[tonyevans]

A few months ago when I decided to rebuild my Sierra I brought a lift kit from a well known seller on Ebay - I am now fitting it and find the U bolts are way to big so I emailed them about it and what I got in return was this -


Hello Tony

With this kit there is 2 larger ubolts for front drivers side and 6 other ubolts for the other springs. These are the same ubolts listed for all the sierras with all the brands.

We have come across the odd sierra that has different sized ubolts for whatever reason. Sometimes these have to be custom made to suit but this costs extra. The cost difference is $50 and it takes about 3 days for our supplier to make these for us.

This is a rare instance as we sell about 10 kits per month and
only have this issue every 3 or 4 months.

Regards,
Simon

Any thoughts?

[Ben_Sierra]

When you say larger, do you mean longer, or wider?

Longer isn't such a massive issue, although too long and they'll be sticking out under the spring plates and catch on things... Wider, then I'd say they've given you the wrong u-bolts, cos I've never head off different sized ones?

[want33s]

Narrow track (1.0 & 1.3) use slightly larger U bolts on the RHF...

[Ben_Sierra]

want33s wrote:

Narrow track (1.0 & 1.3) use slightly larger U bolts on the RHF...

Larger in width or length?

Presumably that is due to the shape of the housing as you get in closer to the pumpkin?

[tonyevans]

Well I guess I mean bigger



The black one on top is the correct size.

[abclarke]

Cant just tidy up the older ones to make do?

[skyman]

That is what I had to do for the drivers front side. (side opposite the diff. in the front)

[303zuke]

LJ50, LJ80 and SJ40 all have small diameter axle tubes than the 1.3 Sierras, so the bolt pattern on the spring plate is smaller spacing and the bolts a smaller width. They are a smaller thread and nut with smaller bar size.

The Seller is probably being truthful in what they say, in that they don't sell many kits to SJ40 owners. But then again, this was a well known issue with suspension sellers in the 80's and 90's when it would be more common to encounter an earlier Zuke.

It may not be of much assistance to you, but the Super Carry has the same size axle tubes and bolt plate as the SJ40, but the U-Bolts are longer than the Sierra U-Bolts and are the ones to use with a thicker spring pack. If you can't find usable SC U-bolts, you may have to get new ones made up from an actual spring manufacturer rather a E-bay re-seller.

[Highway-Star]

303zuke wrote:

If you can't find usable SC U-bolts, you may have to get new ones made up from an actual spring manufacturer rather a E-bay re-seller.

Is is what I do with my LJ80. Take in the old smaller U-bolts, they make me new ones the same dimensions but out of slighlty thicker bar, and longer with more thread. The slightly thicker bar used means I have to slighty drill out my spring plate holes. They cost me $10 each.

[denty802]

hows the kit holding up tony?

[tonyevans]

It has not touched the ground yet - I am doing a total restore/rebuild - Will be a few months yet

[denty802]

fair enough, good luck with it all

[SuziBlu]

tonyevans wrote:

It has not touched the ground yet - I am doing a total restore/rebuild - Will be a few months yet

So spread the goss, total restore/rebuild, ok, so there is a lift kit involved, so its not back to 1005 stock, whats the run down. ?

[tonyevans]

See it here - http://www.auszookers.com/index.php?nam ... ic&t=20596

[SuziBlu]

Ahh, missed that, wonderful buildup.

Tell me, why with such a full on build, are you sticking to the smaller 1l diffs.

I have a NT 1l that is hopefully soon going under the rebuild banner, and am changing the 1l diffs for a set of WT ones, they are good, but for total rebuild ?

[tonyevans]

Well they are in great condition and the car has been doing NOTHING for the last 15 years but sitting under a tree so I just rebuilt them with new seals etc and then someone gave me a good 1.3lt motor and so it grows - It's not for hard off road 4WD so they will be fine - Tony

[christover1]

1.0 litre diffs have better ground clearance, and better stock diff ratios 4:1 ,
access to cheaper diff ratios of 4:9 and 4:6.
Less need for huge tyres, and lighter.
Was very happy with mine.

[SuziBlu]

christover1 wrote:

1.0 litre diffs have better ground clearance, and better stock diff ratios 4:1 ,
access to cheaper diff ratios of 4:9 and 4:6.
Less need for huge tyres, and lighter.
Was very happy with mine.

Yes, but, bit narrow. When you lift, you must go wider. My 1lt diffs are a bit naughty as the have 2" spacers all round, with the WT and 5.12 ratios I have, I think, I have it covered.

[christover1]

SuziBlu wrote:

christover1 wrote:

1.0 litre diffs have better ground clearance, and better stock diff ratios 4:1 ,
access to cheaper diff ratios of 4:9 and 4:6.
Less need for huge tyres, and lighter.
Was very happy with mine.

Yes, but, bit narrow. When you lift, you must go wider. My 1lt diffs are a bit naughty as the have 2" spacers all round, with the WT and 5.12 ratios I have, I think, I have it covered.

I ran offset modified rims, about 65mm plus on each side,
never had any more wheel bearing problems than on the stockers

[SuziBlu]

Wheel bearing probs are a tension thing, set up properly and no dramas.

Whats the difference between big offset and a load, bugger all hey.

I have the rims, tyres, and the diffs. The thought of doing a modified rim never entered my head, oops.

Of course, now I have spent the money, my way must be better lol.