Front drive shaft bolts

[gw33gp]

I could not find a section specifically for drive shafts and this looked to be as close as I could get.

One of my front drive shaft bolts for the end that connects to the differential got damaged, and with that little Torx drive it is difficult to torque to spec without the Torx bit slipping out. I contacted a Ford dealership and they want $13 apiece for them. I will pay that if I have to but would like to find some with a 12 point drive if they would work. There is not much room for a wrench on the exterior. The existing bolts do have a hex on the outside but the U strap does not leave enough room for a wrench.

I am pretty sure they are 8mm bolts but don't know what the length is. I will pull one out if I have to start doing a search.

Has anyone been able to find a substitute for this bolt? I am thinking a 12 point bolt head would be smaller with a flange like the rear drive shaft 12mm bolts, and would leave enough room to allow a socket to fit on it.

 

[ericbphoto]

I grab stuff like that at the junk yard when I’m there getting other parts. It usually just looks like the hardware for the parts I’m actually paying for.

 

[2 bronco 11s]

I could not find a section specifically for drive shafts and this looked to be as close as I could get.

One of my front drive shaft bolts for the end that connects to the differential got damaged, and with that little Torx drive it is difficult to torque to spec without the Torx bit slipping out. I contacted a Ford dealership and they want $13 apiece for them. I will pay that if I have to but would like to find some with a 12 point drive if they would work. There is not much room for a wrench on the exterior. The existing bolts do have a hex on the outside but the U strap does not leave enough room for a wrench.

I am pretty sure they are 8mm bolts but don't know what the length is. I will pull one out if I have to start doing a search.

Has anyone been able to find a substitute for this bolt? I am thinking a 12 point bolt head would be smaller with a flange like the rear drive shaft 12mm bolts, and would leave enough room to allow a socket to fit on it.

I would suggest a actual bolt store who has industrial bolts . Here we have EBN. Also Fastenal. The 12 pt should worked. I switch the exhaust studs to allen's. Happy hunting

 

[pjtoledo]

1/4-28 x 1" that's full depth in the yolk plus the strap.
the bolts on this particular '99 diff have a very thick flange with 6 pt head.
a tight fit, maybe allen head as a substitute

maybe ARP bolts?

my 2000 has the torx/hex bolts. I had to use both wrenches simultaneously on them.

 

[snoranger]

1/4-28 x 1" that's full depth in the yolk plus the strap.

a tight fit, maybe allen head as a substitute

I used Allen head bolts on a D35 for years with no issues.

 

[SenorNoob]

Dana likely sales the OEM type bolts if you can find the part number.

Edit - It's a U-joint strap kit. Looks like Dorman has them as driveshaft flange bolts. At least in 12mm.

 

[gw33gp]

Yes, I have seen the Dorman 12mm bolts but I have seen nothing on Dorman 8mm bolts.

 

[4x4prepper]

At least the local ACE Hardware stores in this area carry just about any kind of allen head bolt you need including in SAE and metric. I bought ones with very small heads, grade 8, to use on headers. I bought some cap head bolts 1/4" from Zoro that takes a 3/8" socket instead of the 7/16" so it gives you more room.

 

[gw33gp]

I ended up buying the OEM bolts from a Ford dealer. I found them for as low as $3 each but the shipping was too much. The ones I got were $6 each but was included with a bunch of other stuff I needed, so the shipping was basically free.