I’m rebuilding the front end of my '67 (1st timer) and upon removal of my lower control arms, I noticed that a couple of bolts that hold the shock absorber to the lower control arm were completely broken off. I have been able to get the broken bolts out of the control arm, but where do I get replacement bolts? I’ve tried Home Depot and other “home repair” stores, they carry grade 5 and 8 bolts, but the threading is wrong. I have also tried several auto parts stores, and no one seems to carry them. Any ideas?

I found replacements at a hardware store. Not a "home repair" store. Home Depot never had the bolts I needed. I go to Aubachon(sp?)... if you've got them near you.

I got stainless ones, but now that you mention broken bolts, maybe I should have gotten grade 8.

Tim.

year one sells a hardware kit for that

Ground Up sells them too.

Thanks all. Mom & Pop Hardware store was the ticket. I bought grade 5 bolts. Please voice your opinion if I should go with a higher grade. Thanks!

Check the heads of any suspension bolts on your car when replacing them. Use the grade that was there.
Gr5 should be OK for shock bolts. (3 marks on the head)
Personally, I would stay away from stainless on suspension parts because as someone once put it to me, stainless is tough, but not strong.
Here is tensile (not shear) data for some common sizes: http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/bolts/SAE_bolt_strength.html
And for stainless: One place I found said 85,000psi for stainless and 85,000psi for grade 2 (!!)
Interestingly, here is one that shows all carbon steel grades and 304 and 316 stainless grades together. http://home.jtan.com/~joe/KIAT/kiat_2.htm This one shows the tensile to be around 100,000PSI. (75,000 for Gr 2)
The yield shows that the stainless ones will bend easier than a Gr 5, but not as easy as a Gr 2.
(Just don't bother bending it back, SNAP!)

So that's my take on that, TMI, I know, I know....

K

I have this same problem. I just replaced my lower Arms and im about to throw in the new shocks and I dont have the bolts for one of my sides, also the bolt holes on the arm itself have that little metal thread slip, those were snapped and busted up. I havent checked ground up yet but let me know if anyone knows a price or place? Thanks

They have that at Original Parts Group too for about $10.00 for the whole set!

anyone know where i can find them in town in a hurry instead of mail order? Im in sacramento....

I can find the bolts but not the little clips

ok another reply from me... haha. Has anyone used bolts and nuts instead of the little clips on the lower control arms? Im thinking of just buying a bolt and nut set up since i cant find the clips in town. Let me know if its a bad idea! :D

the clips were used at the factory to make assembly easier in a hurry. it is pretty easy to get nuts in there- or do like i did on my Nova and stick the bolts down from the top of the control arm, and install the nut with a lock washer on the bottom side of the shock mount. i used all grade 8 hardware store stuff, and it cost almost a dollar for everything.

The clips for the shocks can be found in the "Help!" section of the auto parts store.

Good luck!
Joe