2020 ranger. Less than 9k miles. Driveshaft bolts missing

[WOADKIL]

Threads are fine. No scarring. Other 2 bolts do not show signs of removal. Just went to ace. Flange bolts to match original. I will use blue loctite. I’m aggrieved.

Grade 8 bolts I hope.

Sponsored

 

[BlackRanger01]

Grade 8 bolts I hope.

I would just order Ford part....not hardware store.

 

[KnightWolf]

I know the supply chain shortages are nuts, but this really takes the cake!

 

[Mrmonk7663]

I would just order Ford part....not hardware store.

Hardware store was to get me through the day. I’d rather have 2 hardware store bolts than 2 missing bolts. Tomorrow Ford “supposedly” will put new ones the “pulled” off a truck at the lot. Guess that buyer is screwed too.

 

[WOADKIL]

I would just order Ford part....not hardware store.

 

[Mrmonk7663]

The factory bolt is a 10.9 grade metric flange head m12x1.75-40 bolt with a 15mm head.

 

[Grumpaw]

Gotta remember...SAE hardware and metric hardware are graded differently.
5.8 metric is approx a grade 2-3 sae
8.8 is grade 5 sae
10.9 metric is grade 8 sae.
Most hardware (Lowes, Home Depot, Ace) is either/usually 5.8 or if your lucky 8.8, which is generally for homeowner type applications or light strength automotive applications like panel attachment, ect.
10.9 is the automotive grade for high strength applications.
And, for high strength applications you don't want to substitute stainless steel hardware due to it composition stainless steel hardware is much more "brittle" than standard carbon steel. There is high strength grade 5 and 8 stainless but it is hard to find,,,never at your local hardware store.

 

[onobeka]

8.8 would be fine, 10.9 better. For example the tow ball 2 bolts on EU ranger are M16 8.8, and those are supposed to hold a pulling strength of 3.5t. Yes, the driveshaft mount is about sheering force, but those are 4 M12 bolts. God knows how much driving the OP did with only two.

Good find OP! Your “mod” should give you peace of mind. Probably Ford forgot to mount two bolts, very solid QA they are doing .

 

[Grumpaw]

One of the photos the OP posted shows the OE bolt and it appears to be a 10.0 or 10.9 on the head, indicating a grade 8 equivalent. Definitely would not want to go to a lower rated bolt.

I just crawled under mine, a 2021, and those bolts are definitely marked 10.9 grade...a grade 8 equivalent.

 

[Markubis]

Lol she is across the Atlantic so she is not to blame.

That sure does make for a nice alibi..

 

[BlackRanger01]

Well ok, with recent new vehiciles, I always go for genuine stuff. It's just I M O.

 

[RedDakooter05]

What day was your truck built on, out of curiosity.

 

[ctechbob]

$10 those bolts were never in there from the factory. The threadlock that Ford uses on them you're lucky to get them out without heat from a torch, there's no way they're backing out if they were in there, unless they were installed without threadlock, but I will also wager that the threadlock comes on the bolts from the manufacturer.

 

[Grumpaw]

I remember back a few months ago someone posted about finding some extra hardware, a bolt, that he found in his engine compartment.
I wonder...maybe...no, it couldn't possibly be one of the OP's missing bolts !

 

[Mrmonk7663]

Lol who knows. I’m heading to dealer in a few to get the new bolts installed. I went ahead and did my exhaust last night. I’ll post about it after I finish spark plugs and tune.

Sponsored