Obscure bolts for our Fords.

[stephens_xpack]

Hello all,

 

any bright ideas for getting hold of what seems like a hard bolt to find?

I have attached a photo of said bolt, fairly standard with the exception of the hole in the end and the castle shaped nut. This bolt is from the strut and connects the strut arm at the bottom to the steering arm. 

 

Retro bolts have said that they don't supply with the hole or split pin but with nyloc nuts so no need for the hole or pin, is this the way to go?

 

Only reason I ask about the nyloc route is as it is suspension related, obviously should that nyloc nut fall off somehow my suspension will fail pretty drastically I would imagine.

 

Any suggestions or ideas that others have maybe gone with or places that may have this type of bolt still available?

 

Thank you

 

[katana]

I've never had a nyloc back off anything much less fall off! But if you want originality, I guess an engineering place would make a suitable castilated nut for about an hours labour - even drill the bolt although that ain't difficult.

[stephens_xpack]

Cheers Katana,

Really not fussed with originality, just wasn't sure about the Nyloc, but as you and another person I have spoken to have mentioned that they use the Nyloc without issue I will take that as a good recommendation and go that route as it seems impossible to find the original style nut, and that may well be because Nyloc ones are now available

Appreciate the input.

[colr6]

Nylocs just the modern equivalent of the old castle nut and pin.

[stephens_xpack]

Thanks colr6, that is what I was hoping to hear, just wanted to be sure. appreciated.

[colr6]

Thanks colr6, that is what I was hoping to hear, just wanted to be sure. appreciated.

Think cost might have a lot to do with it aswell, wouldn't use the likes of screwfix for nylocs I've found not to be of the best quality.

[Ray]

nyloc replaced split pin method donkeys years ago, used to be the case that one use and throw away, not sure these days, but whenever you buy a lower arm, track rod end or anything these days, it comes with a new nyloc nut, so assume its still the case

 

but not for the likes of me who want that originality, also found that you can generally only get nylocs in metric unless you can find them at specialist fastener places, have found limited amounts on e-bay in UNF,  most repro parts have been converted to metric to accomodate

[colr6]

Specialists nut and bolt suppliers usually have a good stock of unf, well ours does anyway. I found them far cheaper than buying from the likes of eBay. I've just totally done a MGB in stainless unf for the price of a couple of wing fitting kits supplied by these so called specialists on flearipoffbay. Deffo worth checking the local specialists out first.

[Vista]

nyloc replaced split pin method donkeys years ago, used to be the case that one use and throw away, not sure these days, but whenever you buy a lower arm, track rod end or anything these days, it comes with a new nyloc nut, so assume its still the case

 

but not for the likes of me who want that originality, also found that you can generally only get nylocs in metric unless you can find them at specialist fastener places, have found limited amounts on e-bay in UNF, most repro parts have been converted to metric to accomodate

Still the case re nylons, i.e. Only use once. Unless you're trying to buy them at your local DIY store, you shouldn't have any trouble getting imperial thread nylocs though.

[deltamal]

A specialized industrial fastener outlet will have or be able to get   unified nylock nuts, should be a few around where you are based...

[NeilT]

Try 

 

http://www.wrightsautosupplies.co.uk/

 

they do load os stuff in metric UNF UNC and all sorts of weird and wonderful nuts and bolts 

 

I use them myself and highly recommend them