I found this bolt in my driveway and I've never seen anything like it. It's about 2 1/2 ins. long and the shaft is about 5/16ths. in diameter....see attached picture. The top has gear teeth cut in it and they appear to be worn like they have been engaging another gear. I'm wondering if this might have fallen off of one of our cars....Mercedes, Jeep and the Jag... or the lawn mower maybe? The cars and the lawn mower seem to be running fine. Any body have any idea what this bolt might be for?????

 

I have seen bolts like that on bi-fold doors. The bolt adjusts the height of the door at the door frame. The "geared" part fits into a bracket on the floor to adjust distance from the jamb.

 

riding lawnmower?

 

This bolt is bigger and much more substantial than the bolt on a bi-fold door. The gear teeth at the top are worn like they have been engaging another gear. I'm concerned that it may have come off of one of our cars. Nope we don't have a riding lawn mower.

 

I would have sworn that came off a riding lawnmower steering column, but I guess not. It looks like some kind of pinion gear though.

 

Neighbor playing a prank on you?...is Hank Hill your neighbor, perhaps the Simpson's a couple doors down?

 

Just to be on the safe side, I would do a through inspection of your undercarrage on all cars that were parked in the spot you found that bolt.

You could take the bolt to your dealer and have the suspension specialist take a peek at it. It could be nothing, it could spell trouble. KBO mate.

 

I'm definitely going to have the dealer look at it. I am really curious 'cause I
ve never seen anything like it.