Stripped U-Bolt Nuts

Welp, you guessed it. I stripped my U-Bolt nuts while attempting to torque them this weekend. How? By using a twelve-point socket because I didn't have a six-point on hand. Now that my pride is out of the picture, where can I pick up some new nuts to install? I meant to stop by Lowes this evening to see if they carried any, but is this something that has to be ordered online? It's not the factory U-Bolts because the ready lift block kit came with new ones, so I installed them. Any advice is appreciated.

 

Lowes and HD didn't carry large enough in metric when I had to try to find temporary nuts for my UCA's when I destroyed the castle nuts doing something retarded. I ended up finding them at a local tractor supply chain called CAL Ranch, until I could get them from a local dealership. Something as simple as the ubolt nuts should be able to be found there.

 

I have my stock U bolts and nuts if you want them.

 

You could try a smaller Hardware store in your area. I find that they tend to have more of the random pieces like that. But rather than drive around town looking for something so specific, wouldn't it be easier to just order online? Not sure who sells only the nuts without the bolts though.

 

Ace Hardware FTMFW

 

unless you have a thread guage you will need to remove one of the nuts and bring it into a store with you to find out exactly what size and thread pitch it is or you could just try to call Ready lift and ask them what size it is. Since it is not OE and it is a ready lift U Bolt more than likely it is an SAE size.

 

I would just replace the ubolt and nuts completely with new hardware.

 

You probably ended up using a socket that was just a bit larger than the nut itself, thought it fit well at the time and proceeded to destroy the nut.

Well, attempt to find yourself a six point from somewhere, maybe Harbor Freight if they exist where you live? Get the right size and have at it. Hopefully it was just one because then you can negotiate the mounting plate and u bolts off if you get the other three nuts off. If worse comes to worse, bust out the cutoff wheel and enjoy destroying your leaf spring mounting hardware.

 

Local spring shop made a new ubolt with nuts for me. Took <5 minutes and about $10.

 

You can grind down two sides of the nut and use a crescent wrench to undo striped nuts

 

They're relatively new because I had the block kit installed last summer. They replaced the unbolts with it, so I don't think it's wise to purchase a whole new kit.

 

I can still get them off I believe with the right socket. The socket I used was a twelve point 3/4" socket. I need to go get a six point I believe. Thanks for the info though!

 

Yeah if it just the nut, get the nut off and replace. I'd make quite sure it's the right grade and type though. Don't want to put on junk quality hardware. Sometimes this can be difficult to do hence, why I would replace all with known good hardware.

 

You're fired

 

Thank you for the offer. I'm going to see if I can find the nuts at a local hardware store. If I can't find them there, I'll let you know.

 

How do I judge the grade? By feel or certain material?

 

get the nuts off then take them and the ubolt to a Grainger and they will set you up with what you need

 

Can I still drive the truck with the unbolts off?

On a serious note, I'll look into it.

 

My stockers look like grade 8's, with the two slotted dash marks on the far right. They had quite a bit of wear, so some of the markings may have worn off though.

 

look for ASTM, SAE, and/or ISO industry standard markings...they tell you the grade of material

no marks, do not touch
unless you have secondary confirmation it is appropriate