Very weird broken part

[transmissionguy]

today I was installing my transmission and found a broken bolt and what appears to be a broken mount right on the differential housing on the front of my 94 xlt. Its on the drivers side and looks like its where the pumpkin itself attaches and mounts to the axle. Its a bolt about 6 inches long and it should have a nut on the end and its sheared off and been like that for long time cause its very rusty. I dont know if this will help to figure out what it is but it looks like to get to the bolt the radius arm has to be removed to get to it, any ideas if this is a very bad thing and anyone have this happen to them??

 

[mrboyle]

Any picks?

 

[transmissionguy]

not at the moment i will see if i can get some soon though

 

[410Fortune]

it sounds like you are talking about the bolt that helps hold the pumpkin to the beam......this bolt is for strength as far as we can figure...

It does come in very handy when you are trying to silicoln the pig to the beam though....

The bolt helps locate the diff on the beam and helps to make the diff housing itself a physical part of the drivers beam (strength) when its installed. I dont think it will hurt to not have it unless you really beat on that beam..........

I dont think the radius arm has to come off to get to this bolt........

 

[scottyboost]

Pumpkins? Pigs? Beams?
What kinda place is this?

 

[MrShorty]

Originally posted by scottyboost
Pumpkins? Pigs? Beams?
What kinda place is this?

Somewhere between solid axles and other forms of IFS lies... the TTB zone.

TTB (Twin traction/tractor beam on 4x4) or TIB (Twin I-beam on 4x2) are the names of one of Ford's IFS systems. Not sure exactly on dates, but it came out in the late 70's/early 80's and was used by Ford into the late '90's. It came on Explorers during the '91-'94 model years.

 

[Muskrat]

twin I beam express

 

[slow-demon]

its the nut and bolt that is quite long that bolts the pumpkin to the housing. I seen someone who is good with a cutting torch knotch the radius arm just enough so that they could remove the bolt. Other than that you will have to remove the coil spring and loosen the radius arm upper and lower bolts so that you can swing the arm out of the way. or remove the arm completely so you can access the nut and bolt.