Is It Finished!?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
From: Mustangs are like Tampons.. Every P*$$* has one!
Is It Finished!?
I was driving to look at some cars for my girlfreind. I pulled into the first dealership and BOOM! I thought I had hit my front bumper or something like that. NOPE. I snapped a bolt in the rear. I THINK (correct me if I am wrong) it is the lower control arm. The bolt snapped in the nut and let me there. I was able to drive home 
20 MPH the whole way! 
I came home and took these pictures. If anyone is able to help me out with this. I would like to know how to fix it, how much I am going to have to spend, and if it is an at home job (I have very few tools and NO LIFT), will I need to order this part special and approximately how long will I be out of commision? This is my Daily Driver and My ONLY CAR. I need to be to work in 4 hours! Thank you for your help! Oh and the pictures....
And the bolt that came off!
20 MPH the whole way! I came home and took these pictures. If anyone is able to help me out with this. I would like to know how to fix it, how much I am going to have to spend, and if it is an at home job (I have very few tools and NO LIFT), will I need to order this part special and approximately how long will I be out of commision? This is my Daily Driver and My ONLY CAR. I need to be to work in 4 hours! Thank you for your help! Oh and the pictures....And the bolt that came off!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 50
From: How the hell can I make it faster???
Disclaimer for previous post:
This is a critical safety component of your vehicle. The failure of this component at the wrong time could lead to serious injury or death. The correct thing to do is have your vehicle towed to a dealer and have a class A certified mechanic repair your car with original GM parts
This is a critical safety component of your vehicle. The failure of this component at the wrong time could lead to serious injury or death. The correct thing to do is have your vehicle towed to a dealer and have a class A certified mechanic repair your car with original GM parts
Last edited by Billy182; Feb 26, 2006 at 12:56 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,059
Likes: 12
From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
if you have a floor jack you should be able to replace it quite easily. Make sure you don't use a soft grade bolt. Maybe post in your local section of CF. Someone who's lowered their car might have a stock bolt for you. Don't forget to buy some new bushings at the local auto parts store.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Spring bolt. Looks like someone backed it out too much when lowering it. This is why it's recommended you leave a few threads showing at the top of the bolt when lowering the car using the stock bolts. Otherwise there is not enough holding power with the nut not being fully engaged and the nut could strip the threads it's screwed on to and snap the end of the bolt off - just like your's did.
Last edited by Patches; Feb 26, 2006 at 03:19 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 14,176
Likes: 273
From: Shitcago IL
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08
I hit a piece of 4x4 on the highway and broke the bolt. when the spring came down at 50 mph, the surface of the asphalt scraped a lot of the spring and the spring broke. I got a used spring from a forum member, and ordered the bolt and bushings from fred beans. Since my vette is my daily driver, i was waiting for the bolt and was going crazy finaly i went to menards and just bought a big *** bolt and a nut and that's what's holding the spring up. i got the original GM bolt but haven't gotten a chance to put it back yet. 3 months have passed since. when it gets warmer i will put GM bolt in there just to be safe. You're lucky your spring didn't mess up... you can do it in your garage with no problems. lift the rear up, put in on stands then you will need to lift the passenger side of the spring up with the jack so the bolt will reach the nut on top.
finaly i went to menards and just bought a big *** bolt and a nut and that's what's holding the spring up. i got the original GM bolt but haven't gotten a chance to put it back yet. 3 months have passed since. when it gets warmer i will put GM bolt in there just to be safe. You're lucky your spring didn't mess up... you can do it in your garage with no problems. lift the rear up, put in on stands then you will need to lift the passenger side of the spring up with the jack so the bolt will reach the nut on top.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 0
From: clackamas oregon
Originally Posted by vertc51116
thank you i will try NAPA would that work?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
From: Mustangs are like Tampons.. Every P*$$* has one!
The car is now in the shop and the bolts wont be there until sunday! This is such a pain in the a$$! I am asking people for rides something ive only been asked for the past few years. it sucks to be on the other end!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Hey Bro, i've got two of those stock bolts here in my garage. Shoot me your address and i can over night it to you if you like.
Otherwise...go ahead and install lowering bolts....Which can be purchased at many many bolt stores, even some lowes have them. 1/2 inch-13 x 7"
Chris
Otherwise...go ahead and install lowering bolts....Which can be purchased at many many bolt stores, even some lowes have them. 1/2 inch-13 x 7"
Chris
Last edited by Stangkiller; Feb 28, 2006 at 11:38 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 2
From: fort worth texas
Originally Posted by Stangkiller
Otherwise...go ahead and install lowering bolts....Which can be purchased at many many bolt stores, even some lowes have them. 1/2 inch-13 x 7"
Chris
Chris
$20 or less for both sides and 1- 1 1/2hrs of work in your garage.all done