rear leaf spring center pin question

[ratrapp]

does anybody know where to buy the center pin for the rear leaf springs for a 66 f100?everyplace I look doesn't actually show them.i didn't realize mine was broke until I took the bed off yesterday.would like to get the pin before I take it apart and new u bolts as well.im sure they're not coming off without braking either.i just want to be able to fix it when I start as I don't have a place I can leave it torn apart more than a day.

[jamesdfo]

Any local Spring Shop should have center bolts & u-bolts, or can certainly get them:)

[slick4x4]

I guess I am a super cheap-azz
Ive done quite a few spring packs
And never bought a single "original style" bolt
I. Just take a regular good quality bolt
Over to the bench grinder
& just grind it round like the original

[My wife's nightmare]

Guess I'm a cheap-a$$ as well. That's been my approach to the center pin. U-bolts should be found at auto parts stores, may have to trim them off a bit after installing but they aren't a hard to find part just hard to find a good parts person now that can find them in the store

[LM14]

Farm stores are your friend. I use Allen bolts for center pins. If they are too small I slip a reducer bushing over the round head to make it the right size. Same place for u bolts. They usually have several sizes to choose from.
SPark

[ratrapp]

my local spring shop(50 miles away)closed up a few years ago.dorman makes a few sizes so im just going to get the three sizes they show.

[FarmMotorSports]

+1 on the ground down bolt.

I've done it more times than I can count. On trucks that carry +40,000 lbs. Semi trailers, cars, trucks, and things I have long ago forgot about.
"In theory" once the U bolts are torqued the center bolt doesn't do anything.
Yes it holds an in mounted spring pack together, and provides locating to the spring pad.

PS. I was once provided stock center bolts for a semi with a 14" thick spring pack. They weren't even grade five quality. We could literally bend them over our knee. When we called and asked about them, we were told the U bolts did ALL the work, and center bolts were simply for ease of assembly.

Personally I use grade 8...