lower ball joint to steering knuckle threads stripped

While trying to torque the steering knuckle bolts down to 59ft/lbs the 2 bolt holes closest to the backing plate must have stripped. They spin freely tightening ever so slightly to become loose again. Does this mean I am left getting a new steering knuckle? Or is there a safe alternative to putting new threads in.
Thanks in advance guys

 

You could oversize the hole by one size and re-tap it for a larger bolt. If I recall, those are 14 mm bolts that hold the LBJ in place. You could tap them to Either a 1/2-28 or 9/16-28 bolt or what ever one size larger would be.

 

Could helicoil it or upsize the bolts (you'll have to drill out the LBJ through holes, and the shear/alignment cones will no longer work though). Helicoil would keep everything "stock", though I would get good ones and be careful for the whole process since they're easy to fuck up.

 

This stinks as you obviously were following the torque spec. Which brand LBJ are we using?

I ask this as a learning question as I’ve never done this LBJ replace and would like to prevent a similar scenario.

 

I wonder if these are the same 2 I snapped. I can't tell from your description. I managed to break two of these.My torque wrench never clicked when tightening. I was able to get both out with vice grips.

 

If it was me, I would drill the hole, tap it, and upsize the bolt, such as other people have posted. I can't confirm if it will cause a problem with the shear/alignment cones or not, as other people posted. You will definitely be taken away some metal, but I don't believe that a small amount would matter. Based on your original post, you would only be drilling the 2 holes, next to the backing plate. So, it should not change the shear/alignment cones strength in my opinion...but what do I know.

I did the same as FirstGenVol, I snapped off a bolt, before the torque wrench clicked, and was able to get the bolt out with vice grips. My bolt did snap off in the hole near the backing plate. At that point, I was reusing the stock bolts. After that, I purchased all new OEM bolts and I did not have any issues with the correct torque. It did take 2-3 weeks to get new stock OEM bolts from the dealership. I guess they are hard to find.

Good Luck.

 

Oddly enough, when I rebuilt the front end on my Tundra, I had no issue getting the old bolts out. Something I was almost sure would break and cause me grief, came out like they'd been out a month before... Go figure..

 

I think helicoil would be the only option correct? unless I drill the holes in the lower ball joint aswell? Wouldn't helicoil be an easier process in this case?

 

The bolts did not snap off for me.. they just went real loose and are now "floating" around in the steering knuckle.

 

I have taken out the other 2 bolts now and the 2 against the backing plate will not come out.... they are still holding the LBJ to the steering knuckle, but with some play. This is not safe to drive on Eh? Any advice on getting the floating bolts out if not?

 

Use a prybar or screw driver and get some leverage to pry between the knuckle And the LBJ, putting pressure against the bolts. Back them out while applying the leverage.

 

thanks this worked like a charm



Does anyone know the thread size of the LBJ to steering knuckle bolts?! Trying to find out what size helicoil I will need for it. Thanks again guys!

 

Just asking because I don't see it mentioned above: are you sure it's the threads in the steering knuckle that are stripped and not the threads on the bolts? The steering knuckle is a cast iron piece, I would expect the theads on the bolt to give out before the threads in the knuckle. It would also be much easier to correct if the problem was with the bolts: just chase the threads in the knuckle and buy new bolts. Worth checking.