A rear-wheel drive solid rear axle vehicle has a sheared spring center bolt on the left side. Which component will need to be replaced?

In the case of a sheared spring center bolt on a rear-wheel drive vehicle with a solid rear axle, the most logical component that needs to be replaced is the left center bolt. The purpose of the center bolt is to secure the various leaf springs together within the spring pack, which helps maintain the proper alignment and integrity of the suspension system.

When a center bolt shears, it generally affects only the leaf spring pack on that specific side where the failure occurred. Replacing just the sheared bolt will allow the spring pack to be reassembled correctly without the need to replace the entire spring pack. This option is both cost-effective and efficient because it addresses the specific problem without unnecessary replacement of other components that remain intact and functional.

Replacing both the left and right center bolts, or the entire left spring pack, would be excessive when the problem is localized to the sheared bolt. Such actions could lead to increased repair costs and unnecessary labor, as the right side is unaffected by the issue and the remaining components in the left pack may still be in good condition. Therefore, the optimal solution is to replace only the sheared center bolt on the left side.