lower control arm bolt...

[87_crown_vic]

anybody know where i can get a lower control arm bolt for a 1987 GMQ?

the lower front control arm bolt on driver side on my car is bent pushing the contol arm out making the tire lean in at the top. i plan on getting new bushings for it but need to find a bolt to replace the bent one. everything else is fine under there and no play in ball joints or tie rods.

[marquisman]

wow, how do you bend a control arm bolt? must of been a real hard impact. for stuff like that i go to the wreckers. if the bolt is bent, i would imagine it would be a bitch to remove since there aint much tollerance

[Lincolnmania]

you go to the hardware store with the old one mang

[87_crown_vic]

i am thinking i am gonna have to cut the old one out ... i am surprised the rest of front end isnt bent or broke.. here is other thing that broke when bolt got bent...

[mrltd]

You probably can still get them from ford. I'll bet its the same one used up to 2002

[82LTDQS]

I just recently went through the same thing. I needed some new bolts for my BBS about two months ago. The OE one that ford makes is a grade 10 bolt. Ford says that we can use a grade 8 bolt (the gold color ones) from any local hardware store. I went to three stores and finaly found them, but they just didnt fit right. They didnt have all the little bends like the one from ford, SO......................I just went to the junk yard and got 4 of them. Problem solved.

[turbo2256b]

All you need is a grade 8 9/16 x 4" LG bolt. It might be 4 1/2 LG. Use a nyloc nut. If you can find it use some good stainless steel.

[gadget73]

Not sure what you mean about little bends, my control arm bolts were nothing special, just a big bolt round about 9/16, but it could have been metric of similar size.

[DuceAnAHalf]

I just recently went through the same thing. I needed some new bolts for my BBS about two months ago. The OE one that ford makes is a grade 10 bolt. Ford says that we can use a grade 8 bolt (the gold color ones) from any local hardware store. I went to three stores and finaly found them, but they just didnt fit right. They didnt have all the little bends like the one from ford, SO......................I just went to the junk yard and got 4 of them. Problem solved.

thats because the bolts are metric. metric bolts dont come in Grade 8 (or 5 or 3 for that matter)

Metric bolts are classified as 8.8, 9.8, 10.9, 12.9.

10.9 is equivelent to the SAE Grade 8. 12.9 is usually found in socket ehad cap screws, they are stronger than grade 8

[turbo2256b]

The Ford bolts do have a reduced shank. When all is said and done the only part of the bolt that is tight to the bushing sleeve is a portion of the threads and the upset just under the bolt head.
I perfer to have the bushing supported by the bolt the complete distance of the bushing. The factory reduced portion might be a help removing the bolt once rusted into place. I just grease the bejebies out of them. The factory bolts are metric but 9/16 fit. Sometimes fit better as some of the frame holes are wallowed ot a bit. Not all hardware stores carry 9/16 bolts let alone hardened ones NAPA has them. I perfer hex head to alen head in harsh enviroments. Allen head bolts should be backed up with washers under the head as they have a smaller contat area under the head.

[87_crown_vic]

as soon as it decides to warm up again, i will be tackling the bolt. it got too cold recently and dont feel like braving the cold to break my knuckles open messing with it right now. i need to bring in a hose and thaw one out also at some point to flush out my radiator, but that is another story of the guy who claims he could work on cars... i hate people that screw up things worse then me.

[turbo2256b]

The bushig might be dammaged too. A heads up if they are factory bushings, torq the bolts with the car sitting on its tires.

[87_crown_vic]

i planned on having the front on ramps and use a jack to hold control arm in place. that way i can set it back down on ramps to tighten it all up to have the room needed under the car.

[82LTDQS]

Yup

The Ford bolts do have a reduced shank. When all is said and done the only part of the bolt that is tight to the bushing sleeve is a portion of the threads and the upset just under the bolt head.
I perfer to have the bushing supported by the bolt the complete distance of the bushing. The factory reduced portion might be a help removing the bolt once rusted into place. I just grease the bejebies out of them. The factory bolts are metric but 9/16 fit. Sometimes fit better as some of the frame holes are wallowed ot a bit. Not all hardware stores carry 9/16 bolts let alone hardened ones NAPA has them. I perfer hex head to alen head in harsh enviroments. Allen head bolts should be backed up with washers under the head as they have a smaller contat area under the head.

I agree. Thats what I experienced.