Rear Shock Bolt?

[SlashRacer]

What’s up with the ear on the rear shock bolts? What’s the purpose of it?

[OldGOAT]

I think it might be designed so if the nut comes off the other side, that the bolt won't come out because that would be bad.
Just going off of experience working with other vehicles.

[Deano Bronc]

The wing is supposed to keep the bolt from turning when you loosen the nut. As you turn it to loosen or tighten, it rotates the blade until it hits something which keeps the bolt from turning.
Normally they use it when you can't get a wrench on the bolt but clearly that is not the case here. Not sure why they used it for this application.

[brnc_o_vrlndr]

Maybe it all comes down to ease of assembly. That one is actually the control arm, or trailing arm bolt. The wing for the shock mount is actually on the nut and is not captured in a hole like the bolt in the photo is. It also makes you tighten the bolt, which is weird. Normally, you would hold the bolt and torque the nut.

[SlashRacer]

Speaking of shocks......I just had one replaced. The dealership put a new bolt and nut on when they replaced the shock.