What U-bolts are you guys buying?

[Magna86]

I need to replace the U-bolts when I swap the 6 leaf springs in. What brand are you guys buying? Part#'s. I'm going to ask the spring shop this week for a price too. I tried to remove my original ones to reuse but that's not happening. I'm going to have to cut them off.

 

[GTX63]

I would not advise reusing U bolts. Cutting them off saves a lot of wear on an impact gun when they are rusty and original.
I have purchased replacements from O Reillys, Rock Auto, LMC without any issue.

 

[vr1967]

Have a local spring shop? If so, they can usually make whatever you need, and I have found that their u bolts usually cost less than 1/2 the price of buying them “prepackaged”

 

[nvrenuf]

I have always bought my u-bolts locally from a spring shop.

 

[Magna86]

Went on LMC and ordered some there along with a hood bumper kit for roughly what i would have spent locally. Local shops want almost $24 a bolt.

 

[vr1967]

Local shops want almost $24 a bolt.

Wow, my local shop is usually $5-8 a u-bolt with washers and nuts.

 

[DoubleDingo]

For peace of mind I would pay the extra money for a locally made u-bolt, but that's me. I paid $38 plus tax for two about 8 years ago for Crusty Biscuit. Probably $24 a bolt nowadays.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Axle u bolts are not a penny pinching area. Thats all I have to say.

 

[vr1967]

Axle u bolts are not a penny pinching area. Thats all I have to say.

If your post is in reference to mine about cost, the spring shop I use also had a contract with a major name lift company until that company started using imported u bolts because they were cheaper.

They do all the bending, threading, and heat treating there. I’ve personally been using them for auto springs and u bolts since the 80s, my father started using them in the 70s for springs and such for his 18 wheelers.
Cut out 3-4 middlemen in the supply chain, and costs go way down.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

If your post is in reference to mine about cost, the spring shop I use also had a contract with a major name lift company until that company started using imported u bolts because they were cheaper.

They do all the bending, threading, and heat treating there. I’ve personally been using them for auto springs and u bolts since the 80s, my father started using them in the 70s for springs and such for his 18 wheelers.
Cut out 3-4 middlemen in the supply chain, and costs go way down.

Nope just a general statement. I very much assumed that a spring shop would have higher quality for less money.

 

[CalSgt]

Have a local spring shop? If so, they can usually make whatever you need, and I have found that their u bolts usually cost less than 1/2 the price of buying them “prepackaged”

I have always bought my u-bolts locally from a spring shop.

I’ve noticed the custom u bolts and hardware from spring shops seem to be heavier duty and better quality than parts house store stuff

 

[bucket]

I have almost always bought u-bolts from local apring shops. I have also bought them from ORD, when I was ordering other parts as well.

I've also bought them from places like O'Reilly and AutoZone, but those have always been for lowered mini truck type applications.