Should Shackle Bolts Be Tightened Down So There Isn't Any Play

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Question:

I am replacing leaf springs, u bolts and shackle links on a 5th wheel. My parts team ordered non shouldered bolts for the shackle links. Can these be used instead of the shoulder bolts? When i tighten them down to torque spec, there is no play in the shackle links. Is this okay?

asked by: Cody

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Expert Reply:

It sounds like you have an equalizer bolt like part # 7-136-2-6-112 as opposed to one with a hex head like the part # 7-169-6-112. This is fine as long as the diameter and length matches what you're needing.

When installing suspension bolts on your trailer we don't have any torque specs for them. You'll want to snug them up so the equalizer and shackles don't have side to side play and then back the nut off 1/4 turn so that there is some movement in the suspension but not too much. If you keep everything tightened as is then the suspension won't have the freedom to move and adjust with the road. The ride for your trailer will be more rigid and you could experience some problems further down the road.

expert reply by: Jon G

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Answer 1

In general shackle bolts turning from use over time does not considerably wear out components. As long as the bolts are greased normally the movement from standard use would not cause them to wear out. The tension of the bolt and nut is loose enough…

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Answer 2

There should be enough free play in the shackles to allow them to move. There is no specific torque rating for shackle bolts. The first thing you should make sure of is that the bolts you use are long enough so that when installed you will have at…

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Answer 3

Shackle straps can actually flip if they're too short as opposed to being too long, so it makes sense because you mentioned you put on shorter, 2-1/2" shackle straps. Also, if the leaf springs you replaced are shorter than what you had (…

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Answer 4

I have attached a chart you can check out that describes the torque needed per wheel size, wheel stud size and material. For an 8-inch wheel with a 1/2-inch wheel stud the torque is 75 to 86 ft-lbs. For a 15 inch steel wheel with 1/2 inch wheel studs…

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Answer 5

Hello Mark, thanks for reaching out. I can certainly point you in the right direction. The main thing I will need to know is the weight capacity of your axle, and the eye-to-eye length of the current springs. It is best to jack up one side of the…

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Answer 6

Hey Shawn, Without accurate measurements there unfortunately isn't any way to help. We don't have any way of knowing what leaf springs are on any specific trailer so you'll have to measure them. While it won't be exact, it's…

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Answer 7

Leaf springs typically have the part #stamped on the strap that holds the leafs together at one end of the shorter leafs, or it is painted on the concave side of the springs. The part number can then be used to determine the capacity of the springs.…

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Answer 8

You could potentially replace your leaf springs with a larger capacity spring but will need to match the length of your current leaf springs to avoid having to remove and reinstall the hangers and rest of the suspension system, which is a giant…

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Answer 9

Hey Henry, Really appreciate the photos as that made it easy to see what the situation was, and yeah, that's definitely an issue as the axle should not be hitting the frame like that. New leaf springs are a good idea as yours seem a bit long in…

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Answer 10

Hello James, thanks for reaching out. I can provide some rough guidelines for you, but there is not a "set in stone" hanger spacing for a 27" leaf spring like part #e97SR. Generally, for a single axle setup, your hanger spacing for a…

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Answer 11

I spoke with the manufacturer and they recommend using 160 ft-lb for the torque spec on a 3/4 inch U-bolt #11-70.

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Answer 12

Hi Paul, you’re definitely on the right track here, and I can help you narrow this down with confidence. With your tandem 3,500 lb Dexter axles and 33 inch spacing, both the Dexter EZ Flex part #K71-652-00 and the Lippert Road Armor part #LC53CK are…

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Should Shackle Bolts Be Tightened Down So There Isn't Any Play

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