Lower control arm bolts

External Since: Feb 04, 2008 Posts: 1

I have an '87 4X4 Pickup that seems to have lost one of the cam bolts
on the lower control arm. The bushing seems fine from what I can see,
although a little too offset to simply slide a new bolt in there. The
manual that I have says that I need to torque the replacement bolt to
203 ft. lbs, but I have yet to find a torque wrench that goes that
high. Is it really necessary? I drive a pretty rough dirt road every
day to get home, and I am pretty sure that my worn out shocks are the
culprit.

As for getting the bolt in there, do I really need to take the
steering knuckle, stabilizer, torsion and shock off to get it to line
up so I can slide the bolt in? Mind you, I just want to get the bolt
back in so I can drive it to town to have someone else replace the
shocks and check everything over. Towing is not really an option.

Of course, I have to find a new bolt first, since the one that is in
there is totally gone. The guys at the dealership are ninnies, and
couldn't figure out what part number it was. What is so special about
these bolts?

Also, I'm looking at buying some much better shocks than what's on
there, which just might be factory for all I know. Rancho, Monroe,
Bilstein? I don't have a lift, but I'm not sure what to go for.

External Since: Jul 26, 2005 Posts: 1004

As far as the torque wrench goes, your local parts store may have free
loaners. Or pick up a Craftsman on sale.

Craftsman 25-250 lb/ft:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944597000P?keyword=torque+wrench

On Feb 4, 9:02 pm, mantismetalworks <mantismetalwo....TakeThisOut@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> I have an '87 4X4 Pickup that seems to have lost one of the cam bolts
> on the lower control arm. The bushing seems fine from what I can see,
> although a little too offset to simply slide a new bolt in there. The
> manual that I have says that I need to torque the replacement bolt to
> 203 ft. lbs, but I have yet to find a torque wrench that goes that
> high. Is it really necessary? I drive a pretty rough dirt road every
> day to get home, and I am pretty sure that my worn out shocks are the
> culprit.
>
> As for getting the bolt in there, do I really need to take the
> steering knuckle, stabilizer, torsion and shock off to get it to line
> up so I can slide the bolt in? Mind you, I just want to get the bolt
> back in so I can drive it to town to have someone else replace the
> shocks and check everything over. Towing is not really an option.
>
> Of course, I have to find a new bolt first, since the one that is in
> there is totally gone. The guys at the dealership are ninnies, and
> couldn't figure out what part number it was. What is so special about
> these bolts?
>
> Also, I'm looking at buying some much better shocks than what's on
> there, which just might be factory for all I know. Rancho, Monroe,
> Bilstein? I don't have a lift, but I'm not sure what to go for.