The Ford Barn

ursus · 09-06-2019, 03:15 PM

In the process of replacing the front spring I discovered that the previous spring center bolt is round on top, with a corresponding round hole in the cross member. The currently available spring center bolts have a square head. Does anybody know of a source for the round head bolts?

SSsssteamer · 09-06-2019, 03:26 PM

Take you square headed bolt to the bench grinder and make a round headed bolt out of it. When reinstalling it in the front spring, you will have to hold the round head with vice grips.

alexiskai · 09-06-2019, 03:39 PM

Worth noting that the purpose of the hole in the cross-member is simply to keep the bolt centered, so the degree of reshaping you'd need to do would depend on to what degree the square head fit inside the existing hole. You might also be able to source a standard hex-head bolt that would fit more closely than the square.

Bob C · 09-06-2019, 04:10 PM

NAPA has round head bolts. https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/RFDC...ut=spring+bolt

Bob

ursus · 09-06-2019, 05:11 PM

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Thanks for the help! Problem solved! On closer inspection, somebody had welded in a 1/4 inch plate up inside the cross member, probably to strengthen a crack repair on the front side of the cross member. A hole was drilled through this (much easier than cutting in a square!) which is where the round-head bolt came into the assembly.

So, I clamped the spring tightly in the cross member, extracted the square head bolt, then re-inserted it down through the top and tightened on the nut. The bolt sits down in its square home and all is well. I just have to make a note of this for future reference if and when the spring comes out again.

This isn't the first round headed bolt that I have found in a front spring and I wonder if I was seeing the result of repairs or did Ford actually use such a bolt in some cars?

09-06-2019, 03:15 PM	#1
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,374	Front Spring Center Bolt Problem In the process of replacing the front spring I discovered that the previous spring center bolt is round on top, with a corresponding round hole in the cross member. The currently available spring center bolts have a square head. Does anybody know of a source for the round head bolts?

09-06-2019, 03:26 PM	#2
SSsssteamer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sedro-Woolley, WA Posts: 1,023	Re: Front Spring Center Bolt Problem Take you square headed bolt to the bench grinder and make a round headed bolt out of it. When reinstalling it in the front spring, you will have to hold the round head with vice grips.

09-06-2019, 03:39 PM	#3
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,350	Re: Front Spring Center Bolt Problem Worth noting that the purpose of the hole in the cross-member is simply to keep the bolt centered, so the degree of reshaping you'd need to do would depend on to what degree the square head fit inside the existing hole. You might also be able to source a standard hex-head bolt that would fit more closely than the square.

09-06-2019, 04:10 PM	#4
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,741	Re: Front Spring Center Bolt Problem NAPA has round head bolts. https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/RFDC...ut=spring+bolt Bob

09-06-2019, 05:11 PM	#5
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,374	Re: Front Spring Center Bolt Problem Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks for the help! Problem solved! On closer inspection, somebody had welded in a 1/4 inch plate up inside the cross member, probably to strengthen a crack repair on the front side of the cross member. A hole was drilled through this (much easier than cutting in a square!) which is where the round-head bolt came into the assembly. So, I clamped the spring tightly in the cross member, extracted the square head bolt, then re-inserted it down through the top and tightened on the nut. The bolt sits down in its square home and all is well. I just have to make a note of this for future reference if and when the spring comes out again. This isn't the first round headed bolt that I have found in a front spring and I wonder if I was seeing the result of repairs or did Ford actually use such a bolt in some cars?