Does anyone have a list or spreadsheet of bolt sizes and pitch for the suspension on a c900? If not I can measure when I get them all off. I would like to replace with SS hardware.

thanks in advance

jdwertz, I do NOT have such a list, but I would appreciate a copy of your list once complete.
thanks,
Jon

Do NOT use stainless fasteners for critical structural joints - stainless is very bad at handling cyclic fatigue loading, it's very prone to cracking.

High quality yellow zinc chromate bolts with a misting of some corrosion prevention compound will go a long way.

I think I had some notes in my build thread for the yellow race car what sizes and pitches went where, but some of the suspension on pre-'74 99's is different from the hardware on 900's.

Also, in general, stainless steel bolts are around half the strength as Grade 8 imperial, or 10.9 metric fasteners.

There are a few MS and NAS bolts that are a286 stainless that are stronger, but they are somewhat hard to find and expensive.

Glad some of the other engineers spoke up before I had the chance.

Thanks for the replies all. I will either have my current bolts replated or purchase some high grade bolts.

Glad I payed attention in my materials engineering classes...though I am a computer engineer by trade so you have to give me a little slack

Yeah. Usually the stainless fasteners you can readily get are 18-8, which are only moderately good at corrosion resistance and shit for yield strength and fatigue. It's possible to get stuff made from forged 316 bar stock, but it's $$$$$ and still not as good as the alloy steel stuff.

As far as grade goes, the higher up you go in grade you get more ultimate strength at the expense of them being more brittle. Lower grade bolts bend rather than break. For shock loaded use (like suspension parts) grade 8 imperial or 10.9 metric is about the magic ticket that's plenty strong but not too brittle. Realistically metric 8.8 is plenty for almost any automotive use that isn't cylinder head bolts, or main or rod bearing caps in the engine.

DrewP wrote:Yeah. Usually the stainless fasteners you can readily get are 18-8, which are only moderately good at corrosion resistance and shit for yield strength and fatigue. It's possible to get stuff made from forged 316 bar stock, but it's $$$$$ and still not as good as the alloy steel stuff.

As far as grade goes, the higher up you go in grade you get more ultimate strength at the expense of them being more brittle. Lower grade bolts bend rather than break. For shock loaded use (like suspension parts) grade 8 imperial or 10.9 metric is about the magic ticket that's plenty strong but not too brittle. Realistically metric 8.8 is plenty for almost any automotive use that isn't cylinder head bolts, or main or rod bearing caps in the engine.

I'd stick to 8.8 for all safety related. There can be issues with Hydrogen embrittlement with 10.9

I use CAD plated AN airframe bolts for most suspension hardware. Ball joint bolts are AN7