4kq rear ball joint q's

["Nate Stuart" <nathan.stuart@maine.edu>]

I am in the process of replacing the rear lower ball joints on the GF's '86
4kqcs and after separating the ball from the lower arm, when I tried to
remove the two securing bolts that hold the ball joint up into the hub
assembly I found that the two bolts were of different size??? one was
larger, m8x20, the other was a smaller longer type, that was on the back
hole, it went all the way through the lower part of the hub, and had a
locking nut on the top of it. The ball joint kit I got came with just the
larger m8x20 breed of bolts. So I figured I would just remove the smaller
bolt and replace it with a matching one....
...Here's where the fun begins. When I tried to loosen the top securing nut
(after soaking in WD-40 for 1/2hr.) the nut and bolt promptly snapped off
flush with the hub. OK says I,  guess I can back out the bolt now, since
there is no locking nut....wrong! snap! there goes the head of the bolt, now
I'm stuck with ~1/2" of bolt remains threaded into the bottom of the hub.

BTW- a quick check of the album showed the exact part number for the ball
joint (857 505 365) and only the larger size bolt...

Here's my question, I am thinking I want to use the larger bolt anyway, so
something like this wont happen again, and since I'm going to have to
drill/tap regardless why not go bigger/stronger??? Anyone got any reasons
why not? Anyone else out there have and odd-lot rear end like my GF's??
Anyone know of any handy techniques to drilling a straight hole upside down
in a garage :-P

Later,
-Nate

'87 5kcstq
One-off rear end '86 4kqcs