Hi,
You know on the axle on the Thirdgens there are two large U bolts that go around the axle that attach the rear sway bar to the axle via the two bushing. Well I broke one of these. I live in Ireland and can't get any thirdgen parts here. I have spent two weeks looking in hardware shops and auto shops trying to find a U bolt that I can use but no luck. I have tried trailer U bolts, exhaust U bolts, aerial U bolts but nothing will work. I had a look on ebay also but nothing that will work. I was wondering are these readily availabe in the US. Can they be got in the likes of Autozone or Pepboys. Anyone know of an online store I could try.

Any help appriecated.

 

the stock axle is something like 2.625" in diameter. You should be able to find a muffler clamp about that size and use that, thats pretty much all those things are.

I assume a local parts store over there would have these?

seems you have tried that route, what exactly is wrong with what you are using? diameter? length?

 

I measured the axle and found it to be 2.65". I can find a U bolt that will go around the axle but it is just that little bit too short. I tried a few muffler clamps but the are too short. I tried ebay in the USA but can't get anything with the right diameter or length. It is getting frustating.

Thanks.

 

You can have a muffler shop actually bend and thread one for you, the correct length you need.

 

Any machine shop can make them for as well just take the good one and tell them to make a copy of it.
We did this a lot with 4x4 trucks to get the lift we needed. They just take a rod cut it bend it then thread it done.

 

Any spring shop can do the same. You're not looking hard enough.

 

Take an appropriate sized piece of threaded rod and bend it around the axle, then cut to length.

 

Yea I agree. This is not even a minor set back.

 

Yes!, of course I never tought of that.

Thanks.

 

I am not sure I would use a threaded rod and bend it around the axle. Threaded rods are very week when bent, think of this the threads are cuts into the metal when you bend them the cuts tend to open up and break very easily.

 

I had a similar problem with my son's 87 bird. Both of the mounts for the sway bar bushing were missing. I just used appropriately sized muffler clamps, and except for a small amount of grinding that I needed to do on the flat parts, it all went together nicely.

 

???????

 

Threaded rod to me says end to end threads. If you use a rod that is threaded end to end and bend it into a U shape it weakens the strength of the rod. As far as I remember they cut the threads into the steel. Take most any cut peace of steel and bend it at the cut and it will either break or be much weaker due to the cut in it. Not something I would use to support my axle.

I am sure I could be wrong. But I won't take that chance, to easy to get the proper part.

 

you're not using it to support the axle, anyway. Its holding the sway bar mount.

 

I am thinking I could buy a piece of 8mm bar, bend it around the axle as said above and then thread it an inch each side for the nuts. That's my plan anyway.

 

that would be fine.

as for threaded rod, the threaded rod that you buy at the local hardware store is weak to begin with, if you bend it, it will break. its not something to use in this application.

 

As posted earlier on...ANY spring shop can make one. As 86TA stated, a cheap piece will break...so a spring shop will heat it, and put it in a "U" bender made especially for this purpose, and you will have your part.

 

The U-bolts are part of my rear sway bar bushing kit. I suppose I can add the U-bolts as a separate item. Mine are GM pieces that are bead blasted and plated.

Lon