Hi all,

Started changing the front spring on my Mk6 Zetec S, however the bolt behind the wheel assembly/below the shocker is just rounding. I need to buy another one before I take more drastic action, however I can't seem to source it online? Can anyone help?

Photo below.

Thanks in advance.

Have you got a ford dealer locally? They are pretty cheap. 

Heat the threaded portion, it will help greatly in removing it

These lol 

Have you got a part number, or size/name of those? I do have a Ford dealer nearby so I'll have to pop in there one evening.

It’s just the front shock pinch bolt. Don’t have a part number I’m afraid. 

Are you using a hex socket too? 

Lol why can't they just use metric sizes. That way you can say "I need an M10x50" for example. It was a bit weird when I started to work on cars to suddenly find myself using a 14mm spanner.

Spanner sizes would be easier too and you wouldn't need every size. It's just;
10mm - M6
13mm - M8
17mm - M10
19mm - M12
24mm - M16

those bolts are a 15mm spanner/socket lol 

If i had a pound for every time I've seen someone round off one of these bolts I'd be living the dream somewhere on the other side of the world lol. A tight fitting hex socket and a bit of heat it'll come out. On the many occasions I've had to fix someone else's doing (not just fiesta) I use a bit of heat and a spiral bolt extractor socket. works every time. 

3 hours ago, stef123 said:

It’s just the front shock pinch bolt. Don’t have a part number I’m afraid. 

I'll pop to Ford tomorrow, thanks!

3 hours ago, stef123 said:

Are you using a hex socket too? 

What's the hex socket for?

Just now, Benj said:

I'll pop to Ford tomorrow, thanks!

What's the hex socket for?

putting on the head of the bolt lol 

5 minutes ago, stef123 said:

putting on the head of the bolt lol 

Well yeah haha (I thought you had a different method or something lol). Tried every socket possible, resorting to a big bar didn't help matters either. Well and truly stuck.

Seems like a very common issue though - despite the other side being fine before.

 

Are they hex sockets you are using?

like I say, get a bit heat on the other side (mind not burn the cv boot) and it’ll come out.

Tried hex sockets yes but no luck. Sprayed it up with plus gas too. 

I'll try a bit of heat on it for sure. I'll chisel it out if not!

If it doesn’t come with heat, your not heating it enough lol. I’ve done a tonne of these now and heat works every time.

20 minutes ago, Benj said:

I'll pop to Ford tomorrow, thanks!

What's the hex socket for?

A 6 point socket rather than a 12 point. I quickly learnt 12 points aren't much use on suspension/brake stuff. They quickly round off the heads on nuts/bolts.

4 minutes ago, stef123 said:

If it doesn’t come with heat, your not heating it enough lol. I’ve done a tonne of these now and heat works every time.

I'll report back next weekend when I try again!

4 minutes ago, Luke4efc said:

A 6 point socket rather than a 12 point. I quickly learnt 12 points aren't much use on suspension/brake stuff. They quickly round off the heads on nuts/bolts.

Ah yes, I presumed that's what was meant by hex socket. I was definitely using the 6 point ones.

38 minutes ago, Benj said:

I'll report back next weekend when I try again!

Ah yes, I presumed that's what was meant by hex socket. I was definitely using the 6 point ones.

I guess I posted my post seconds after you said you'd used a 6 point socket lol.

sometimes when I have this problem with rounded bolt head I hammer a non-metric socket onto it of a slightly smaller size (and vice versa)  you can often find one which maybe half a mm or so difference

you do of course need good strong quality sockets to do that though. cheap ones will split open down the side