U-Bolts - Reuse or replace?

[halfafish]

I'm replacing the springs on my 72 wagon. What are thoughts on reusing the original u-bolts versus replacing them? As info, the bolts look good and I'm doing OK so far getting them loose.

 

[WileE]

Why not ?

 

[Dodge-Scatpack]

Unless they are damaged, I would reuse.

 

[Plyrr471]

Reuse here as well.

 

[Bird 426]

They only get torqued to about 45 ft lbs.

 

[Schultz64]

I just reused mine when I put a new 8 3/4 rear in my car. Only issue was when I tried to put them back in the spacing was off. Had to squeeze the ends down/together to go back in the shock plate holes. Same u bolts and same shock plates. Weird

 

[Photon440]

Re-used mine a few times. I don't see any problem with that.

 

[roadblock_us64]

Replace. Metal fatigue is a thing. Factor in the age of the wagon, and the weight that wagon has seen.

I have found in life it is better to do it right than it is to FA then FO the bite.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Cheap insurance to replace.

 

[r4sedan]

Either way. I've re-used them many times. Especially growing up with little to know money.
I'm getting ready to do the springs on my Challenger. Sumitt had the reproduction ones for $100 so I got them.

 

[AR67GTX]

I wouldn’t hesitate to reuse if the nuts spin off OK and the threads are good. The ones on my 67 were so gooped up with undercoating and dirt that they were in bad shape by the time I got them off so I replaced them. Proper originals with the flattened arch area and of the right length can be hard to find.

 

[BSB67]

Reuse them.

If you don’t, I’ll buy yours.

 

[matthon]

Ah, the old u-bolt debate, it just took place on fabo.

Reuse or not, flat tops or not, flat tops original or not.

Flat top ones are on ebay regularly.
My 62 had them originally, so I replaced with said ebay ones, they were very nice too.
My 64 did not have flat tops.
Fwiw, both were original cars, the 64 has a Sure-Grip, the 62 did not.

I replaced on both as the were pretty rusted, so a no brainer.

 

[Fran B]

If you replace them get ones that are flattened at the U.

 

[1KoolBee]

Not sure if it’s really possible to remove the nuts without flattening the u-bolt threads since the nut flats are factory punched to make them self locking. Seems like you’d have to drill out the punch marks or somehow split the nuts to help preserve the u-bolt threads.

 

[sam dupont]

don't know about Mopars, but IH u-bolts are "torque to yield", meaning they stretch when brought to proper torque. The factory recommends replacement every time. They also recommend retorquing after use.

For extreme use applications, re-use might be risky