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His u-bolt spring plates aren't bending because they're too thin. They're bending because they're flat.
That does not explain why my non-flat 1/4" U-bolt plates from All Pro (since redesigned because of it by the way) bent. No, while bending the ends of the plate helps a little (VERY little), thickening eliminates the problem.

I ended up welding another layer of 1/4" to mine for a total of 1/2" and have had no problems since - despite robust torqueing of 5/8" U-bolts as well.

-Bill
'87 4Runner w/ '96 5VZ-FE, 'Red Chili II'
'97 Taco XtraCab 3RZ-FE, 'BlackBean'
TLCA # 13257, Rising Sun 4x4 Club Land Use Coordinator
"He who stops being better stops being good." -Oliver Cromwell