I know they are supposed to fit snug, but I have about 1/8th inch gap on either side of my axle. Will the ubolts tighten up when I torque the nuts down? I have no idea as it's my first time working with a rear end.

Here's some pics

 

The backing plates are too large and it's spreading the u-bolts apart. You would need smaller plates or the u-bolts that goes with those plates.

Mine have a bit of a gap, no issues yet, 6 months running.

 

those plates are for the 8.8 im pretty sure though? so how can the plate be spreading the ubolt apart? i guess i should mention that its not tight in the picture, just sitting there with finger tight on the threads. axle is still on jack stands in my garage. the ubolts were bent up today and the guy did them on the width of the holes on the backing plates...if that makes any sense

 

they are fine, just snug them up good

are the threads long enough thoe I dont see any...lol

 

It doesn't look like there is the leaf spring in there so that'll help off set it

 

yeah man they're plenty long, just the picture. i spun the nuts on the threads all the way down so i could take the picture without holding the ubolts. like i said, its just sittin on my jackstands in the garage, so no leafs under the plate yet

 

Just bolt it up and crank her down nice and tight. I torqued the hell out of mine and never had to tighten them and I had used u-bolts.

 

you said the plates are for an 8.8. i'm assuming with the 4 banger you have 7.5. they are two different diameters. if he bent them to the 8.8 plates, they would be slightly larger.

i had some made and he held them up to the axle then bent them.

 

im swapping an 8.8 in