Do you guys have a particular place you get your u-bolts from for dropping the rear end? I bought one of those 3" lowering kits from Autozone. The U-bolts are to be torqued at 75-85lbs, and the lock washers exploded at around 55 lbs, the bolts started stripping, and the nuts wouldn't back off. I had to cut the bolt off. I'm hoping to find a u-bolt that actually makes me feel safer than these Taiwan things.
I use a local tractor and farm supply store for u-bolts and other hardware. Most of the Autozone stuff I've seen is cheap chinese **** as far as bolts and washers.
Local Fab shop/Iron works. They only sell good stuff, unlike those chain stores that sell the cheapest quality ****.
go to your local spring repair facility they will have the correct stuff and will bend anything you need I know there is some in the bay area.....
Also, check your local junk yard, in the truck section. I found a pair on a wrecked Bronco that were almost new, from a kit to raise a 4X4. They're on my Plymouth now.
In your part of the country, is there a big truck parts store that the truck dealers go to for parts, suspension parts shop? If so, call them. I've bent more u=bolts on an L&S u-bolt machine than I care to think about. 5T1220. SUW12, DN12. and stuff. Think big truck stuff and you should come up with a good surce. What size of thread do you need. What size between the legs and shape of the bend, what length from the top of the bend to the end of the leg? Have answers or don't ask. This is what a guy in my position needs. If it comes down to it, I can make them for you. I don't want to be the HAMB supplier of u-bolts because I would rather sell clutch jobs for Kenworths and driveshafts for Macks and dirt cars. This is playtime even during work.
So I called a trucker place who can make them for me in 10 minutes. Estimated at $75-80... seems high? I need something 3" Radius, 1/2" bolt, at least 9" long, with 2" of threading. And I called a 4X4 truck place, and they don't carry any 3" diameter ubolts.
Should be able to get them for less than $10.00 a piece. Any truck suspension repair shops in your area?
Well I got some. $40 from http://www.suspensionconnection.com/ No one seemed to have 3" DIA / 1/2". So I actually got 5/8", 3" DIA, 11-3/4" BOLTS. I'll just have to widen the bottom bracket holes a little and chop off 3" from the bolts. Should be ok. Extra beef. Hopefully no headaches.
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