Radius arm bracket bolts

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Apr 8, 2004 | 02:31 PM

dbrown13

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 291

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From: Central Texas

Radius arm bracket bolts

What size bolts do I need to reattach the radius arm brackets after I cut/grind the rivets out? Are they 7/16 or 1/2 in? I will be replacing them with grade 8 bolts,flat washers and locking nuts (nylocks)

93 F150 2WD

Apr 8, 2004 | 07:15 PM

Lou Braun

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 1,372

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From: West Cornwall, CT

The only way to be sure of the correct bolt size is to find out the size (diameter) of the rivet after you remove it. Rivets can be 3/8", 10mm, or 7/16".

For a 3/8" or 10mm rivet, drill the hole out to 7/16" and use the 7/16-14" bolt.

For a 7/16" bolt, drill the rivet out to 1/2" and use the 1/2"-13 bolt.

Lou Braun

Apr 8, 2004 | 10:11 PM

natewoz

Elder User

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 887

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From: MN

The sizes vary. When I did my lift, some holes were 1/2" and some were 7/16". The best option would be to drill them all out to 1/2" and use 1/2" grade 8 hardware and loctite.

Apr 9, 2004 | 08:51 AM

dbrown13

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 291

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From: Central Texas

Thanks for the info, I'll be getting into it this w/e...wish me luck.......

Apr 9, 2004 | 09:21 AM

rebocardo

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Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 13,873

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From: Atlanta GA

I drill them all out to 1/2 inch usually and then keep a few spare bolts/washers/nuts for the brackets in the glovebox just in case one ever comes loose. If you torque them to at least 90 pounds and they do not loosen after a week of driving, they are good to go for the next ten years.

Note: You have a F-150, but, on a BII/Ranger some holes have to be left stock because there is not enough meat on the bracket to safely hog all the holes out to 1/2 inch.