I'm changing the Lower Control Arms on a Jeep I bought but the OEM bolts don't fit into the swaybar downlink holes in the new LCA so I need to expand them a bit.

I don't want to send them back because I've got the whole suspension back together and this was the last step. Imma see if this works first.

Anyway, I need a single Tap, not a 60 part or 100part, or even a 1000 part tap & die set from Lowes/HD/HF.

Where do you guys go for metal working tools?

Northern? Ace? Sneeky metal working store only those in the trade know about...?

It's on amazon but I don't want to wait a week for the part. Besides someone else already ranted about prime taking more than 2-3 days.

Check Harbor freight, or check with your local auto parts store, they loan tools out for free...

Local Grainger or Fastenal

Online MSCdirect.com

McMaster-Carr.
Local Warehouse (Atl) that ships same day so you should get it tomorrow.

https://www.mcmaster.com/taps/

https://www.mcmaster.com/dies

Lowes & Home Depot both sell single taps (depending upon size). I tend to go to a local tool store that has all things tool related for most of that stuff.

I second checking for a local honest-to-God tool store. I have one nearby that has all kinds of single taps.

If you have a local industrial supply house or industrial hardware store, that’s where you want to go. I’d use the google and telephone. You’re looking for the kind of place where farmer or construction companies go to get what they need. I don’t know the Atlanta at all, but you may do better in either a more industrial area or a more agricultural/industrial suburb.

Okay, I have to ask.

Do you know the size & pitch (threads per inch) of the bolts?
Do you know the size & pitch of the holes?
If they are the same & simply won't fit you may just need to chase them with the same size & pitch tap. In that case you'll likely be good.

But, if they're not the same thread, especially the pitch, you're likely to cause yourself worse problems & may ruin the female thread & not leave anything for the male to screw into.

If you do know which tap you want, McMaster-Carr or MSC will usually get it to you in a day or two.

I would worry its been changed to metric, or it was metric and is now "standard". My first step would be to call the supplier of the part and ask them. They may know - or not. If you had time I would send you to a flea market. They have everything.

Without knowing the size and pitch, you're pretty much screwed over. Since Y'all don't know Murphy, who knew everything about machining, I think you need that bolt and a real honest to God hardware store. Good luck finding that. In this big box era, stuff only comes in "sets".

quote:

Originally posted by vinnybass:
Okay, I have to ask.

Do you know the size & pitch (threads per inch) of the bolts?
Do you know the size & pitch of the holes?
If they are the same & simply won't fit you may just need to chase them with the same size & pitch tap. In that case you'll likely be good.

But, if they're not the same thread, especially the pitch, you're likely to cause yourself worse problems & may ruin the female thread & not leave anything for the male to screw into.

If you do know which tap you want, McMaster-Carr or MSC will usually get it to you in a day or two.

M 12x1.75. That is my plan - to use the same thread and chase the existing hole.

Sounds good.

12 x 1.75 is a common size. Any hardware or auto parts store worth their salt ought to have one. You also need something to turn it with. Taps have square heads, for which you need a small square socket. It is unlikely you will have room or leverage to turn a T-handle. I use the Lisle #70500, but they only come in a set.

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Murphy dear Murphy...

All the auto parts stores around here sell single taps, and they all have M8, M10 and M12 taps.

Where ever you decide to buy the tap, be sure it's not an "import", code-word for Chinese crap. They dull quickly and don't cut so well to start with.
Break that off in your suspension part and you'll likely never get it out.
Pay a little more at a known quality vendor and you save in the long run.

McMaster, Fastenal, places like that.

Another vote for McMaster. They ship insanely fast, regular ground shipping gets to me the next day if I order by ~5:00pm.

I found the one that I wanted at Lowes, it also came with a matching drill bit to make the proper size hole.

No option to just buy new bolts?

Yeah, that is what I was thinking. Getting new bolts would be a lot faster and much easier.