Alex_M
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- Sep 27, 2021
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Yup. The Grade 5 bolts themselves aren't so much the problem. It's that they're in single shear and doing double duty with keeping that fabricated lower half straight while clamping it all together. Most of the loads are linear with the shocks compressing and extending, but it's not a perfectly straight action. They're basically relying on 1/4" of thread and the aluminum to hold straight. A few sharp bumps could fold it.
A quick and easy fix would be to replace the spacers with thicker sleeves welded to those 1/4" plates and use nuts instead of the plate. I'd make the sleeves out of 1" solid round stock with a 3/8" hole through the center to maximize load plane and support for the bolt. I'd also top it off with Grade 8 hardware. Quite a similar repair/upgrade as what @Rocket Man did for his tie rod end spacers.
The lower mount is also being held straight by the support of the mount clamping into the original bushing in the control arm. That does allow a certain degree of flexibility, but also provides a good amount of support.
Of course, if the bolts do end up starting to loosen off I will just torque them back down and weld them into the plate from the bottom since this isn't a permanent situation.