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Suspension bolts

Snuggs - 16/6/16 at 06:17 PM

8.8 steel or A2 stainless ?

rusty nuts - 16/6/16 at 06:22 PM

8.8 , I wouldn't use stainless

Snuggs - 16/6/16 at 06:25 PM

Cheers Mel

Dave Bailey - 16/6/16 at 07:32 PM

As said definitely not stainless. I have used 8.8 and 12.9 on steering UJ's etc...

Dave B

907 - 17/6/16 at 05:58 AM

A2-70 SS are low tensile, standard bolts.

I have used A4-80 which are a higher strength stainless bolt.

Paul G

FuryRebuild - 17/6/16 at 06:56 AM

Stainless goes brittle in reciprocating loads - you need high tensile. It's great if the load isn't under any vibrational loading.

nick205 - 17/6/16 at 07:45 AM

I used 8.8 set screws at either end of the shocks on my MK Indy - didn't suffer any mishaps with this setup. From experience of a pro welder friend fabricating a stainless trailer I'd be apprehensive of using stainless bolts as I'd imaging they'd get damaged after a while.

coozer - 17/6/16 at 02:42 PM

AN bolts are the best to use imo

cliftyhanger - 17/6/16 at 07:12 PM

I would not be using set screws in suspension components. You want a shoulder where there are any stresses (badly worded)

907 - 18/6/16 at 04:11 AM

quote:
Originally posted by coozer
AN bolts are the best to use imo

I must admit that until I Googled AN I didn't know what it stood for.
I'm impressed. Did they cost an arm and a leg ?

Paul G

Myke 2463 - 18/6/16 at 07:08 AM

A2-70 = 7.0 304 material.

A4- 80 = 8.0 316 material.

mcerd1 - 18/6/16 at 07:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Myke 2463
A2-70 = 7.0 304 material.

A4- 80 = 8.0 316 material.

^^^ sort of....

A2 is of equivalent corrosion resistance to 304, and A4 is equivalent to 316
(the actually come in A1 to A5)

The second part of the grade is the strength, but that has more do do with how its been worked, they come in 50, 70 or 80 and you can get 100 as a special...

Of course that's only the austenitic ones.....
As above their properties are not ideal for suspension bolts - 8.8 (or maybe 10.9/12.9 is some cases) are your best bet

coozer - 18/6/16 at 01:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 907

quote:
Originally posted by coozer
AN bolts are the best to use imo

I must admit that until I Googled AN I didn't know what it stood for.
I'm impressed. Did they cost an arm and a leg ?

Paul G

Not really, just a bit of pain to find them! All over USA but not much here.

Maybe once we vote out of the EU someone can import them from the US

907 - 18/6/16 at 02:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by coozer

quote:
Originally posted by 907

quote:
Originally posted by coozer
AN bolts are the best to use imo

I must admit that until I Googled AN I didn't know what it stood for.
I'm impressed. Did they cost an arm and a leg ?

Paul G

Not really, just a bit of pain to find them! All over USA but not much here.

Maybe once we vote out of the EU someone can import them from the US

Well me and the missis will be be doing our bit.

Vote OOOT

johnH20 - 18/6/16 at 03:57 PM

Trident Racing Supplies based at Silverstone have a massive range of AN hardware. They do mail order. Not that expensive either for life and limb items. Their catalogue is a must have ( also on line ).

mcerd1 - 18/6/16 at 10:35 PM

https://www.lasaero.com/site/products/category?id=S025T36QZ

[Edited on 18/6/2016 by mcerd1]

phelpsa - 19/6/16 at 05:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by coozer
AN bolts are the best to use imo

Not really much point using them when the size is so over spec and the tolerances on the mating parts so poor.

David Jenkins - 19/6/16 at 06:04 PM

My car has AN bolts for all the suspension stuff - the main reason I used them is so that I could get the correct lengths of plain shaft and threaded bit. The range of sizes is so broad that I was able to get the thread in just the right place, at the point where it comes out of the bracket. They're also made of high-grade steel.

Unfortunately (for me) although I bought them from what I thought was a UK supplier, they were just an agency for a USA company, so I got severely stung for import duty and courier handling charges - nearly doubled the price.

Neville Jones - 22/6/16 at 09:58 AM

LAS Aero, Trident, Autosport Bearing Supplies, and a number of others have AN bolts in stock.

I've been using 8mm ground shoulder bots from Cromwell(and others) for the purpose for near 30 years.