My questions is about the spring pads. They say in the instructions you may have to trim 1/4 inch off them to make them fit correctly. Has anyone done this? and would it be ok to trim both the ridges off the sides? Mine fit snug but when I go to tighten the u bolts its seems they bind up in there. And also should the top of the shock plate touch the bottom of the spring perch? Mine had a gap. Could have been from the pads also. :beers:

I trimmed both edges off of mine.

I trimmed both edges off of mine.


So you trimmed them both off so its just a flat pad now. Kinda looks like what I have to do with mine. I just want to make sure before I do it.Thanks.

If you can tighten the shock plate until it contacts the perch I'd be worried there was not enough clamping force on the springs...

OK so best would be to tighten till they touch then?

OK so best would be to tighten till they touch then?
I don't think you understood what I said...

I don't think you understood what I said...

Never mind I just read it again I know what your saying now.

We trimmed both edges off mine. There seems to be a lot of debate about using the pads at all in other threads. There seem to be some that made metal plates. The concern is the rubber pads allowing the differential to move around as they wear. Personally I think the big U-Bolts that come with the kit would keep it from going anywhere....

I didn't use the pads - just did without them. Added some homemade lowereing blocks to get it sitting like I wanted it to. I find it amazing that Hotchkis includes pads with these springs that need to trimmed. How tough would it be to make and include a pad that actually fits?

I had to trim both sides to lay flat when I did my 67.

I left my pads off and made a locking plate for the upper perch...

Thanks for the replys:beers: