Before I put in an order to one of our beloved sponsoring vendors, I am looking at the bolts I have as I near reassembly of my trailing arm and half shaft. on my 1968 Coupe with a a 327 4 speed not original anything car I inherited from my Dad. Dad always made due with what he had. Sometimes that meant not all the original parts. Here with the flange that connects to the drive axle on the trailing arm is an example. These fine threaded bolts have a somewhat protruding shoulder, and you push them into place, it almost feels like they snap in to place and are very much so firm in place, and are what they left the factory with. However, for what ever reason, Dad lost or did not have all of the originals when he reassembled the rear suspension. He put in a fine threaded bolt, that is all thread, and has not shoulder, and is maybe an 1/8 or 2 shorter than the factory bolt. It does not snap into the flange, and has some wiggle room. I went to my local bolt supply store and they have more of the non-shoulder bolt (they are obviously grade 8) but they have 5 of the standard thread. If I can get by with the threaded non-shoulder bolt I am golden, because I need 4 for the passenger side (it was held in place with 2 very short bolts when he died). So the big question of the day (because I was planning to place my order tonight) - do I have to have the shouldered bolt that she left the factory with or is the standard threaded bolt work just fine? I know sometimes it just doesn't matter, but I have question about this application. TIA


Here is the factory bolt in place

You can see the really tight fit with the shoulder

This is the all thread bolt. Note it is a little shorter with less material to go into the trailing arm drive axle plate

Not the tight fit in the hole, a little wiggle.

The two side by side. Price is comparable. What saist thou?

 

Rule of thumb is always
Alignment and shear = partial threaded bolt
Tension = full thread bolt

M

 

So this would be alignment and shear, correct?

 

Yup, not the place you might want to have the minor diameter of the thread being the weak point...
You should be able to get bolts to match that at you local fastenal type place though if you take one in, then again maybe you have vette suppliers handy as well

Check your caliper mounting bolts as I think they were the same
M

(maybe lower control arm front mounting bolts as well)
M

 

Oh boy! I used what bolts were there, that Dad had.put in essentially thinking that was all finished. May have to go back and review a few applications! Thanks M! Great help!