need source for SS bent (square) bolts

firstgear · 05-10-06, 10:29 PM

need a source for stainless steel bent (square, not round like muffler bolts), needs to be 3" on center, with legs that are threaded 3/8-16 and are 1-1/4 inch long......anyone????

thanks, Herb

IH2LOSE · 05-11-06, 05:47 AM

Herb

I cant figure out what your describing, What are you using ir for maybee then I will know a source for it

firstgear · 05-11-06, 06:51 AM

I had to drill two holes in each side of the frame for this. It is used to hang the rear sway bar from the frame. It is regular steel, I would prefer some high strength SS and not worry about rust.

I was searching via google last night and first started under U bolt, and that lead me to bent bolt.......

henny496 · 05-11-06, 08:53 AM

Hello Herb
Can you not use a flat top strap or thicker plate( holes drilled at the end) and then just have two bolts at the ends.?
You could get some stainless plate if you wanted
Tom

firstgear · 05-11-06, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henny496

Hello Herb
Can you not use a flat top strap or thicker plate( holes drilled at the end) and then just have two bolts at the ends.?
You could get some stainless plate if you wanted
Tom

there are two holes drilled in the frame and this is fished through the holes and the threaded portion hangs out of the frame. A bracket is attached to the threaded portion and this bracket has the sway bar bolt with bushings on it. I could use what I have, but I thought if I was going to put this in, I would be better off with the stainless steel in the long run.....no rusting....although only the bolts will stick out, I was trying to get it to look right as well.......this "while I am at it" stuff is a PIA, but in the end I know I will like the results.........already had to buy some new stainless steel U bolts to go around the rear differential rather than the steel ones. Found a place that had exactly what I needed in SS, turned out it is used for mounting items to antenna's, high strength and resistant to corrosion.

now if I can find this crazy part, even thinking perhaps getting some stainless rod, bending it like I need it and then threading it.....that is my last option....

Herb

vette-dude · 05-11-06, 12:25 PM

You might try a trailer manuf. or dealer as they use these type square "U" bolts for attaching springs to axles. You can also "fish" a bolt into these holes by using a heavy gage fishing line or light wire and tie it to a bolt. Fish the loose end thru the frame and over the opening in the frame. Reach up with a hooked small wire and grab the loose end and pull it thru the frame hole. Then just pull the line/wire and the bolt will follow to the blind hole. This is how they install trailer hitch bolts in frames. Use an air wrench to install nuts on the bolt. You might also try a suspension/spring repair shop as they have these square Ubolts also. You might have to add some threads or cut to length for your application. Good luck.

Randy

firstgear · 05-11-06, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vette-dude

You might try a trailer manuf. or dealer as they use these type square "U" bolts for attaching springs to axles. You can also "fish" a bolt into these holes by using a heavy gage fishing line or light wire and tie it to a bolt. Fish the loose end thru the frame and over the opening in the frame. Reach up with a hooked small wire and grab the loose end and pull it thru the frame hole. Then just pull the line/wire and the bolt will follow to the blind hole. This is how they install trailer hitch bolts in frames. Use an air wrench to install nuts on the bolt. You might also try a suspension/spring repair shop as they have these square Ubolts also. You might have to add some threads or cut to length for your application. Good luck.

Randy

Randy, you have a good suggestion of fishing up the frame with a line to pull the bolt up and into the hole. The part that I have is supplied by Jim Myers Racing and the kit is set up so that you can do it with the body still on the frame, hence it would be pretty challenging to fish it up with the body still on, but in my case with the body off, I have a lot more latitude. I will take a hard look at this approach.

I had tried checking some online stuff with trailer builders and the like, that is where I came up with the name "bent bolt", I never would have thought that at all, I would have called them U bolts. But the size is problem.

The other alternative is I am checking with our machine shop for raw SS stock, and if I can bend it, I can thread it. In that case I can make my own. My problem will be in bending the rod. I am going to need something that will give me some leverage on the rod in order to bend it. Threading it won't be a problem, but the bending could be a challenge.

