I ordered some Rancho "universal" u-bolts from JC Whitney for my 78 pickup, since I'm adding a leaf to the rear suspension.

They showed up, and are way too long, which is fine, I can cut them. BUT, they won't work because the threads don't go far enough up the bolt. So if I tightened the nut all the way to the end of the threads, there would still be almost a 6" gap between the nut and my axle. Get what I'm saying?

In addition to that, I ordered 4 and they only sent me 2.

I talked with JC Whitney, and you should like this. The person I talked to asked if I could cut off the excess length, then take the bolts to someone and have them add threads where I needed them, and JC Whitney would send me a $5 rebate.

Wow! Yeah, thanks, let me take them to a machine shop and have them thread 4 u bolts (if I had all four and not just two) and I'm sure that $5 rebate will totally cover the expense and hassle.

Anyway...HOW, how do I determine if the threads go far enough for aftermarket, "universal fit" u bolts to fit my truck? Hard to do until they're sitting in front of me.

Anyone with experience? My stock u bolts have no thread left, so there's no way they'd fit back on after I add a leaf.

 

Call the people at General Spring or go online and get the right u-bolts

Since you need two more any how.

Sounds like the ones you got are not even close

You are using the square bend ones ?? The stock style?

The last ones i got for My Tacoma When I installed the Super Springs are 7 5/8" long should be plenty for just one leaf.

 

My stock bolts are u-shaped, they aren't square bend.

I'll look into General Spring.

The ones I bought don't fit and are still in the package, so they're getting returned. I'll be buying four more.

 

It is tough to get burned by a "good" deal. Sorry to hear about it. I hope they honor a return. I have various pieces of hardware and "tools" sitting around that were not "as advertised". I need to make trips to the dumpster! It sucks.

 

No, they're being fine and taking the return. It was obvious without even taking them out of the package that they wouldn't fit. There wasn't really any good deal. Just me ordering "universal fit" u bolts from a well known company. But they aren't as "universal" as I hoped.

I just thought the "can you take them to someone and have them add threads, and we'll send you a $5 rebate?" was pretty ridiculous.

The only thing we need to figure out before I return them is why only 2 of them showed up, and make sure that won't affect my return, since I ordered, and paid for 4.