HELP identifying 5th shock bolts

[JustAnotherMember7]

I've got a Monroe replacement in hand. But can't for the life of me get the mounting bolts for the shock off.

Upper bolt: takes a 15mm (bolt) and 17.5ish mm(18mm just slightly too large, nut).

Bottom bolt: 15mm(bolt) and 21mm (nut)

I've used wd-40, a torch, double wrench method, and a sledge to try and loosen those two bolts.

No room on the ground for my breaker bar.


So, I'm going to save myself a TON of frustration and borrow my uncle's angle grinder in a few days and cut them out. BUT...


I need to know the specs for the two shock bolts when I go to my local screw and hardware place.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Just take it to a cheesy muffler or lube shop and have them knock them off with their impact gun.

 

[JustAnotherMember7]

Just take it to a cheesy muffler or lube shop and have them knock them off with their impact gun.

Might end up doing that. I'm taking it in for an alignment on tuesday. That would be a lot easier for me lol.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Might end up doing that. I'm taking it in for an alignment on tuesday. That would be a lot easier for me lol.

I’m sure the alignment shop would do it for no charge, it’ll already be on the rack. Tip I learned early on. I’d always show up with a dozen donuts when my car was inspected. It made a surprising difference. I do the same with major services and transmission rebuilds.

 

[C420sailor]

Strong impact required. My original M18 wouldn’t take mine off when I went to change it at 190k. Had to use my air gun.

If you don’t have an impact gun, invest in one. If you don’t want to buy a compressor, get one of those super duper high torque cordless ones.

Life changing.

 

[donalds]

I have a old school harbor freight impact with a cord lol
Works every time
Love that thing

 

[J_C]

Just take the old ones with you to the Bolt Store.

However, there is another way to estimate. Monroe lists the specs on their site, as 1/2" ID and 38.1mm/1.5" (same thing) for the shock eyes.

Since Ford uses metric, it'll be an M12, with length 38mm + extra for the nut and two flanges on each side, so around 60mm to 65mm length, though 70mm would probably be fine too. If you don't care about staying metric, go with 1/2" dia x about 2.25-2.5" length. Do get hardened bolts and nuts.

 

[donalds]

I buy all my hardware from my local Ace hardware
Always find what I need bolt grade and all

 

[toypaseo]

Could try soaking them in PB Blaster. It's a penetrating catalyst.

 

[jr230]

I've got a Monroe replacement in hand. But can't for the life of me get the mounting bolts for the shock off.

Upper bolt: takes a 15mm (bolt) and 17.5ish mm(18mm just slightly too large, nut).

Bottom bolt: 15mm(bolt) and 21mm (nut)

I've used wd-40, a torch, double wrench method, and a sledge to try and loosen those two bolts.

No room on the ground for my breaker bar.


So, I'm going to save myself a TON of frustration and borrow my uncle's angle grinder in a few days and cut them out. BUT...


I need to know the specs for the two shock bolts when I go to my local screw and hardware place.

should be able to measure size from old ones but you need to know what grade of bolt is needed could be on the bold but napa or dealer can give you the right spec and will not be in most cases a china made bolt

 

[J_C]

^ I'd just get a metric 8.8 or standard 5 or higher hardness rating, whatever the store had at a reasonable price. 5th shock is not a very critical part (some explorers didn't even have one) so I wouldn't go out of my way to get anything special.

 

[efBrianM]

I buy all my hardware from my local Ace hardware
Always find what I need bolt grade and all

ditto. ACE and some of the farm and home stores sell by the piece. In some cases I like to buy stainless steel.

 

[JustAnotherMember7]

THanks for the response. I just got my '01 back from the alignment shop today and I had them break the 5th shock mounting bolts loose so that I'd be able to use my ratchet. Couldn't fit a breaker bar in between the ground and the truck so I had them do it while it was on the lift.

should be able to measure size from old ones but you need to know what grade of bolt is needed could be on the bold but napa or dealer can give you the right spec and will not be in most cases a china made bolt

 

[Mbrooks420]

^ I'd just get a metric 8.8 or standard 5 or higher hardness rating, whatever the store had at a reasonable price. 5th shock is not a very critical part (some explorers didn't even have one) so I wouldn't go out of my way to get anything special.

Just take the old ones with you to the Bolt Store.

However, there is another way to estimate. Monroe lists the specs on their site, as 1/2" ID and 38.1mm/1.5" (same thing) for the shock eyes.

Since Ford uses metric, it'll be an M12, with length 38mm + extra for the nut and two flanges on each side, so around 60mm to 65mm length, though 70mm would probably be fine too. If you don't care about staying metric, go with 1/2" dia x about 2.25-2.5" length. Do get hardened bolts and nuts.

Did you recommend one thing, and then entirely go the other way just a few posts later?

Any bolts that are suspension related get grade 8, or 12.9 if metric on my cars. The shock may not be that critical but I also don’t want it flapping around down there.

 

[J_C]

Did you recommend one thing, and then entirely go the other way just a few posts later?

Any bolts that are suspension related get grade 8, or 12.9 if metric on my cars. The shock may not be that critical but I also don’t want it flapping around down there.

Yes, two different alternatives, depends on how much effort it takes, whether I'd bother to hunt down a more expensive metric or harder than needed... and I wouldn't pay to order one online, unless it could be tossed onto another order so shipping was minimal if any, or reasonable cost plus free amazon prime shipping.

Really does not matter if these are grade 8. As already stated, it's not a critical suspension part, and not subject to high stress. Consider the application, the slight movement moves a 5th shock that keeps it from ever being high stress, unless that shock seizes up. If it flops around at that point, so what? At least you had an audible hint it seized, but I don't recall anyone posting that both these events have happened, over the now 2+ decades of service with this 5th shock design.

Grade 5 bolts are approx 90,000 psi yield strength, while this application doesn't even reach 500PSI. Grab a loose 5th shock and test how little force it takes to compress it.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Yes, two different alternatives, depends on how much effort it takes, whether I'd bother to hunt down a more expensive metric or harder than needed... and I wouldn't pay to order one online, unless it could be tossed onto another order so shipping was minimal if any, or reasonable cost plus free amazon prime shipping.

Really does not matter if these are grade 8. As already stated, it's not a critical suspension part, and not subject to high stress. Consider the application, the slight movement moves a 5th shock that keeps it from ever being high stress, unless that shock seizes up. If it flops around at that point, so what? At least you had an audible hint it seized, but I don't recall anyone posting that both these events have happened, over the now 2+ decades of service with this 5th shock design.

People also aren’t replacing the factory hardened bolts with junky grade 5s, which also will rust considerably faster.

 

[J_C]

^ If overkill makes you sleep better at night then it may subjectively be worth the bother to you, but this application does not have the need for extra hard bolts. If you live in the rust belt, grade 8 will rust too, but unlikely to rust to failure any year soon, and as already stated twice, doesn't really matter as 5th shock is not a critical suspension part.

It very much matters what the bolt is holding together, whether extra time and expense is worthwhile or just wasted. I'd be more concerned about failure on bolts holding a picnic table together than a 5th shock and I don't pick hardness at all for that, just zinc plated.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Getting all defensive when YOU recommended them first seems kinda silly. If recommending both options makes you sleep well at night, keep that up.

 

[J_C]

^ Seems pretty simple to me. I wasn't the one who took issue with it.

 

[Mbrooks420]

You recommended something (actually both things) and I recommend something else.