Uh Oh!

[Bill W]

Noticed some heavy rust around the rear spring U- bolts, so I took the needle gun and sandblaster to clean them up., This is whats left.

 

[DaveP]

YIKES!! well at least you found it before it became an issue.
preventive maint is key. good job!

 

[wreckerman893]

I would check it's pedegree.....must have came from the "land of northern aggression" with rust damage like that.

 

[Capt.Marion]

Ironhorsethegeneral had the same problem on the one if his trucks that's from Pennsylvania. Glad I've lived my whole life in the Southland, I wouldn't like any salt corrosion on me!

 

[NDT]

Same problem on my M275 tractor. Memphis has the u-bolts in stock.

 

[Firefighter294]

Much better to have found it during PM in the shop then busted out on the road.

 

[maxim]

Been there, done that. Mine turned into quite a task to remove and clean up and replace. The u-bolts were so terrible frozen in I soaked and heated and beat on them and broke two heads on the air hammer to get them out they were about as bad as yours. If I recall a semi truck shop made new ones for about $50. I took out the bearings and examined them and re-lubed. Take care in supporting all the components as they are heavy and can shift on you. I also cleaned and repainted the blocks. I ended up cutting the u-bolts off with a cut off wheel so the air hammer could get a bite on them from the top. My truck was from Michigan and 35 years of the salt setting in the pocket with dirt and not being cleaned out had rusted the u-bolt nearly in half.

 

[maxim]

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?t=19518

 

[ida34]

There is a gap around the u-bolt that clogs up easily. I was able to get all the stuff out and my U bolts were still intact. Everyone should check their trucks and clean out the gap. You may find your u-bolt in a similar condition.

 

[Recovry4x4]

The entire arse of my pipeline truck was like that, very bad. That's the main reason it got scrapped.

 

[Chow717]

That's why I am waiting until spring to drive my duece around... after spring showers have cleaned the tons of salt from off of the roads...

 

[Bill W]

Yeah this is a northern deuce (came from Michigan). I'll check Memphis ( Thanks), if they're to high I go check out my not so local Brake & Spring shop