U Bolts

[MSGia]

Good evening,
I am trying to get longer U-Bolts for my leaf springs on my truck, I have gone through 2 brands but neither of them worked (It might be because the axle outer width on the 2010-11 is thicker? Not sure...) Does anyone have specific brand recommendations for U Bolts? I can't get any custom bent bolts, it is unfortunately out of my price range and quite a drive. Or if anyone knows the measurements off hand.

 

[franklin2]

You can't take a measuring tape and get close? Here's a site that sells them that might help you figure out what the measurements should be.

U-bolts - Stengel Bros Inc.

Leaf Spring and Suspension U-Bolts Order U-bolt kits online. Each U-bolt kit has two U-bolts with nuts and washers. We also make custom U-bolts (small and large orders). To order online kits, click the type of U-bolt that you need. Find the U-bolt kit based on dimensions. Use our U-bolt Inquire...

www.stengelbros.com

 

[racsan]

You can't take a measuring tape and get close? Here's a site that sells them that might help you figure out what the measurements should be.

U-bolts - Stengel Bros Inc.

Leaf Spring and Suspension U-Bolts Order U-bolt kits online. Each U-bolt kit has two U-bolts with nuts and washers. We also make custom U-bolts (small and large orders). To order online kits, click the type of U-bolt that you need. Find the U-bolt kit based on dimensions. Use our U-bolt Inquire...

www.stengelbros.com

Thats a good place to get rear spring brackets/shackles/bushings too btw.

 

[scotts90ranger]

If Ranger U bolts are too narrow, try '90's F150's for a "designed for" vehicle since they have the bigger axle tubes like the later Rangers...

 

[Josh B]

Why can't you just take what you get and then beat them into shape?
After my wonder years of flying to work in jet planes and helicopters, and then sitting on the farm listening to the grass grow I worked on a ranch for several years.
Put a little plumbers torch on layaway at a little pawn shop and soon enough I was trading on up with the local dealer for bigger bottles. I eventually traded on up to the biggest bottles they had

You can put heat on just about any type of metal and soon enough make it become what you want it to be.
I considered making a forge but wound up in Nashville, and almost immediately working as a fitter at Nashville Bridge Company, which I actually enjoyed, but their better days were already behind them

Bending, building, treating U-bolts should be no problem for anyone who can grasp metal formation

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Why can't you just take what you get and then beat them into shape?
After my wonder years of flying to work in jet planes and helicopters, and then sitting on the farm listening to the grass grow I worked on a ranch for several years.
Put a little plumbers torch on layaway at a little pawn shop and soon enough I was trading on up with the local dealer for bigger bottles. I eventually traded on up to the biggest bottles they had

You can put heat on just about any type of metal and soon enough make it become what you want it to be.
I considered making a forge but wound up in Nashville, and almost immediately working as a fitter at Nashville Bridge Company, which I actually enjoyed, but their better days were already behind them

Bending, building, treating U-bolts should be no problem for anyone who can grasp metal formation

I have no doubt you know what you're doing. 99.9% of people would not have the first clue of how to safely beat u-bolts into shape. It's a very critical safety component and proper heat treat is most likely essential. I don't "know" that but experience tells me so. I've done my fair share of beating metal into place and this is one I would hesitate to do.

It's easy enough to measure the circumference and figure out the diameter from that. Then go to the autoparts place and get what you need.

 

[Josh B]

You are absolutely correct sir

 

[sgtsandman]

Look up u-bolts for and FX4 with the 31 spline axles. I don’t remember the years but the axle tubes are the same dimensions as the 2010-2011 axles tubes if I remember correctly. The u-bolts might be a little long since the axle blocks are different but should fit the tubes and get the job done.

 

[Shran]

If you have a semi truck shop or trailer place local to you, try there. In my little town of 75000 there are at least two places that will make me custom U bolts on the spot... $75 for four of them is usually what it costs me. You just need to know what length, the thread pitch and axle tube diameter.

Explorer and F150 8.8 axles have 3.25" tubes, 7.5 and 28 spline 8.8's have 2.75" IIRC, and I'm not sure on the '10-11 trucks.

 

[mikkelstuff]

Have you looked at McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com). They have most everything hardware wise and are extremely nice folk.