I'm putting together parts to level my 2001 F250 and so far I have a used set of F350 rear blocks. Since Ford wants $35 EACH for the U bolts is it really necessary to replace them instead of using used bolts? Even the Ford guy wondered why I wanted to buy new ones.

Next on the list is a leveling spring pack for the front and either a drop trac bar bracket or adjustable trac bar.

 

I believe the u-bolts are torque to yield. The fact they stretch and being a key suspension component, I would replace them.

 

Big truck shops in your area can make U bolts any type or length required on the spot while you wait, at a fraction of the cost a dealer charges.

 

Yep, they are single use items by design.



When I did my suspension swap (all four springs changed) I had a local heavy truck spring shop fab up the new longer U bolts for me, I think I paid about $65 for all 8 new U bolts which were made to my measurements while I waited.

 

YES, a large truck service shop.. or a truck spring shop..

and there's are reusable..

make sure everything is straight and true before final tightening.

 

Threads are rolled, not cut. Notice there's no cotter pins or anything like that. Maybe they are just trying to sell us more U-bolts, they claim the end torque required will be significantly higher when reused to achieve the same clamping force. That's the "why", anyway. I've reused them, but it's important to know what the rules are, before we break them, right? Usually they are pretty corroded. Always torque check after a few hundred miles, after installation. Put them through the paces. Loose bolts means stuff breaks.

 

I didn't know they are TTY. I called a local spring shop and they quoted me "less than $63" and they will do it while I wait on my lunch hour. Thanks for the input guys! Now to find the proper spring packs to raise the front close to 4" and make this thing sit level.

 

Why do you need to lift the front 4” to level the truck with f-350 blocks? It will be doing the bro lean if you lift the front that much. I thought we talked about this a while back didn’t we, or am I missing something?

 

My 2003 F350 has the camper package (heaviest rear springs and the 4" blocks).

From the paperwork I tracked down, it has a 2" BDS lift on the front.

Rolling on 285/70R19.5 tires on Rickson rims.

I don't have a full side pic yet but it sits pretty level, and with no side steps is a pain to get in and out of:

 

We did and you schooled me about the proper direction to go. I should've just said the proper lift in the front not 4".

 

Ok I just wanted to be sure we were still on the same page as that sounded like what you had thought you needed to do before we talked. Didn’t want your truck looking like a dog about to take a dump on the lawn. Haha just order up whatevers company 2” leveling kit you decide to go with and you’ll be nice and level. I think it was you I told about a company that made a drop track bar bracket for a leveling kit unfortunately I still haven’t found it again.

 

And just a FYI there is no "heavy" spring option. Ford's SRW springs are all the same rate, f250 doesn't come stock with the overload spring unless a package is selected. F350 comes stock with overload spring