Stainless Steel Hardware

[Adrian1281]

I was planning on changing all of my hardware to stainless and would like to know if anyone has any experience with using stainless in an automotive application.

I purchased a few and am now realizing that they are not as strong as I originally thought. They seem to be around a grade 5 bolt.

Bolt Depot - Bolt Grade Markings and Strength Chart (http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/Materials-and-Grades/Bolt-Grade-Chart.aspx)

I'm worried they won't be strong enough to use on suspension, steering, and brake components. Any ideas?

[Hankl]

Adrian,

While the SS would look nice, it's often problematic to get correct Grade 5 SS bolts. You need to be cautious of offshore manufactures, that label their products a Grade 5, but are below par. Check this out from McMaster Carr,


A286 Super Alloy— With approximately 26% nickel and 15% chrome, this iron-based super alloy brings you the strength of alloy steel with corrosion resistance similar to 18-8 stainless steel. It meets ASTM A453 Grade 660 and is not magnetic. Screws have a minimum Rockwell hardness of C31 and minimum tensile strength of 140,000 psi.


http://www.mcmaster.com/#98253a411/=czvnqn

HTH.

Hank :cool:

[efnfast]

I sure as heck wouldn't use stainless on anything critical like suspension, brakes, etc..!

Don't forget that if it galls it will be a SOB to undo

Overall I would not do it - for mounting brackets/line clips I would use regular plated machine screws. Everything else either grade 5 or grade 8 plated steel.

You can replace the black oxide bolts with plated bolts if the rusty appearance will bother you. All bolts are available in plated, grade 5, grade 8, grade 8.8, and grade 10.9.

And you want to know something - even if you replaced every single bolt with stainless bolts, who fricken cares? You won't see 99% of them, and if you're popping off the tire to, say, change brake pads, will you really care that you have some stainless bolts showing instead of plated steel? I wouldn't.

[Adrian1281]

Thanks guys.

[turbonut48]

I only use SS when they have to come off easily AND high strength isnt necessary.

The Nut