I like your suggestion of fishing some bolts up the frame and down through the holes......I will take a good look and try at that this weekend.

thanks!
Herb

Sky65 · 05-11-06, 09:12 PM

Make your own out of SS round stock.
http://www.mcmaster.com/
Search "round stock". Lots of SS possibilities.

Tom

firstgear · 05-11-06, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky65

Make your own out of SS round stock.
http://www.mcmaster.com/
Search "round stock". Lots of SS possibilities.

Tom

Hi Tom, thanks.....turns out that is what I did today...well, I didn't actually make them, but I got some 400 series stainless steel round stock that was left over from some other machining jobs at work that is the right size for putting a die on it to make 3/8-16 threads....now to just bend the darn thing......I figure I can get some of it bent via my vise, but I will have to think through how to grab the darn thing and bend it....perhaps make the legs longer than I need, then I can "mess up" that end, trim it off and then run the die on it....sounds like a plan...will find out this weekend, got about 18 inches or so to play with.....I have a feeling that this is not going to want to bend easily....time will tell.

If I am successful, I will post some photos of the bracket after it is made and then after it is installed.

Herb

henny496 · 05-11-06, 09:35 PM

Hello Herb
If you have a local machine shop around, they should have a brake, with hopefully a little fixture so it does not mark up the rod
take care
Tom

Sky65 · 05-11-06, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firstgear

Hi Tom, thanks.....turns out that is what I did today...well, I didn't actually make them, but I got some 400 series stainless steel round stock that was left over from some other machining jobs at work that is the right size for putting a die on it to make 3/8-16 threads....now to just bend the darn thing......I figure I can get some of it bent via my vise, but I will have to think through how to grab the darn thing and bend it....perhaps make the legs longer than I need, then I can "mess up" that end, trim it off and then run the die on it....sounds like a plan...will find out this weekend, got about 18 inches or so to play with.....I have a feeling that this is not going to want to bend easily....time will tell.

If I am successful, I will post some photos of the bracket after it is made and then after it is installed.

Herb

I don't know what it does to the strength of the rod but I bent some 1/4 SS rod. I carefully heated it with a propane torch and it bent pretty easily.

firstgear · 05-11-06, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky65

I don't know what it does to the strength of the rod but I bent some 1/4 SS rod. I carefully heated it with a propane torch and it bent pretty easily.

perhaps you had 300 series stainless.....also if I remember my engineering, the stiffness is related by the square of the diameter, so the 3/8 is more than double the stiffness of the 1/4. But I will give it a try and see what happens. I had thought about someone with a break, but that would be too easy wouildn't?

Maybe I can check at work and there might be a break in one of the labs I could use...

Old Bull · 05-12-06, 03:23 AM

Here's another idea for you. Get a piece of ss flatbar strap. Drill a hole in each end with the proper spacing, insert stainless steel bolt of the right length and tack weld the head to the strap so it can't turn. Then install same as you described. With this method you don't have the radius of the bend to interfere with the hole when you tighten the nuts.

IH2LOSE · 05-12-06, 06:19 AM

Herb

If this was a regular fastener what should the strength be?

When I was building my car I found out that there was only one stainless steel that was equal to a grade 8 fastener. It was suggested to me to use all grade 8 fasteners on my suspension parts.

firstgear · 05-12-06, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IH2LOSE

Herb

If this was a regular fastener what should the strength be?

When I was building my car I found out that there was only one stainless steel that was equal to a grade 8 fastener. It was suggested to me to use all grade 8 fasteners on my suspension parts.

this is used to hold on to the rear sway bar mounting point at the frame. I would agree with you on GRADE 8, in this case if it broke, it would not be the end of the world, it might not handle as good as it should, but the rear end won't fall out on me. Am I underestimating the severity of the problem if it breaks?