The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Replacing Axle Plates

Finally got the axle plates aka: "U-bolt plates", & new U-bolts made for the 1967 C-50 Dump Truck. I need to replace the axle plate & u-bolts on the driver's side of the rear axle. 2 speed vaccum operated Timkin-Rockwell 5,000 lb rear axle. I need advice on how to do this job without killing myself. Would it be safe to chock all the wheels on both sides, then w/ truck in 1st gear, & propeller shaft emergency brake on; crawl under there, cut the u-bolts, drop the axle plate, then replace w/ new axle plate & u-bolts? Thanx.

Don, I do a fair amount of work on old stuff (2 '48 two ton dumps, tractors etc.) I'm also saftey officer for the town F.D...by way of saying that the cardinal rule is ask yourself what is the absolute worse thing that could happen, and assume it will. BLOCKING! Get yourself some 4' 8X8's or some rugged jack stands, the heavy duty kind, and crib the frame. Rig it so that the tires/wheels aren't what you are depending on the hold the truck up and stable when you crawl underneath.

I'm a heavy truck mechanic, so i do this all the time. Personally i'd just chock the wheel so the axle doesnt move any mainly, then just get under there and cut the u-bolts, take the plate off, put new ones on and tighten it all up. Easy job, no need to jack anything up.

I would chock the front wheels, push in the clutch to be sure there wasn't any torque or bind on the rear wheels and have some jack stands under the frame "just in case". Then redo one side at a time,
Scott

I never work on anything in a situation where safety is compromised. That is just the wrong thing to do. I need to understand that it is safe before I start.

Rusty, I did it the way you said. Had a lil pressure from jack under the frame for back up though. Must confess I was nervous as hell when cutting through that last u-bolt.

48bigtrucks, I also chocked the front wheels, put trans in neutral, & pushed in the clutch a few times too.

Thank you to all on this thread.

CFFC
Don

Well you're right to be nervous, not how tight your u-bolts were, but on a big 3/4" u-bolt on a class 8 truck that someone put on with an 3/4" impact gun, when you cut those things off it sounds like a shotgun when they let go...