While back had some issues with lower control arm pinch style bolt for ball joint broke. Bought a new bolt/nut and lock washer from auto zone. Held it for a while.. Till today... Is there a part # for the bolt?
Best Picture I could find of bolt. Bolt directly above ball joint heat shield.
You're really lucky that it happened in the driveway!
You have to use a Ford pinch bolt, the gray one is OEM and the black is what's usually found in some aftermarket ball joint kits. See how the OEM is fatter on the non threaded part, it's critical for keeping things together.
I had the part number for the bolt, but I can't find it right now.
I ordered mine from Steve at tousley ford. No local dealers in Chicago carried that part at all. I was surprised. The one that could order it said I had to order a set because he couldn't just order just one. Cheaper to get shipped on mn.
Ford used cheap bolts on the Focus. They rust and seize then snap off when you try to loosen them. A little CPC or $.03 more per suspension bolt would have saved alot of head aches.
The nut for the shoulder bolt is only torqued to 35lbs/ft. It's load bearing, so it's even more important that the width of the shoulder is oem spec. But yeah they break.
That's why I broke down and bought a torque wrench, and I'm glad I have one now.
Just to add on, the OEM bolt is crucial right there; I heard that Moog has an OEM spec bolt in their ball joint kit. Always match up parts before you bolt them on.
yea I know that feeling, I was the same way when i was in a rollover. I would freak out every time we took a turn for a couple months. I still kinda get a butterfly's if i'm in a car or truck taking a really sharp turn.
when replacing my clutch, i needed to drill out the pinch bolts, the nuts came off, but the bolts refused to give. i picked some up at Ace. everything seems fine. should i be worried?
Aslong as its holding I'd say that ur fine. But after 5-6 months mine vibrated loose. Not original bolt but grade 8 bolt same size/general shape. If u don't mind doing it. It's not hard and it's cheap. That's my input at least
I had posted the other pinch bolt thread recently, I replaced a complete lower control arm/ball joint combo due to it being easier than trying to drill the rivots out. I planned on using the aftermarket bolt supplied with the part but now I will do so otherwise. I hear alot of people talk about Steve at Tousley Ford and he seems like he knows whats up. Anybody have a direct phone number to get ahold of him?
The ball joint pinch bolt is a shouldered bolt. The "shoulder" is a larger diameter than the threaded portion.
It is the shoulder that secures the ball joint from dropping out of the knuckle by fitting snugly in the groove on the ball joint.
An impropper bolt can allow the ball joint to drop out, and is DANGEROUS!
I remember seeing this thread a long time ago, so when I needed ball joints I got them from B.A.T and they even had the too small bolt. So it's not limited to Autozone ball joint kits, and don't put hardware store bolts in there either.
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