dog bone retaining nuts

[40cpe]

On a '38 sedan, is there a special nut or tapered washer for the dog bone on the spring hanger side? The casting where the nut goes is concave with no flat spot for the nut to sit. When I put a standard nut on, it hits the shoulder of the stud before the tapered stud tightens in the hole. Any insight appreciated.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Something sounds very wrong, like maybe someone enlarged that tapered hole, or the size of the dog bone tapered stud is too small. The dog bone nuts used on my 35's are a thinner version of most of the other standard Ford hardware nuts of the same hex and thread size on my cars.

[40cpe]

Thanks, John. I suspected the hole was wallowed out, but both sides are the same. I farmer-fixed a washer large enough to go over the shoulder of the stud taper and that allowed the stud to go deep enough to tighten it. I'll try to get a picture that will show enough detail to see.

[Tim Ayers]

I thought these were riveted from the factory? I could be wrong. Seems like folks use a nut and bolt once they cut the rivets.

[40cpe]

see attached picture. It might not show enough to distinguish, but the rolled top and bottom of the casting doesn't allow the nut to seat squarely, and the casting is too thin to tighten the nut before bottoming out on the stud shoulder. It also makes it hard to get a wrench on the nut. It just doesn't seem like it would have been engineered this way, hence my asking about a special fastener.

[DavidG]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The links were riveted through the '34s. After that the links had protruding threaded studs used in conjunction with nuts.

[Terry,OH]

Around 35 the threaded stud on the link was longer and a standard hex nut was used. Around the era of your car the threaded stud was shortened and a Marsten nut was used, see photo below. The Marsten still needs a flat area. If you had the style link with the longer threads you could use a lock washer and a thin nut. It is possible a loose link wobbled the hole open and wore the flat area for the nut???

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by DavidG

The links were riveted through the '34s. After that the links had protruding threaded studs used in conjunction with nuts.

Thanks, David. Yes, know I'm visualizing this type of dog bone. I appreciate the clarification.

[40cpe]

Originally Posted by Terry,OH

It is possible a loose link wobbled the hole open and wore the flat area for the nut???

I really don't know, but the hole on both sides is the same. I cut washers to fit over the shoulder and in the concave of the casting. The width of the washer was enough to tighten the link.