I replaced one of the rear wishbones on my Focus at the weekend and obviously had to cut the old one out because the bolts snapped both ends as they sieze inside the bush.

I cannot find the inner nuts/bolts anywhere on the internet and Ford don't seem to do them.

They are an un usual kind, long bolt about 2 - 3 inches long with a 18mm head on it and a 19mm nut on the back, the last inch or half inch of the bolt has a weird groove in it, and the head has a washer on it, but the washer kind of sits at a funny angle?

We just used some bolts/nuts/washers he got from the local engineering shop, and they fitted/work fine, but someone ive just spoken to has told me i need to source the correct bolts/nuts because theyre toughened and using just ' any old bolt ' will snap eventually? Will it be okay as it is or do i need to source the right bolts?

I changed this part

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FOCUS...56881219898521

Thanks

 

Never done a rear but done fronts and got new bolts from the same part centre i got the wishbone from ?

 

Someones just told me i need to use high tensile steel bolts, as using standard silver bolts and nuts that ' do the job ' will eventually weaken and snap lol, one of them keeps coming loose so i think i may have to visit ford !

 

The inner bolt of the lower wishbone uses a cam nut so you can set the suspension geometry up. Without it the bolt will have a tendency to move in the beam which will throw out camber angles etc.

 

as above the offset washer on the bolt sets the rear camber on a focus and ideally needs to be marked and refitted correctly or a geometry setup is required afterwards or you will scrub the tyre edge out in no time plus you will get poor handling, obviousy as you had to cut it you cannot set it back to were it was originally so you will need to get it set up
ford DO sell the bolts it just happens a lot of ford parts salesmen are either too useless or too lazy to find the correct part for you lol pm me your reg and ill see if i can get the part number for you as i am mates with a guy who works in ford parts

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FOCUS...item23149cacad


or see if this guy sells the bolts seperatley

 

I have got one of the inner bolts, off another car i dismantled, too old and rusty to re use but ill take that down to Ford with me, got to cut the other arm off maybe next weekend as obviously one side is all seized up and the other side is free and moving as it should now, the outer bolts i can just use any ? Thanks for that.

 

i wouldnt just use any, they have to be of the correct sort of strength for the likely cost of them which i cant see being a great deal i would just buy them from ford
make sure you use plenty of grease on them when fitting to prevent them sticking again!

 

Ill nip to Ford at the weekend and pick them up, ive got to do the other side yet, getting too cold for messing around with cars !