I'm putting my '96 front suspension back together and replacing bolts, self locking nuts etc where necessary.

The lower shock bolt is listed as 'special' by Jag but the only thing I can see is the groove at the end of the thread, it doesn't appear to be tapered. I had quite a time removing the two off my car, they were in really tight and I had to hit them pretty hard with BFH and drift.Is this the idea, that they are a really tight fit so there is no slop/movement when the shock is in action?

I can't decide whether to go and get replacement bolts. What is that groove for? I have bilsteins and powerflex poly bushing, it's quite hard to get the hole fully aligned on the car.

 

G'day Oliver,

When I rebuilt my front end years ago it all came apart easily and I didn't notice whether those bottom shock bolts were anything special and can't see what purpose the groove would serve..

As you are rebuilding with non standard bushes I would be happy to go to a nuts and bolts shop and get suitable replacement bolts. The bolts on my car slid back into place smoothly and of course everything was coated in copperslip grease.

Cheers,
Jeff.
P.S. I just Googled the part number and there are also images of a non grooved bolt.

 

Thanks Jeff

I am going with new bolts and fasteners, the old one was a bear to extract and as you say plenty of marine anti seize, copper slip etc is in order here.I can only assume that groove is to allow some movement of the shock on the bolt 'axle' so it's not over tightened and impedes the shock moving slightly through its arc

Cheers

 

G'day Oliver,

I have had my front shocks out more than a couple of times, mostly to replace the lower bush, and a groove in the bottom bolt could not go unnoticed so I am certain that the bolts in my car had no groove.

I am curious though so next time I have a front wheel off I will undo the nut to have a look.

Cheers,
Jeff.

 

I thought about the groove as well and couldn't think of a reason for it either. 'Special', according to the Jaguar, is most likely there because of a specific length of the bolt that is left unthreaded, This section is roughly the width of the bush plus thickness of the shock eyes, all that, needs to ride on the unthreaded part of the bolt. Like you I thought I could get a replacement in my local hardware shop but nope, bolts were either too long or had too much threaded area so in the end I had to buy one directly from Jag.

Just as a side note to whoever comes across this in the future, it is absolutely crucial when replacing these that either genuine Jag metalastic or poly bushes are used. The very popular URO rubber bushes will not last more than a 1000 miles.

The metalastic bushes are also a pain to install on the car, you either need to remove the whole knuckle and use a press or grind off a little of it to use a push pull sleeves with a bolt, otherwise you wont be able to press it in fully and shock will be in a slightly wrong position. The bush itself fits in there really tight too.

 

I got a grade 8 bolt and locknut that fit - had to razor off some of the surface of the poly bushing to get the shock absorber saddle holes to line up but otherwise think it will be ok. The 'special bolt' was too fat for the powerflex bushing steel core.

 

polybush is the best for these

you can press them in super sideways and they go in just fine

 

Where is the best source for polybush?

 

I used powerflex