Control arm to anti roll bar fixing

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
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Broadsword
Posts: 111
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:17 am
Your car is a: 1970 124 Spider
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Control arm to anti roll bar fixing

Post by Broadsword »

One of the welded bolts on my lower control arm bracket has had the thread stripped.
Is there any reason that I should not drill it out and replace with a bolt rather than welding a bolt or length of threaded rod?
I assume a welded bolt reduces risk of sheer failure, but other components in this area that are bolts and nuts seem to cope.
Talking nuts, every replacement Nyloc I purchase never has as much thickness and therefore thread as the factory originals.
Is there a supplier of thicker nuts, or is a modern high tensile nut just as good these days anyway?
Thanks.
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bran100
Posts: 155
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:34 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider
Location: Draper, Utah

Re: Control arm to anti roll bar fixing

Post by bran100 »

My stud twisted off and I'm about to drill it out as well. Interested to hear feedback from the group, however, it seems like a pretty benign move.
Tobi

Re: Control arm to anti roll bar fixing

Post by Tobi »

When I installed my 1" anti sway bar I drilled all 4 bolts out and replaced them with longer bolts in order to be able to produce a flat surface for the bigger bushings.
That was 7 years ago and it still works well.
vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: Control arm to anti roll bar fixing

Post by vandor »

> Is there a supplier of thicker nuts,

These are thicker (longer?):

http://www.autoricambi.us/product/DR0-4 ... ylock-nut/
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
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Broadsword
Posts: 111
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:17 am
Your car is a: 1970 124 Spider
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Control arm to anti roll bar fixing

Post by Broadsword »

Tobi wrote:When I installed my 1" anti sway bar I drilled all 4 bolts out and replaced them with longer bolts in order to be able to produce a flat surface for the bigger bushings.
That was 7 years ago and it still works well.
Good to know, thanks for the feedback.
I assumed there would not be anything wrong with doing it, but at the same time, intrigued as to why they were welded in the first place?
User avatar
Broadsword
Posts: 111
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:17 am
Your car is a: 1970 124 Spider
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Control arm to anti roll bar fixing

Post by Broadsword »

vandor wrote:> Is there a supplier of thicker nuts,

These are thicker (longer?):

http://www.autoricambi.us/product/DR0-4 ... ylock-nut/
You guys have everything.
Don't suppose you want to set up shop down under?
The Australian dollar is taking a downward dive against the US at the moment; a real pest for buying parts that is for sure ( I don't mean $1.50 for a nut BTW)!
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