When turbo clamp "t bolt" breaks!!!

[COTTS4x4]

I was lucky enough to have the bolt break on me today while loosening up the clamp to re-adjust my downpipe. It broke while loosening with a ratchet. Nut acted like it came off and when I pulled the socket away, the bolt had broken in two. It never even acted like it was cross threaded or in a bind.

Now is where the fun starts. Clamp comes right off with no problem and time to find a "t bolt" that will hold it back in place. Head to Advance Auto, then, Autozone... Pep Boys... Home Depot... Lowes... Ace Hardware... Still no luck. So I got to thinking - there are clamps like these one pool filters & pool motors. Off to the closest pool store... they dont sell any clamps or any hardware. Hit the next one... they have clamps and such, but dont sell the bolts individually. So I will buy one of their clamps and then just take the bolt out of it... $63.99. Forget that, now on to Plan B. Ask the guy at the counter if there are any damaged ones and he asks what its for. I explain as he laughs and suggests the auto parts store. He goes in the back and finds an old one thats been there for a while and says its your lucky day. He wont accept a penny for it. I come home, re tap & die the new (used) "t-bolt" and nut and reinstall it on the truck.

Everything worked perfect and after all that I finally re-adjusted the exhaust so it wouldnt rattle ;)

SO - If you ever break a "t bolt" save yourselves all the driving and head to the nearest Pool Store! Just thought I would share and maybe save someone some sanity down the road.

Scott

[Phoneguy6.0]

I needed that advice when I did mine. I broke mine when I did my exhaust but I thought I over tightened it and thats why it broke. I had to wait til Monday for Ford to open and order one. Got it the next day and it cost me $25. I am guessing a lot of people have had that problem as well.
Glad to know about the pool store idea for future mishaps :D .

[jschall]

I broke the t-bolt on mine trying in vein to adjust away a noise I know now was not the exhaust...but anyway....The Intercooler pipe boots use t-bolt spring clamps too so after cussing a bit with doug on the phone...I went to the barn and snaged one...worked perfect....
jschall

[COTTS4x4]

I noticed all those bolts on the hoses and will be keeping my eyes open to find a few more. My family owns a pool company so I should find some shortly!

Scott

[heinzboy]

I seen a tech put an air hammer and a chisel on the clamps and he got it lose within 4 seconds. He did not break the clamps. It was the coolest thing.

[PSDPlayer]

In my experience the bolt tends to break if you have applied pressure to the downpipe before loosening the bolt. For some reason if you try to pry on the downpipe and then loosen the bolt you have better bought a spare one. The 6.0L seem to be more prone to this than the 7.3L but who knows. The bolts from the clamps on the CAC tubes do save you if you have spares. The price for those marmon clamps is rediculous.