LOWnEASY

iTrader: (1)

I think 4 c shaped brackets out of some heavy steel would help tie it all together incase the bolts brake

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

Another set of lock nuts would help distribute the load across more threads. He did at least upgrade to grade 8 bolts. I'd run it myself.

Jeebalow

iTrader: (3)

What size are the bolts? You'd be surprised at the load a grade 8 bolt can take.

silver-mod-o

iTrader: (15)

It would also be pretty surprising for that control arm to meet pavement at 70mph. I'm not saying it wouldn't work or anything like that. Obviously some guys have done it. I just wouldn't personally trust it to haul around me and my family down some of the roads I travel. There are just better ways to do it IMO.

1redta

I don’t see an issue with that, how the bolt heads are exposed or protected on the bottom side would be my biggest issue

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

The control arm itself is fine. If those bolts were to fail, it would probably be an an already extreme circumstance (GIANT pothole or taking a curb at high speed). The shock would extend down through the arm's opening and the tire would go into the inner fender.

Bluecollar Hotrods

iTrader: (18)

Did the same thing to a friend's 13' RCSB about two years ago. Zero issues.

Jeebalow

iTrader: (3)

For those that are worried, a single grade 12.9 M10 bolt has a clamp load of about 9,400 lbs. With 2 per side we are talking 36,000 lbs. Even if the entire weight of the truck was in the front, let's say 6,000 lbs, and the motion ratio of the struts was 2:1 then we would have a total of 12,000 on the 4 shock bolts which can have a clamp load of 36,000 lbs. That's a safety factor of 3.

A fine thread grade 8 3/8 bolt has a clamp load of about 7,800 lbs. So 31,600 lbs of total clamp force. Still a pretty good safety margin. At least I wouldn't be worried.

This is all assuming the bolts are torqued to spec per the condition they are in.

cadmaro

The truck won't drop to the ground even with the struts unbolted. I know because I accidentally pulled the truck off the jack being dumb and it didn't crush me!