Can someone ID this rear axle spring plate?

[derotoreut]

It looks like the PO did a U-bolt flip on my '70 K10. I'm in the process of installing a Skyjacker 2-1/2" leaf spring kit (front & rear). I like the idea that the rear U-bolts are mounted from bottom up. Just want to be sure that this axle spring plate is strong enough. Not doing any off-roading. Some of them seem wimpy. This one actually seems pretty beefy. Wondered what the plates might have come off of? Any ideas?

[BigRed76]

Looks aftermarket to me.

[derotoreut]

Originally Posted by BigRed76

Looks aftermarket to me.

Serious? I didn't think it was, but maybe. Look at the one from this ORD U-bolt flip kit (pic on upper right). Looks the same as mine and appears to be stock.

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/uboltreversal.htm

Their aftermarket design plates are shown in pic near bottom.

[DirtyLarry]

Looks bone stock to me. Same ones I have that I know are factory GM

Mine looks funny because I relocated the center pin after a shackle flip.

[Redcap]

Looks normal to me as well.

[DirtyLarry]

Below is a better view of the factory spring plates. These are on my ’89 Burb. Both of my trucks have 10.5” 14 bolt rear axles but the spring plates for ½ ton axles look the same, the u-bolt holes are just closer together.

I don’t recall 67-72 4x4 trucks using the spring plates under the axle like mentioned on the ORD page but I could be wrong. Usually it is only 1 tons that have the spring plates below the axle while ½ and ¾ tons had a spring plate on top of the springs with the u-bolt threads pointed up. On the other hand, my ’68 GMC ½ ton 2wd with a factory Dana 60 semi-floating rear axle does have the spring plates below the axle like a 1 ton. Dana rear axles in 67-72’s could have been the exception. Someone like Special-K would probably know for sure where the spring plates were on a stock ’70 K10 but I can tell you the spring plates on the truck in question are indeed factory spring plates.

You can see the right rear one on the far side better

[swamp rat]

The Eaton's have the downward facing U bolts , i think the 14 bolts had the opposite.

[1tuff71]

Looks like it came off a late 70's 4x4. If I recall they were just like that on my 78' Blazer

[derotoreut]

Good to know it's a stock spring plate. Looks exactly like DirtyLarry's. Even has the nubs on the sides. I just wanted to get an idea what it might have been off of. Since it's OE and pretty strong I should be in good shape. From what I understand, up to '72 used square U-bolts mounted from top down. After that ('73 and up) they used round U-bolts mounted from bottom up. That's just what I've been told… Could be wrong though.

[BigRed76]

My '72 GMC K1500 had a 12 bolt rear, with square u-bolts that faced downward. And my '70 C20 came with a Dana 60 with square u-bolts facing downward. I guess I shouldn't have assumed that derotoreut's spring plates were aftermarket, but as far as I know they aren't OE for a '70.

[derotoreut]

Originally Posted by BigRed76

My '72 GMC K1500 had a 12 bolt rear, with square u-bolts that faced downward. And my '70 C20 came with a Dana 60 with square u-bolts facing downward. I guess I shouldn't have assumed that derotoreut's spring plates were aftermarket, but as far as I know they aren't OE for a '70.

Agreed. They look to be stock OE plates, but not the configuration used on a '70. I like the U-bolt flip though with bolts/nuts up instead of down below axle.

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by derotoreut

Agreed. They look to be stock OE plates, but not the configuration used on a '70. I like the U-bolt flip though with bolts/nuts up instead of down below axle.

I agree, it looks better IMO. And I've seen so many spring plates rusted when on the bottom.

[CUSTOM/10]

I have those on my truck, I believe they started using those in 73.

Gary

[BLAZERMAN]

All 67 to 72 4x4s 1/2 and 3/4 ton came from the factory with the bottom saddle, the round u-bolts facing up with the top plate started in 73. I have always converted to the round u-bolts with top plate on my trucks. Like already mentioned the saddle was prone to holding in muck and causing rust. Ive even had to weld up a few axle tubes that had corroded thin where the u-bolts were in contact with the tube.

[66skylarkpost]

Originally Posted by BLAZERMAN

All 67 to 72 4x4s 1/2 and 3/4 ton came from the factory with the bottom saddle, the round u-bolts facing up with the top plate started in 73. I have always converted to the round u-bolts with top plate on my trucks. Like already mentioned the saddle was prone to holding in muck and causing rust. Ive even had to weld up a few axle tubes that had corroded thin where the u-bolts were in contact with the tube.

the again gm went back to it 88 and still uses it . the ones on my 89 went to crap .I por15'd and drilled a couple drain holes in the new brackets

[doubleclucker]

Looks like spring plate from 73-87(88-91) square body 1/2 3/4 ton
A 1 ton frame always had square u-bolts facing down for frame to helper spring clearence at anchor plate and easiest way to tell a 1 ton wider frame rails are the shocks are mouted on the inside of frame i am refering to the 73-87(88-91).

[Gatorhator98]

I know this is an old thread but maybe someone will chime in. Does anyone know if there is a piece of rubber under the u-shaped part in the plate? I could have sworn when I took apart my sprigs there was a rubber piece filling the void with a hole on the bottom side to locate the plate on the spring center bolt. I have taken apart others that didn’t have the rubber and can’t seem to find replacements anywhere. Are they non existent or not needed? Do you just center the top plate over the center bolt by eye?
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[kwmech]

Never seen rubber of any kind between all the axles I have taken out

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by CUSTOM/10

I have those on my truck, I believe they started using those in 73.

Gary

x2, they did start using those in 73, I did the same thing on my 72,when I installed the 14 bolt rearend in mine,

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by Gatorhator98

I know this is an old thread but maybe someone will chime in. Does anyone know if there is a piece of rubber under the u-shaped part in the plate? I could have sworn when I took apart my sprigs there was a rubber piece filling the void with a hole on the bottom side to locate the plate on the spring center bolt. I have taken apart others that didn’t have the rubber and can’t seem to find replacements anywhere. Are they non existent or not needed? Do you just center the top plate over the center bolt by eye?
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no rubber under that plate