Rear leaf spring forward link bolt

[Neil Wilson]

An AA friend offered the following as a solution to making your own rear shackle bolts for about $10 each:

• Original A-21320 shoulder bolt
  3/4-16 x 4-3/16
  3-1/8” – 1” shoulder; 1-1/8” thread length
  1-1/16” thread lg., head 1-1/8” hex.)

Parts from McMaster Carr at http://www.mcmaster.com/#

89955K89 - $58.56 6’ length – 72”/3-1/8” = 23.04 pieces = $2.55 each
4130 Alloy Steel Aircraft-Grade Round Tube
1.000" OD, .120" Wall Thickness (ID = .760")

91257A881 – $5.72
Grade 8 Alloy Steel Hex Head Cap Screw Zinc Yellow-Plated
3/4"-16 x 5-1/2" Length
1 3/4" to 2 1/4" Thread length – cut to 4-3/16”; drill for cotter
Head: Wd. 1 1/8"; Ht. 15/32"

$2.55 + $5.72 = $8.27

This would need to be a project to make up 23 bolts in order to use the 6' length of tube.

[spectria]

An AA friend offered the following as a solution to making your own rear shackle bolts for about $10 each:

• Original A-21320 shoulder bolt
  3/4-16 x 4-3/16
  3-1/8” – 1” shoulder; 1-1/8” thread length
  1-1/16” thread lg., head 1-1/8” hex.)

Parts from McMaster Carr at http://www.mcmaster.com/#

89955K89 - $58.56 6’ length – 72”/3-1/8” = 23.04 pieces = $2.55 each
4130 Alloy Steel Aircraft-Grade Round Tube
1.000" OD, .120" Wall Thickness (ID = .760")

91257A881 – $5.72
Grade 8 Alloy Steel Hex Head Cap Screw Zinc Yellow-Plated
3/4"-16 x 5-1/2" Length
1 3/4" to 2 1/4" Thread length – cut to 4-3/16”; drill for cotter
Head: Wd. 1 1/8"; Ht. 15/32"

$2.55 + $5.72 = $8.27

This would need to be a project to make up 23 bolts in order to use the 6' length of tube.

Sweet Solution...
They also offer hardened tube with thinner wall if you want to cut down your bolt and sleeve it.

[Neil Wilson]

Yea, using the original bolts and cutting them down would be my choice. I don't know the cost of having that work done. But, if it would be close to the $10 per bolt, that is better in my opinion. The bolt heads would be original that way.

[Stakebed]

Yea, using the original bolts and cutting them down would be my choice. I don't know the cost of having that work done. But, if it would be close to the $10 per bolt, that is better in my opinion. The bolt heads would be original that way.

Well i have access to a lathe so that part is free...

and yea i agree from the outside no one will ever know what has been done since the bolt head and nut will be original.