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Broken front u-bolt bracket. Replacement?

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Old Sep 28, 2012 | 12:12 PM
  #1  
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Exclamation Broken front u-bolt bracket. Replacement?

I have a 99 F250 Super Duty 4x4. The u-bolt bracket on the front passenger side has rusted through and broken in two places. It has broken right at the hole for one of the u-bolts, which then broke the sway bar bracket off (so the sway bar is no longer attached on the passenger side). Also, the track bar bracket has broken off.

Is there a replacement bracket that can be purchased? Or does it need to be fabricated from scrap? The u-bolt bracket, sway bar bracket, and track bar bracket are all one whole piece. It is welded to the axle, so it would need to be cut off. Then the new bracket would need to be welded back on.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Here are some pictures:



 
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Old Sep 28, 2012 | 06:41 PM
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Holy rust batman.


The Motorcraft parts site lists it. Quite a few different parts are listed that are labeled the same so have the dealer pull up the diagrams and double check that the part is right.

Click on the photo in the links to see diagrams.

1999 Ford F-250 Super Duty Front Leaf Spring Axle U-Bolt Plate | FordParts.com

1999 Ford F-250 Super Duty Suspension Stabilizer Bar Mounting Bracket | FordParts.com

The Ford dealer should able to do a little better on the price.
 
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Old Sep 28, 2012 | 06:44 PM
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holy crap that truck is rotted
 
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Old Sep 28, 2012 | 07:15 PM
  #4  
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That's fairly common for my area of NW Indiana. Usually Its the rear shackles
 
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Old Sep 28, 2012 | 07:25 PM
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I can only imagine the bed supports cause my frame and everything else is rust free ..being a texas truck all its life but i do go to the beach alot and my supports are somewhat rotted
 
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 10:35 AM
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I've ran into the same problem, specifically the mount for the Track bar snapped off. I've had it welded back on with supportive gussets but in the event it happens again here are a few part #'s

<table id="rptrNonCallouts_ctl04_gvNonCallout" border="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr class="gridViewRow"><td style="width:16%;" valign="top"> 3A093


</td><td style="width:26%;" valign="top"> Suspension Stabilizer Bar Drop Bracket
Monobeam (Front)
</td><td style="width:10%;" valign="top">$115.17</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table id="rptrNonCallouts_ctl07_gvNonCallout" border="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr class="gridViewRow"><td style="width:16%;" valign="top"> 5458


</td><td style="width:26%;" valign="top"> Front Leaf Spring Axle U-Bolt Plate

</td><td style="width:10%;" valign="top">$112.20</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table id="rptrNonCallouts_ctl13_gvNonCallout" border="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr class="gridViewRow"><td style="width:16%;" valign="top"> 5A316


</td><td style="width:26%;" valign="top"> Front Leaf Spring Seat Cap
4x4 and 4x2 Monobeam; 105mm between holes to mount stabilizer bar - LH (RH serviced with 3010)
</td><td style="width:10%;" valign="top">$73.85</td></tr></tbody></table>
I have a screen shot but I can't figure out how to upload it..
 
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 10:35 AM
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FordParts.com
 
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 03:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Mante
I have a screen shot but I can't figure out how to upload it..
Same as any other picture. Use an image hosting site like photobucket. Upload the image to photobucket. View the image there, and find the code (on the lower right) that starts with [img]. Copy if from there and paste in in a post here.

If that's not clear, I can provide more detailed directions.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 06:50 PM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by SC_Hoaty
Same as any other picture. Use an image hosting site like photobucket. Upload the image to photobucket. View the image there, and find the code (on the lower right) that starts with [img]. Copy if from there and paste in in a post here.

If that's not clear, I can provide more detailed directions.
Yea I figured that out, I posted the image right after that one. The linking of images is extra steps IMO, glad the fordparts page makes the image location available
 
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Old Dec 26, 2014 | 12:30 PM
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Front track bar/leaf spring bracket rusted/broken-need replacement

I also now have a badly rusted off/broken track bar bracket just like the original poster on the front of my 99 F-350 SD with stock suspension. This is definitely not a simple weld the bracket back on repair. I'm trying to avoid an axle replacement or bracket fabbed from scratch (limited budget).

Has anyone successfully purchased the replacement bracket/weldment from Ford or aftermarket? Alternative solutions are welcomed.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2015 | 02:13 PM
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I'm bringing this thread back from the dead. I found today that my bracket is toast and broken. Has anyone found the part from Ford or others. I have been watching it for some time as it has been badly rusted for several years.
 
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Old Sep 15, 2015 | 08:02 AM
  #12  
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AutoFab.com has a replacement bracket w/ or w/o a steering damper for the SDs. It's not cheap ($320) but bolts underneath your leaf spring bracket and only requires a few 'stitch' welds to hold things in place. I just installed one on my 2004 SD and it was well worth the price for peace-of-mind. The Ford bracket is made from thin metal...and they call these Super Dutys...why?
 
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Old Sep 15, 2015 | 08:27 AM
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BigMac, I wish I could have found that before now. I ended up buying a front axle from a salvage yard and putting it under the truck. The cost of the axle wasn't much more than the autofab part, but installation and repairs to it ended up at more than $1200. Ford wanted $1700 for a bare axle housing.
 
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Old Sep 30, 2015 | 02:58 PM
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I replaced my leaf springs today on my Excursion and while I was torquing down the passenger's side u-bolts to 99 ft/lbs, the nuts would not torque down. After investigating the issue, I realized the bracket was flexing due to the fatigued metal from the rust.

I was thinking about using a piece of 1/4" steel plate, drill 4 holes for the u-bolts, mount it underneath the bracket, and torque down the u bolts nuts. Would this be sufficient? I know I should replace the axle or at the very least weld in a new bracket.






 
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Old Sep 30, 2015 | 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by BigMacWelds
AutoFab.com has a replacement bracket w/ or w/o a steering damper for the SDs. It's not cheap ($320) but bolts underneath your leaf spring bracket and only requires a few 'stitch' welds to hold things in place. I just installed one on my 2004 SD and it was well worth the price for peace-of-mind. The Ford bracket is made from thin metal...and they call these Super Dutys...why?
Do you have a link for the bracket? I tried browsing their website but I couldn't find any SD related parts.
 
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