 ID so they could easily accommodation a larger diameter bolt and bushing.
     
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