Quote
I would keep the clearance as tight as possible. People are already shearing the pins after lifting their trucks...... and having slack in there would probably increase the chance of that happening.

I agree that less slack is better, as long as you can make the pin physically fit in the spring, but I'll speculate that the major reason for center pin breakage is loose U-bolts... and further, that the reason why many people shear pins after installing a lift is that they failed to adequately torque (and then retorque after a hundred miles) their U-bolts. FWIW, I carry spares, and have given out a few to folks who found that their U-bolts were finger tight! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

The center-pin should see minimal load, with the U-bolts tightened down. Consider the different dimensions of the clamped springs (approximate area between the spring plate and spring perch) and the cross section of that itty-bitty spring pin...

My advice is to leave the spring leaves undrilled, and to source a slightly smaller spring pin. Spring steel can be drilled with the right speed, pressure, and bit, but it is way easier to just swap out the pins.

Randii

Randy Burleson
4x4Wire Managing Editor Emeritus
Mongrel Isuzu Amigo