According to one aspect, a flange fastening assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first flange having a first hole therein, a second flange having a second hole disposed adjacent to the first flange, and a shoulder bolt disposed through the first hole and the second hole. The shoulder bolt has a head portion, a stem portion, and a thread portion, and the stem portion and the thread portion define a shoulder. A bolt nut is disposed on the thread portion and a first spacer is disposed between the bolt nut and the first flange such that the first spacer overhangs the shoulder.