Pinch bolt gone :(

[GreatLookin]

Hey guys I have a 91 festiva GL, and yesterday my pinch bolt for the ball joint came out while I was driving, thankfully I was only going about 5mph when it happened. How do I know what size bolt to use for this? I will be walking to the auto parts store and dont want to make more than 1 trip. Bolt diameter and length will be much appreciated.

[Pu241]

Quick and dirty.

Take the one from the other side to match it.

[crazyrog17]

I recently replaced mine. I remember the stock bolt had a 14mm head and was in a metric thread pattern and diameter. If you even just take the nut from the other side, you can thread/dia match at the store. Also, a longer bolt than you think would be necessary is fine. It won't hit anything in action.

[GreatLookin]

Thanks for the help guys. I got the new bolts, but now there is a crazy grinding/knocking sound coming from somewhere when I start my car, I think it might be the axle, but its in all the way and its in park right now. The boot closest to the tire ripped and I think the joint in there might be damaged, but I dont know how it could make that noise in park.

[GenevaDirt]

it is not the axle if it is making the noise in park....did something happen to make you lose the bolt...or did the LCA pop out and you had to put it back after it happened?

[georgeb]

Hey guys I have a 91 festiva GL, and yesterday my pinch bolt for the ball joint came out while I was driving, thankfully I was only going about 5mph when it happened. How do I know what size bolt to use for this? I will be walking to the auto parts store and dont want to make more than 1 trip. Bolt diameter and length will be much appreciated.

How did you notice it was missing?

[WmWatt]

If you can put the front end up on jack stands you can run the car in idle and in gear and listen to find out where and when the sound occurs.