Guys,

I pulled into work today to find one of my rear shocks dragging. I need to know what kind of bolt/nut to get to replace the one that fell / broke off. Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

Is your truck 2 or 4 wheel drive, cause I think they have 2 different rear shock setups?

 

4 wheel drive / 318.

 

Just kidding... I just looked at the manual and they look the same. There are 2 bolts/nuts holding it on at the top and one on the bottom (you didn't say which one broke). If they are completely gone then I dont think it matters what you put back in, as long as the bolt fits through the hole and get a nut with a matching thread pattern. I wish I could remember the size from when I replaced my shocks but I think its somewhere around 1/4 to 3/8 inch on top and 1/2 to 5/8 or so on bottom. Just out of curiosity, did you look to make sure the crossmemeber/bracket that holds the upper bolts for the shock isn't broken (if it was the top that fell), cause it seems odd that they would come out. I just remember what a pain it was and how much penetrating oil I had to use before they finally broke free when I replaced my shocks.

 

Oh sorry. Its the bottom bolt that secures the shock to the axle. I dunno if it broke or finally worked itself loose. But I think I will get matching setups for each side. I called two Dealerships and they each gave me two different answers, but both agreed that its a 1/2 bolt /nut. I will just make a trip to the farm/home store. I know they have Grade A 1/2 bolts there.

 

I'm not very familiar with Grade A, but I would probably go with Grade 8 to be sure they never break again, also, be sure to get a washer for each side as well.

 

Oh, I was told that Grade A, was the best. But purhaps he meant grade 8. Yeah definitely going with the washer on each side and a locking washer on the nut side.

 

Probably, A and 8 sound alike.

 

I went down to orschlns and got the bolts washers and nuts all grade 8 for 5 bucks. I compared them to the one that is still on the truck and its going to fit I think.

 

Awesome! Just out of curiosity, did you just replace the shocks and not tighten down the nuts? cause mine were so tight the first time I took them off that it's hard to believe they'd fall off on their own.