Question about U bolt tighting

[scuba dude]

Do you check the tightness of these nuts with weigh on or off the axle, seems I have seen discussion both ways. What difference would it make? Seems you would want to check them with weigh on the axle.

[8.1al]

If the spring is on top of the axle you would want the weight on

[8e3k0]

Actually with the amount of torque applied to each u-bolt 60 to 70 ft lbs; it does not matter, weight on or weight off, as those u-bolts have already found "home" around that axle. Normally when installing new u-bolts it is best to do a recheck after a short run, say 100 miles, just in case the U part of the bolt did not hug that axle properly.
Hope this helps.

[jackel1959]

Just to add to the subject......I checked ours when there first started being a lot of discussion on this forum regarding this topic and they all needed torquing. I checked them again after about 1000 miles and a little adjustment was needed. I checked them yesterday after about an additional 5000 miles and they were all still good. I will check them each time I lube the wet-bolts just for piece of mind.
Jack

[scuba dude]

Thanks 4 info

[8.1al]

I would think that if the springs are under the axles and you have 12,000 lbs. plus pulling on the u-bolts and pushing on the plate the nuts touch it would affect the torque. This is nothing we have to worry about with our Montana's as the springs are on the top