U-bolts are a critical part to a truck or car with a leaf spring rear suspension, but sometimes the aftermarket doesn't offer the size or length u-bolt that you want for your application. Maybe you're lifting your truck more than any kit, or lowering it with a large block. Either way, building a custom u-bolt should take about 30 minutes to do.

1. Step 1

   Insert the steel tubing in the bench vise so that you have plenty of room to swing a hammer and manipulate the threaded rod.

2. Step 2

   Position the threaded rod on the tubing so that there's at least 6-inches of rod below the lowest part of the tubing and clamp it to the tubing using the vice grips. This is going to secure the rod, so you can hammer on it.

3. Step 3

   Heat up the threaded rod using the oxy-aceteline torch. You want to apply heat at the middle of the rod, right above where the vice grips are clamped on.

4. Step 4

   Hit the threaded rod with the hammer while applying heat to the rod. You're trying to bend the threaded rod around the tubing, so work the heat around the rod as you hammer it around the tubing.

5. Step 5

   Stop hitting the threaded rod until it's a "U" shape around the tubing. Let the threaded rod cool.

6. Step 6

   Thread the nuts onto the threaded rods and cut the threaded rod to the desired length using the grinder with cutting wheel. If the threads get damaged in the process, unthread the nut onto the cut end and the threads will repair themselves.

7. Step 7

   Unclamp from the tubing. Repeat this process for any other u-bolts you need built.