Leaf Spring Advice Needed

[Java]

I'm getting to the point of attaching the leaf springs to the axle on my trailer and have the idea to replace the center pin on the spring pack with a bolt that will go through the axle. The trailer axle is square, doesn't use a mounting plate (I will make one anyway), they just drill a hole for the center pin, you can see it in the pic. I'm going a little narrower so I'll be able to access the back. I'll still be using ubolts and a plate to hold the springs on (the stock set up is just a single ubolt mounted diagonally, I'll be making a more typical 2 ubolts / plate), the through bolt is just an idea for a little extra.

Good idea / bad idea? Anyone know something I don't? :) Thanks!!

[JeepWrench]

In my opinion it will cause more issues. The leaf will move and flex independent of the axle and eventually break that bolt. Plus I can see it making alot of noise. I would just leave the centering pin and use the 2 ubolts/plate. Also drilling through the axle cant make it stronger, and I would hate for you to overkill attaching the axle just to break it later because you weakened it

Plus there is prob even more reasons I have never seen that done.:thumb:

[glacierpaul]

Word up, on the leaf moving and flexing which will break the bolt eventually. It could even tweak the frame Paul, on a good bind. I would buy a set of add a leaf's too to have for trail fixes.

[Java]

Thanks guys. I realize I'm over thinking this... :)

This type of axle always gets drilled for the springs- in the pics you can see the hole in the axle for the center pin, I'm just using tires / wheels that require a narrower mount so I'd have to redrill it anyway. If I make a mounting plate I won't absolutely need to, I can do it on just the plate. I don't think the spring moves at that point; the pic in this response is a stock trailer suspension, the center pin goes in the hole and the single ubolt holds it to the frame. You can see the backing plate is tweaked it was torqued so tightly, I don't think there is any movement there. I don't think it would break the bolt, but I'm not sure there is any gain to it even if it works. I guess you've never seen this done because most axles don't have the ability to reach the back side, and I probably won't since I have a little doubt. Thanks!