Decided to upgrade the suspension on my Voltage. Shame on me but forgot to order the Equa Flex suspension, so now I'm finally getting it put on.
I have a question about torque, specifically on the spring eyes, and also the spring hangers. The instructions form LCI doesn't address the two areas.
I'm using 9/16 wet bolts with the lock nuts and brass bushings. My understanding that specs call fr about 30 lbs or jut to the point where the nut seats against the hanger. I realize that too tight is bad, but how loose is too loose?
I also noticed on a prior EZFlex post that there is a 20% reduction on torque on wet bolts. True or false?
30-50 ft lbs is the proper torque. I don't know where "just to the point where the nut seats against the hanger" comes from. That is incorrect.
The bolts have raised striated shoulders to prevent them from turning. It takes some force to get the bolt heads seated against the hanger. The message here is, do not try to use the nut to draw the bolt in as you risk striping the threads. Believe me, they will. Once the bolt is seated, put on the nut and torque it down to the specified amount with a torque wrench. 30 - 50 ft lbs in not a lot.
Go to Dexter Axle Resource Library and on the right side select "Service Kit Instruction Sheets. Down load the "E-Z Flex Equalizer and Bolt kit" instruction sheet. (The E-Z Flex Complete Suspension Kit instruction look the same, However, they are an earlier revision.)
Cool Canuck wrote: 30-50 ft lbs is the proper torque. I don't know where "just to the point where the nut seats against the hanger" comes from. That is incorrect.
The bolts have raised striated shoulders to prevent them from turning. It takes some force to get the bolt heads seated against the hanger. The message here is, do not try to use the nut to draw the bolt in as you risk striping the threads. Believe me, they will. Once the bolt is seated, put on the nut and torque it down to the specified amount with a torque wrench. 30 - 50 ft lbs in not a lot.
Go to Dexter Axle Resource Library and on the right side select "Service Kit Instruction Sheets. Down load the "E-Z Flex Equalizer and Bolt kit" instruction sheet. (The E-Z Flex Complete Suspension Kit instruction look the same, However, they are an earlier revision.)
Good luck
For sure true that the splined shoulder of the bolt should be pushed in for best long term results. I use a Ball Joint C frame press for this and installation of the bronze spring eye bushings.
A commercial repair shop/oem manufacturer will usually use an air impact gun to set the bolt spline -this is a "time" based decision not a long term service life decsion. Using the air gun almost guarantees the bolt will spin on the splines eventually -causing spring hanger wear instead of bolt/bushing wear!
A ball joint C frame tool can be borrowed from most any "chain" auto parts store for a refundable deposit.
Cool Canuck wrote: 30-50 ft lbs is the proper torque. I don't know where "just to the point where the nut seats against the hanger" comes from. That is incorrect.
The bolts have raised striated shoulders to prevent them from turning. It takes some force to get the bolt heads seated against the hanger. The message here is, do not try to use the nut to draw the bolt in as you risk striping the threads. Believe me, they will. Once the bolt is seated, put on the nut and torque it down to the specified amount with a torque wrench. 30 - 50 ft lbs in not a lot.
Go to Dexter Axle Resource Library and on the right side select "Service Kit Instruction Sheets. Down load the "E-Z Flex Equalizer and Bolt kit" instruction sheet. (The E-Z Flex Complete Suspension Kit instruction look the same, However, they are an earlier revision.)
Good luck
Just to be clear, these are not the Dexter EZ Flex equalizers that I'm installing. I have the Trail Aire Equa Flex ( now owned by Lippert) equalizers. Interestingly I did previously look at the install specs for the Dexter Ex Flex and it called for 60 lbs of torque on the hanger bolts. My question is, how the hell does any equalizer move front to back when it's pinched down this tight.
Cool Canuck wrote: 30-50 ft lbs is the proper torque. I don't know where "just to the point where the nut seats against the hanger" comes from. That is incorrect.
The bolts have raised striated shoulders to prevent them from turning. It takes some force to get the bolt heads seated against the hanger. The message here is, do not try to use the nut to draw the bolt in as you risk striping the threads. Believe me, they will. Once the bolt is seated, put on the nut and torque it down to the specified amount with a torque wrench. 30 - 50 ft lbs in not a lot.
Go to Dexter Axle Resource Library and on the right side select "Service Kit Instruction Sheets. Down load the "E-Z Flex Equalizer and Bolt kit" instruction sheet. (The E-Z Flex Complete Suspension Kit instruction look the same, However, they are an earlier revision.)
Good luck
Just to be clear, these are not the Dexter EZ Flex equalizers that I'm installing. I have the Trail Aire Equa Flex ( now owned by Lippert) equalizers. Interestingly I did previously look at the install specs for the Dexter Ex Flex and it called for 60 lbs of torque on the hanger bolts. My question is, how the hell does any equalizer move front to back when it's pinched down this tight.
I realize you are installing the Equa Flex and at first I did miss read it. However the instructions apply to the wet bolts for the spring hangers.
The hanger bolts have shoulders on them so the nuts only go so far as to not pinch the hangers. The Equa Flex may be similar to the E-Z Flex in that it has a bushing that holds the center hanger from pinching.
Cool Canuck wrote: 30-50 ft lbs is the proper torque. I don't know where "just to the point where the nut seats against the hanger" comes from. That is incorrect.
The bolts have raised striated shoulders to prevent them from turning. It takes some force to get the bolt heads seated against the hanger. The message here is, do not try to use the nut to draw the bolt in as you risk striping the threads. Believe me, they will. Once the bolt is seated, put on the nut and torque it down to the specified amount with a torque wrench. 30 - 50 ft lbs in not a lot.
Go to Dexter Axle Resource Library and on the right side select "Service Kit Instruction Sheets. Down load the "E-Z Flex Equalizer and Bolt kit" instruction sheet. (The E-Z Flex Complete Suspension Kit instruction look the same, However, they are an earlier revision.)
All good info, but I'm not using "shoulder bolts." The ones that came with the Equa Flex are standard 9/16 wet bolts that utilize a locking nut vs. it just seating against a standard shoulder bolt. That's my big issue here is getting the torque correct on this type of bolt.
I have done shackle/Bolt replacements on my previous trailers, so it's nt my first suspension rodeo. I just haven't used these bolts in the spring eyes or equalizer mount locations in the past.
Good luck
Just to be clear, these are not the Dexter EZ Flex equalizers that I'm installing. I have the Trail Aire Equa Flex ( now owned by Lippert) equalizers. Interestingly I did previously look at the install specs for the Dexter Ex Flex and it called for 60 lbs of torque on the hanger bolts. My question is, how the hell does any equalizer move front to back when it's pinched down this tight.
I realize you are installing the Equa Flex and at first I did miss read it. However the instructions apply to the wet bolts for the spring hangers.
The hanger bolts have shoulders on them so the nuts only go so far as to not pinch the hangers. The Equa Flex may be similar to the E-Z Flex in that it has a bushing that holds the center hanger from pinching.
Offline
However the instructions apply to the wet bolts for the spring hangers. 
I just haven't used these bolts in the spring eyes or equalizer mount locations in the past.
