What is this bolt called, and how do I replace it?
 

Went in for inspection today, and they found this bolt to be loose. Its on the drivers side. They called it a control arm bolt? It is visibly smaller than the one on the passenger side. Perhaps someone replaced the drivers side bolt with the incorrect one, and thats why its loose? Either way I need to identify it and replace it to pass inspection.

So once you kind folks help me identify it....how hard is it to replace?
If I take the existing bolt out...will things inside fall part?

Thanks,
Marty

First, check the condition of the control arm bushings. A loose bolt usually just needs to be tightened, not replaced.

You can replace the bolt when you replace the UCA bushings. It's a lot easier labor wise to just replace the entire contorol arm as new bushings are already pressed it. You will need to replace the sway bar end bushings as well.

All of that was checked during the inspection, and got the ok. This bolt is loose, because it looks like its the wrong size. It is smaller than its counterpart over on the passenger side. If all I wanted to do was replace this bolt, what type and size of bolt is it? I went to a parts store, but the said that it could be a shouldered bolt, or eccentric?? Is this not just a standard straight bolt?

you need to get it from MB or from a PNP, this is a hardened bolt and a home depot replacement would be as dangerous as the incorrect sized one you have now. I think you can get grade 8 bolts there, but I would just get one from a junkyard if it was mine

It is.

If it's grade 8, it's SAE, not metric.

Not to beat a dead horse here, but this is as simple as removing and replacing? I can do this while the wheel is under load and not up on jacks?

I am waiting to hear back from Roy, and will be ordering this from Phil once I figure out what its called.

Thanks for ALL the replies !

-Marty Watts

I would put it up on jacks with the wheel hanging, chase a scrap bolt or round stock or even a alignment punch if you have the space in the hole when you remove the old one, then chase the new bolt in behind the scrap bolt.

if the car is resting on it's tires, the bolt will be under load, and you will not be able to remove it easily.
with the car on stands, and the tire off, it's a simple bolt change.
I'd pop the upper ball joint off, and have the control arm easier to wiggle to get the bolt changed. it's possible that the wrong bolt has damaged other components, I'd pull the UCA and visibly inspect it, and mic the hole, and verify it's concentric...

Bear with my newbie-ness..."mic the hole"...? Concentric? huh? Once up on jacks with the tire removed, how do I take the UCA off?
Also, do you know what size bolt SHOULD be used here?

You may be able to find info using the search function.
That bolt on mine is a 12mm around, I can't measure the thread pitch, but it's roughly 94mm long.
Click on buy parts at the top and look up the UCA for your car, you should be able to see a pic of it out of the car.
Concentric means round vs. oblong.
Mic means to measure the hole with a micrometer.
There is a bushing up in there, inspect to see if it's deteriorated.