Replaced passenger side upper control arm and need an alignment bolt I broke.

[Wakeboy1337]

I went to the dealership today to hopfully find this stupid little bolt that you can't get at autozone. Their computer would show an exploded view of the left side suspension, not the right. and for the right side all they could find is that it has been "improved" to a one piece design like the left side already had. I don't want to go through the pain of converting it, All I need is this little stupid bolt so I can get my truck back together. Anybody know how to get the part number, what it's called? or where I can get it?

 

[1996BLKBauer]

go to the junk yard, and grab one off of a truck there.

 

[jremington59]

You didn't need to touch that bolt to change the control arm.

 

[koda2000]

You didn't need to touch that bolt to change the control arm.

that's true, and that's how it got broken i'm sure. best bet for a new one is the salvage yard, but remove the control arm before trying to get the bolt out.

oh, and fyi you're never gonna find specialized hardware like this at the auto parts stores unless it's something that commonly breaks or needs replacement.

 

[budwich]

Just go to a "fastener shop"... carries all types of "fasteners", bolts, nuts, tools, pulleys, etc. Take the bolt and match its thread and length.... it won't be "OEM" but get as hard as you can get and be done.... $1-2.

 

[my98nnj]

You don't need that bolt, it only helps move the 2nd part of the control arm when the caster alignment is set. All a tech needs to do is move that by hand by loosening the 2 bolts that hold it on, then tap it into position and lock the two bolts down. DONE..

 

[Wakeboy1337]

You don't need that bolt, it only helps move the 2nd part of the control arm when the caster alignment is set. All a tech needs to do is move that by hand by loosening the 2 bolts that hold it on, then tap it into position and lock the two bolts down. DONE..

I feel like if I don't have this bolt that there is a chance it will "slip" in the slots

Also after I took it apart and snapped the bolt, that's when I realized I didnt need to remove it D:

 

[koda2000]

you really don't need the bolt. it's just used to move the control arm back/forth during caster adjustment (which can always be done with a hammer tap w/the nuts loose). the bolt doesn't hold anything in place. just make sure you torque the nuts to spec and don't worry about it moving.

 

[imp]

That bolt adjusts caster (split). In other words, it allows "fine tuning" of the caster angle on the right side, to match that of the left side.

Evidently, Ford also thought that the setting could "slip" in the slots under harsh conditions, so provided the bolt to maintain the setting.

Leave the damn bolt out if you want, get the "split" properly adjusted and tighten the hell out of those two big bolts, drive the vehicle awhile, if steering characteristics change (i.e., steering wheel begins to "pull" to one side or the other, the setting has "slipped". Maybe it won't. imp