u-bolt problem

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Mar 17, 2007 | 01:34 PM

akatrd

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u-bolt problem

I have a Ford F250 4x4 Superduty truck that I put a Donahoe Mini spring pack kit on and in the instructions it said to torque the u-bolts to 185 lb/ft. I started cranking on the u-bolts to about 180 lb/ft before I relized that the bottom u-bolt bracket on the passenger side of the truck started to deform some. I stopped what I was doing and pulled out my Ford manual and it said the torque should be 99 lb/ft not 185 lb/ft !! I call Donahoe up and they said it was a typo and are going to ship me some new ubolts on Monday. I didn't get to ask them because it was late in the day if it was safe to drive my truck. What I did was loosen the u-bolts up some and retorqued to 120 lb/ft figuring the 99 lb/ft was not tight enough now if the bolts were stretched. If the u-bolts did not stay at 180 lb/ft for more than about 3 hrs before I loosed and retorqed. Will a u-bolt stay stretched or is there some elastic to them? What should I do while I'm waiting for my new u-bolt ? Can I drive my truck ?or is it just not safe? I called all around the Houston Texas area and could not find anyone that could get me a subsutitue for the u-bolts on a Saturday and I need my truck for work today! What to do ? I going to call Donahoe Racing again on Monday and see if I can get those thing delived next day or something.

Mar 17, 2007 | 02:49 PM

biz4two

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From: Albuquerque

Ya...that is a BIG typo. I think the 185 ft/lbs is for the rear u-bolts. IMO...you should be safe to drive your SD. The chances of the u-bolt breaking is slim to none.

Good luck...

biz

Mar 17, 2007 | 03:50 PM

akatrd

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I hope so I have no other choice

Mar 19, 2007 | 11:41 AM

DR2

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Very sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused you. We have onvernighted a new set of u-bolts and corrected the typo in our instructions. Your u-bolt plates should be just fine.

Mike Crosby
National Sales Manager
Donahoe Racing
mike@donahoeracing.com
www.donahoeracing.com