Hello all,
My wife just left with our 2001 4.3 4 door Blazer, and I noticed some liquid on the floor. (Not much) It was more like water, definitely not oil. The floor has some dirt on it, so I'll check the fluids and put something underneath that spot to figure that out. (Was thinking air conditioner condensation, maybe.)
But...that is not the reason for this post. When I was inspecting the liquid, I found this bolt that was lying directly under the center front of the Blazer. (Basically under where the firewall would be.)
It looks as if one side got snapped off of something and the other side is unscrewed from something.
I was hoping one of the Blazer genius gurus on this forum might recognize where it may have come from?
You can see in the pic (attached) that it looks freshly broken off.
Thanks for any help/ideas of where to look!

 

Can you let us know what size the cut is? I'm hoping it's not one from thw shock absorber

 

Sorry, should have said that in the original post!
It's a 15 (19/32 fits, but 15 is closer). The bolt is about 3/8" long.
Thanks!

 

It's not the shock absorber then lol... not the brakes that I can think of...

It's got me thinking. Maybe someone else will notice it... It looks familiar to me tho lol...

 

Thanks for trying!!! I appreciate it. Now at least I gave out the nut size to help diagnosis.
Brakes are all good and pretty new. Just replaced the ABS module too, but that is beside the point.
Glad it's not the shock absorber, as I did go over a few bumps (at slow speed) since I live in Montana and roll on dirt roads daily.
Can't notice anything with the steering going on.
Hope someone else can recognize it. If not, I'll update on what it is when I get if figured out!

 

My first thought was an exhaust manifold nut, but I'm pretty sure the 4.3 just uses through bolts, not studs and nuts.

The fluid may be unrelated to the found bolt.

 

I'm not sure where that bolt came from yet, but am agreeing with you that the fluid leak is unrelated. (I hope)
I just thought I'd share the story on how I found the bolt on the floor.

P.S. -- It has been throwing P0171/0174 codes the past few days. This was before the bolt thing, and I think that is unrelated to a snapped off bolt.
(I have theories on that one)
I'm guessing the bolt is part of the steering linkage or shocks because it looks like it snapped off, right? It just looks like it freshly broke off.

 

So...
Took it to our mechanic today and they inspected the entire front end.
Nothing was missing that he could find.
It's still an enigma!

 

I would look at the exhaust manifold studs/bolts as previously mentioned...there are 3 each side and I have a feeling there are 2 on one side now...

 

By the looks of what you posted, I'd say something that goes through heat cycles like exhaust manifold. That being said, I would also look at your motor mounts.