Business has new name, new owners, new location

Ron Hydorn, recently sold Swift Spring and Suspension to Carla and Dan and Dykstra, from left. The Dykstras moved the business to Lynden and renamed it Precision U-Bolts and Suspension. They also hired Bruce Stadt, far right, as the store’s manager. (Bill Helm/Lynden Tribune)

Nooksack’s Swift Spring and Suspension moves to Lynden, is renamed Precision U-Bolts and Suspension

LYNDEN — In the spring and suspension business since 1975, Ron Hydorn was ready to retire. But he didn’t want to see Swift Spring and Suspension go out of business.

So he sold SS&S to Dan and Carly Dykstra, who promptly renamed the business Precision U-Bolts and Suspension and moved it from Everson to Lynden

“I’m now 82 years old and have enjoyed every facet of my chosen profession,” Hydorn said. “My age and physical health and family insistence motivated my retirement.”

Although he is no longer a business owner, and no longer a part of north Whatcom County’s workforce, Hydorn agreed to help the Dykstras by coming aboard for a few months and offer whatever assistance they would need to get the new location up to speed.

“I’m very impressed with Dan’s business practices,” Hydorn said. “He runs a well-organized business with great, professionally trained employees and office staff. I feel blessed to have my business merged with Dan’s. I know he will be very successful with this new venture as has with all his goals.”

‘Things grew from there’

When he was a younger man, Dan Dykstra was what he called a hands-on learner. He wanted to know “what made what work, and how it worked.”

“So I tore a lot of stuff apart to figure it out,” Dykstra said. “Rebuilt my first engine at the age of 14. Things grew from there.”

Hired right out of school on a winter break, Dykstra became a diesel mechanic and shop foreman/manager before he restarted D&D Custom Service eight years ago.

“I was at a crossroad in life if I wanted to continue to work for other shops or what to do in life,” Dykstra said. “I was urged by some close friends to start up business again and there was a need for it. So been in the same location for eight years.”

During that time, Dykstra had been “doing business with Ron with Swift Industries for many years.”

“Been on-and-off talking to Ron of what his plans were,” Dykstra said. “Also told him I was interested in taking over the U-bolt and suspension. So the first part of 2022 I mentioned again to him to see what his plan was. Over the past six months we talked on-and-off. In July, we came to terms and made a verbal agreement with a hand shake.”

Dan and Carla Dykstra moved the business to Lynden to be more centrally located.

“We also decided to rename the company, so that it would reflect more of what we were focusing on U-bolts and suspension,” Dykstra said.” “We also were trying to decide who could run it and manage it. So after heavy prayer and consideration, we offered Bruce Stadt the position of being the manager of Precision U-bolts and Suspension.”

Dykstra explained that Stadt has “heavy experience of being a mechanic, manager, and (with) over-the-counter sales, along with customer service.”

Precision U-Bolts and Suspension

For Stadt, the opportunity to manage the newly-relocated business was an offer too good to refuse.

“I’m very thankful that Dan and Carla approached me and gave me the opportunity to manage Precision U-Bolts and I am enjoying working for them, and learning this trade,” said Stadt, who had worked for Intalco for 30 years, mostly in the automotive shop.

Stadt explained that his managerial duties at Precision are to “help customers who call or come in, and make their U-bolts or help them with whatever else they need.”

“I also manage the inventory and maintain the shop equipment as well as manage the office,” Stadt said. “I have enjoyed getting out to visit shops and customers to let them know about this business and look forward to providing them with quality service and products.”

Precision U-Bolts and Suspension officially opened in August at 210 Hawley St. Hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Call 360-933-1440 or email [email protected] for more information.

-- Bill Helm can be reached at [email protected].