Spring mount plates w/skids....

Hey guys,

If I were to fab up my own spring mounting plates with skids, can I use
off-the-shelf cold roll for the shock mount? The originals seemed to have been hardened, but I'm not certain.

I could buy a set and add the skid portion, but I have the 1/2" u-bolts for my Rancho springs, and I'd have to drill them out. This doesn't leave a lot of room on the edge for strength.

I'm going after something like this....

http://www.performanceaccessories.com/products/skid.htm

Any thoughts?

 

I just bought a set for the front axle made by Warrior. I'm going to fab a set for the rear now that I have a pattern. Warrior uses a threaded connecter 1/2 inch maybe, welded to the plate. They make a shock mount that screws into the connecter. I know they sell just the shock mount stud.

 

Thanks Posi,

How about this? I found some "steam pipe" at my local metal supply. Basically a very thick walled tubing. It comes in standard ID. Was thinking about using that, running a grade 8 through it and the shock eye. Use a lock nut with a backing nut and I should be good. Very similar to your screw-in stud plan, but this doesn't run the risk of breaking off without being able to get it out. A hammer and punch should undo any mishaps. Any flaws with this plan?

 

Here is a picture of the ones I made about a year ago for my dana 30 front swap, the plate is bent out of 1/4" cold rolled flat stock, the shock mount is made of 4130 (1018 cold roll would have worked fine), I did not chase the threads on a lathe I decided since I had a die to just run it up the shaft, I ran them at Tellico this year for the 1st time, performed well, they were intended to be the kind with a bottom plate for proterction of the stud and nut but never welded the bottom plate on, will get around to it later. They worked good the way they were, much better than stock ones. If you guys are interested in things like the studs or such PM me and we can work out a deal or something on machine work, since I do most of this in my garage, I do it very cheap. You can talk to Sparky, Project71-5, Vanguard, Lynn and several others about my work and my prices.