Technical Strut to control arm issue

[pan127]

I have fitted new front struts and 'control arms' ( the pressed steel uprights that hold the lower ball joint) to my 1991 4x4 .

I noticed the M12 bolts that came out were slightly too big for the holes in the new control arms. Turns out they are not exactly M12 and so I can only guess for some reason a previous owner had fitted oversize bolts. Seems odd. No matter, I found some used originals and tightened them up to specified torque in manual (44ft/lbs). However the strut and arm still have play/movement , noticable when the car is driven. Alarming as it changes the camber drastically. Tightening the bolts to 140ft/lb+ eventually solves the problem , but that doesn't seem quite right.

Question: Were there different arms and/or struts for more than one bolt size? (I can't get on Eper anywhere to check. )

I definitely have 4x4 control arms.

Bolts don't appear to use washers, so just relies on nylocs to stay tight. Unusual.

Anyone else had this experience?

(I seem to remember VW Golf had similar design but with eccentric bolt to adjust camber.)

 

[kolza]

http://eper.info/navi?COMM_MODEL=GI...DE=0&PREVIOUS_KEY=HOME&SB_CODE=-1&WINDOW_ID=1

 

[kolza]

What do you mean by Strut?
I'm not getting the hole juice.

Track control arms are the same for 2wd and 4x4.
Shock absortbers are different same as hub cariers as well.

 

[kolza]

Often resellers don't know that 4x4 are different ad list them as compatible.
There should be some pretty tick washers there.

Example photo just to make it easier, please ignore my lower ball joint as it is custom one.

 

[panda1408]

Jacob I think pan127 means the shock absorber when he says strut and the hub carrier when he says track control arm.

The 4x4 uses M12 bolts, 2WD uses M10, both a fine thread. No washers fitted. Had someone fitted half inch UNF bolts and are you sure your new bolts are M12?

 

[kolza]

 

[pan127]

Thank you for these most helpful replies.
To clarify, yes I am talking about 'shock absorber' to ' hub carrier'.

Yes, someone had fitted !/2inch UNF bolts ( 12.5mm dia) .

Unfortunately I seem unable to open the link kindly provided to eper.

The good news is I appear have the right size bolts (M12 fine ) , hub carriers and shocks. (If I had 2wd carriers and shocks the holes wouldn't be big enough).

There were no washers anywhere to be found on mine. I have examined a scrap assembly from another old 4x4 and that doesn't appear to have any washers either.

So what are the washers shown in the photo (kindly provided by Mr Kolza) for?

Are these to act as shims between hub carrier and shock absorber? Seems unlikely as there is very little clearance.

How much torque do you guys like to apply to these M12 bolts to keep them secure?

Thanks Joel

 

[panda1408]

Those thick washers are for the M10 bolt that holds the lower arm to the body of the car, nothing to do with the upright I believe.

I couldn't give you a torque figure for the bolts but fully tight with a standard size 1/2 inch ratchet should be fine.

The only problem I have had with the carrier moving is on lifted cars where the top hole needs to be slotted to get the correct camber value. And then it has only moved after some serious off roading, never just driving on the road.