Loose swing arm bolt

[AXMRDR]

I bought my 22 used with 13K miles a couple months ago. I noticed that during hard braking it would pull badly to the right. I didn't brake hard often so I put looking into that on a long list of chores I needed to do.

Well I had it in my shop doing some other things to it and I thought I'd have a look underneath just to see what it looked like - truthfully, to see how easy it was for some scumbag to steal the cat. Very hard to do BTW.

I am looking around and see a bolt sticking out about an inch and a half with the nut missing. Took it to the local Ford dealer, about 2 miles away and had them repair it under warranty. They said they've never seen anything like it and there were some other loose fasteners they tightened up as well. Aligned the front end too.

Took her for a test ride and the ride is perfect under hard braking.

Just posting so if someone else has the same issue when hard braking it may save them an accident. Don't know if it was a Monday morning or late shift Friday issue at the assembly line but someone dropped the ball.

I did not purchase it from the local dealer, it was bought in another town.

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[Ducati1098]

May have been from previous owner having an alignment/repair done.
Not good either way, glad you caught it.

 

[Brian_B]

Glad you caught it in time

 

[Fordified1]

When my son did the alignment on our new 2024 after I replaced the coilovers, he said the LCA bolts on one side were just snug, not tight. There was someone else on here that found loose control arm bolts and there have been at least one member with missing motor mount bolt(s).

 

[Oldhippie]

Was wondering what ya were calling a “swing arm”…lower control arm…anyway glad ya got it fixed! Party on!

 

[AXMRDR]

Was wondering what ya were calling a “swing arm”…lower control arm…anyway glad ya got it fixed! Party on!

That's why I added the photo. I couldn't think of the right name but you got it!

 

[SierraBronco]

Glad you caught it!

Those suckers are supposed to get a lot of torque to get to spec. Double check me but I think it’s between 210 and 250 lb/ft.

 

[AXMRDR]

Glad you caught it!

Those suckers are supposed to get a lot of torque to get to spec. Double check me but I think it’s between 210 and 250 lb/ft.

I had the dealer do it so I can't comment on the values other yeah, sounds right!

 

[V1Rotate]

First time I dropped my LCA's to install some coilovers all 4 bolts were so badly galled from the factory that 3 of them i had to cut out.
My money is on that one being loosened/out once before you bought it

 

[KABQ]

First time I dropped my LCA's to install some coilovers all 4 bolts were so badly galled from the factory that 3 of them i had to cut out.
My money is on that one being loosened/out once before you bought it

I've heard rumors of cross threading the LCA bolts from the factory, especially on the passenger side

 

[Jazer]

I've heard rumors of cross threading the LCA bolts from the factory, especially on the passenger side

Same. I contemplated dropping the LCAs instead of the UCA(and all that is involved) when installing my coilovers, but didn't want to deal with all that if there were bad bolts.

 

[Fordified1]

Same. I contemplated dropping the LCAs instead of the UCA(and all that is involved) when installing my coilovers, but didn't want to deal with all that if there were bad bolts.

FYI to those swapping coilovers. Neither control arm have to be taken loose at the frame. Loosen the axle nut and knock the axle inwards so you don’t pull a cv apart, then take the upper ball joint loose. A bungee or a helper is handy to keep it from falling all the way out while wrestling the coilovers. A long pry bar is almost mandatory doing it this way.

 

[Jazer]

FYI to those swapping coilovers. Neither control arm have to be taken loose at the frame. Loosen the axle nut and knock the axle inwards so you don’t pull a cv apart, then take the upper ball joint loose. A bungee or a helper is handy to keep it from falling all the way out while wrestling the coilovers. A long pry bar is almost mandatory doing it this way.

That's what I did ^^ I didn't have any issues with my CVs.

 

[indio22]

First time I dropped my LCA's to install some coilovers all 4 bolts were so badly galled from the factory that 3 of them i had to cut out.
My money is on that one being loosened/out once before you bought it

Did you end up replacing with OEM bolts? Back in the day for my Jeeps, I would typically get replacement bolts from Ace Hardware. But these days the fastener specs seem more stringent, including some bolts/nuts that are only single use, and are supposed to be replaced if loosened (which is a pain).

 

[V1Rotate]

Did you end up replacing with OEM bolts? Back in the day for my Jeeps, I would typically get replacement bolts from Ace Hardware. But these days the fastener specs seem more stringent, including some bolts/nuts that are only single use, and are supposed to be replaced if loosened (which is a pain).

Yep I'd already ordered them ahead of time after following some threads here about others encountering the same issue. All new bolts and nuts from Ford.

The single-use stuff is bs.. more for the lawyers than anybody.

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