Ill be removing my rear blocks soon and am wondering what the best place to get new 2wd u bolts? Surely someone sells a set with nuts and washers.

 

Autozone, Advance Auto, Napa, O'Reily's, or google. Really any place that sells mainly autoparts should stock them and if not can order them for you. Just make sure you get the right size.

 

Not going to have any luck at advance auto or autozone atleast I haven't. I would suggest junk yard to get them should be very easy to come by there and best bet. Or you could order from ford dealership, but finding them locally is tough. Usually auto stores have a small selection and there is so much dimension you need so they fit, wide enough, long enough and bolt size.

 

I'm pretty sure your not supposed to reuse u-bolts. I don't know why but I think I learned that in college, seems dumb, but sticks out in my head.

 

Yea don't reuse them, its a lot better to get a new set. And they're not expensive either.

 

I really never heard that. Don't really understand why its not the same affect of reusing head bolts on engine I dunno.. not easy to come by new unless ordering from dealership or prob summit. The ones in stock places or usaully universal. People reuse them it doesn't or wouldn't hurt.

 

I do recommend if you replace them to find ones that have more a 90 degree bend verses an arch at the top (basically just like the OEM ones). A lot of the universal ones are arched at the top and do not sit flush across the hardware.

 

double posted

 

Like many bolts, the reasons people say don't reuse them are mostly to do with lawyers, not practicality. If properly torqued and not over torqued, if I know the life, I have no problem with reusing them if torquing them doesn't reveal weekness.

Anyway, U-Bolt size for 2004-2008 Ford FX2 Pickup (use without blocks to lower rear)
Stengel Bros.U-Bolt Kits - Square Bend Ubolts U-bolt kits that include two square bend Ubolts, four deep nuts and four hard washers.
Click U-bolt kit part number to find out pricing, shipping costs, and to order online. # 361-434 http://stengelbros.com/U-boltKits.htm
"Square Bend 9/16 x 3.0625 inside x 8.375 long Grade 5 (2 U-bolts per kit with nuts and washers)"
That's same as 9/16-18 thread X 3-1/16 X 8-3/8 .
For Ford OEM Reference: D7TZ5455A or E7TZ5455A

Also, the factory Ford U-bolts use a metric thread, these Stengel Bros. U-bolts use SAE threads and deeper nuts.

(note also: 361-435 is 9/16-18 X 3-1/16 X 9-3/8 and is longer for 4x4 with block, Ford # 5D3TZ5455A )

I did clean mine of all grease with laque thinner and primed and painted them before install and then applied a good coat afterwards in place after retorquing after a number of miles use. Torque them in steps and aim to keep exposed thread lengths even. I went to about 100 ft/lbs on last step.