[Brooke]

Broke a Bolt putting on new shocks. It's the passenger side front shock forward of the axle. The auxiliary shock on the right front went on fine. The bolt head broke off and the bolt is still in the metal sleeve. What is the best way to fix this? Have a mechanic drill out the bolt and replace it with a new one? Also, I think the shocks were the originals because they were Motorcraft, old and the right front was sagging a little bit. I'm on a budget and had to replace them with Monroe Gas Matics. They were $16 a piece and I needed six. Believe it or not it's a vast improvement and the shocks actually seem much softer than the ones I took off.

 

[bigbrownbear]

You can try an easy out or try the mechanics. Another option that I have kinda wanted to try but haven't needed to yet is drill and tap the center of the old bolt, then slide a new one in, but use some JB weld on the bolt threads. The theory is that the JB weld will make the outter bolt come out, but the new bolt will stick tight.

A shock bolt shouldn't be that tight, but if someone used an impact on it when they changed it it is very possible to over tighten.

PS. where are you on the shore???

 

[Brooke]

[QUOTE PS. where are you on the shore???[/QUOTE]

I'm in Queenstown on the Wye River.
Thanks for the ideas.

 

[shak]

If it is the forward most shock of the quad shock set up, Autozone has a replacement stud. Drill/cut out what is left of the old stud and replace it with the new stud. It's like a threaded bolt with nut going through the axle bracket and a larger bore smooth stud that the shock eye slides on to. Same thing happened to my father's 92 F150. Works pretty slick..:thumbup

 

[rebel33382]

Yep, gotta cut, grind and drill and put a new shock stud/bolt that comes with most kits.

 

[2buckchuck]

Sorry to necropost but I thought it better to revive an old thread rather than start a new one.

Looks like I did the same thing as the OP. As I am a newbie to this kind of a repair I also thought it best to ask before I go any further.

1994 Bronco drivers side forward shock mount

Do I cut and grind or replace the whole thing?

 

[Mikey350]

When mine broke the same way on my '96, I took a die grinder and ground off the old stud. Then I drilled a hole slightly smaller than a "universal shock stud" I got from one of the "Help!" sections at the parts store.
I took a dremel and enlarged the hole (slowly) until it was damn near a press fit in the bracket. Tapped it in with a hammer, then Locktited it and the nut on the back side.
It's held up for the last 8 years.

Good Luck

 

[2buckchuck]

Well I was hoping that by now someone would of made an aftermarket part but I guess not. Oh well..

I found universal shock studs here http://www.resto-modtechnology.com/servlet/the-1046/SHOCK-STUD-KIT/Detail

So I guess I'll give it a shot this weekend.

 

[Mikey350]

That looks like the stud I used to fix my broken one. The part I made almost a press fit was that little shoulder on the back side. I was concerned that if the hole in the bracket was too large, that it would rock with shock movement (a longer lever on the shock side) and eventually wear the hole or loosen.
Put some anti-seize on the shock side threads and on the shaft. The next time you change shocks it should come right off.

Good Luck

 

[hizootiemizark]

I did the same thing changing mine a few months ago. Drilled out the old one and replaced it with the universal mount. Its done fine.

 

[2buckchuck]

O'Riellys, Napa and the others all had the same style (tapered) stud. They might of worked just fine but felt that having one with wrench flats was better.

Will do on the anti-seize. Thanks