fastener grade question

Are grade 5 bolts safe to run on dropped steering arms? I'm using 1/2-20 fine thread with lock washers and blue lock-tite on mine, and I want to ensure that there will be no issue.
Also. Is it ok to use different grade nuts on different grade bolts? i.e. grade 5 bolts, grade 8 nuts.

 

im gunna go with no

 

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<TABLE dir=ltr cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 width=625 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center colSpan=21 height=35>

Bolt Grade Markings and Strength ​

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American ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="20%" colSpan=3 height=91>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Head Markings ​

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Grade or Class ​

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Material ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="20%" colSpan=5 height=91>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Nominal Size Range ​

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[/FONT](Inches) ​

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Mechanical Properties ​

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Proof Load ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="33%" colSpan=8 height=76>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Minimum Yield Strength ​

[/FONT](psi) ​

</TD><TD vAlign=center width="33%" colSpan=7 height=76>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Minimum Tensile Strength ​

[/FONT](psi) ​

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No Markings ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=87>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Grade 2 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=87>

Low or Medium Carbon Steel ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=3 height=87>

1/4 thru 3/4 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=87>

55,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=87>

57,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" height=87>

74,000 ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="25%" colSpan=4 height=26>

Over 3/4 thru 1-1/2 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="25%" colSpan=7 height=26>

33,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="25%" colSpan=6 height=26>

36,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="25%" colSpan=4 height=26>

60,000 ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="14%" height=84>

3 Radial Lines ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=84>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Grade 5 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=84>

Medium Carbon Steel, Quenched and Tempered ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=3 height=84>

1/4 thru 1 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=84>

85,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=84>

92,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" height=84>

120,000 ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="25%" colSpan=4 height=14>

Over 1 thru 1-1/2​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="25%" colSpan=7 height=14>

74,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="25%" colSpan=6 height=14>

81,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="25%" colSpan=4 height=14>

105,000 ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="14%" height=75>

6 Radial Lines ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=75>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Grade 8 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=75>

Medium Carbon Alloy Steel, Quenched and Tempered ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=3 height=75>

1/4 thru 1-1/2 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=75>

120,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=75>

130,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" height=75>

150,000 ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=2 height=81>

Stainless markings vary. Most stainless is non-magnetic ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=5 height=81>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

18-8 Stainless ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=4 height=81>

Steel alloy with 17-19% Chromium and 8-13% Nickel ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=4 height=81>

1/4 thru 5/8 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=4 height=81>

80,000 – 90,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=2 height=81>

100,000 – 125,000 ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="33%" colSpan=6 height=35>

3/4 thru 1 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="33%" colSpan=8 height=35>

45,000 – 70,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="33%" colSpan=7 height=35>

100,000 ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="50%" colSpan=10 height=14>

Above 1 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="50%" colSpan=11 height=14>

80,000 – 90,000​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center colSpan=21 height=36>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Tensile Strength: ​

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[/FONT]​

[/FONT]The maximum load in tension (pulling apart) which a material can withstand before breaking or fracturing. [FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]Yield Strength: [/FONT][/FONT]The maximum load at which a material exhibits a specific permanent deformation [FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]Proof Load: [/FONT][/FONT]An axial tensile load which the product must withstand without evidence of any permanent set. ​

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www.tessco.com ​

800 472 7373 ​

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[/FONT]<TABLE dir=ltr cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 width=625 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center colSpan=19 height=35>

Bolt Grade Markings and Strength ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center colSpan=19 height=29>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Metric ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="20%" colSpan=3 height=91>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Head Markings ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="20%" colSpan=4 height=91>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Grade or Class ​

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[/FONT]​

[/FONT]​

</TD><TD vAlign=center width="20%" colSpan=5 height=91>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Material ​

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[/FONT]​

[/FONT]​

</TD><TD vAlign=center width="20%" colSpan=4 height=91>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Nominal Size Range ​

​

[/FONT]​

[/FONT](Inches) ​

</TD><TD vAlign=center width="20%" colSpan=3 height=91>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Mechanical Properties ​

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[/FONT]​

[/FONT]​

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="33%" colSpan=6 height=76>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Proof Load ​

[/FONT](psi)​

</TD><TD vAlign=center width="33%" colSpan=8 height=76>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Minimum Yield Strength ​

[/FONT](psi) ​

</TD><TD vAlign=center width="33%" colSpan=5 height=76>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Minimum Tensile Strength ​

[/FONT](psi) ​

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="14%" height=69>

8.8 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=3 height=69>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Class 8.8 ​

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[/FONT]​

</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=69>

Medium Carbon Steel, Quenched and Tempered ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=3 height=69>

All Sizes thru 1-1/2 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=69>

85,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=3 height=69>

92,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" height=69>

120,000 ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="14%" height=69>

10.9 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=3 height=69>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Class 10.9 ​

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[/FONT]​

[/FONT]​

</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=69>

Alloy Steel, Quenched and Tempered ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=3 height=69>

All Sizes thru 1-1/2 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=4 height=69>

120,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" colSpan=3 height=69>

130,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="14%" height=69>

150,000 ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=2 height=81>

Stainless markings vary. Most stainless is non-magnetic ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=3 height=81>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

A-2 Stainless ​

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[/FONT]​

[/FONT]​

</TD><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=4 height=81>

Steel alloy with 17-19% Chromium and 8-13% Nickel ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=4 height=81>

1/4 thru 5/8 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=4 height=81>

80,000 – 90,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="17%" colSpan=2 height=81>

100,000 – 125,000 ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="33%" colSpan=6 height=35>

3/4 thru 1 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="33%" colSpan=8 height=35>

45,000 – 70,000 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="33%" colSpan=5 height=35>

100,000 ​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width="50%" colSpan=10 height=14>

Above 1 ​

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</TD><TD vAlign=center width="50%" colSpan=9 height=14>

80,000 – 90,000​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center colSpan=19 height=36>[FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]

Tensile Strength: ​

​

[/FONT]​

[/FONT]The maximum load in tension (pulling apart) which a material can withstand before breaking or fracturing. [FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]Yield Strength: [/FONT][/FONT]The maximum load at which a material exhibits a specific permanent deformation [FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial][FONT=HNAGDO+Arial,Bold,Arial]Proof Load: [/FONT][/FONT]An axial tensile load which the product must withstand without evidence of any permanent set. ​

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
not really what I wanted to do but this may help.....I try to use mostly grade 8 I bought a pretty big assortmet a few years ago.. My feeling is

"when in doubt,build it stout"

 

Depends if you want to play it safe or not, why skimp on something your life depends on. I would personally not take chances, spend a little extra and use grade 8 bolts and nuts.

 

I'm thinking grade 5 will probably be OK.

When I'm driving my car down the road at 80mph, I'll be thinking "Mmmm, those grade 5 bolts on my steering arms will probably be OK"

You decide.

 

I have to say Yes. This has been debated on here before. Many OE's have used a grade 5 bolt in this application. A Grade 5 1/2 bolt has a yeild strength of 46,000 lbs and a Tensile strength of 60,000 lbs.
If your steering arms see that kind of load, you got bigger problems to worry about.

 

Now this will keep you awake at night! Go grade 8. Bet there is a tractor dealer close to you. Pay him a visit!

 

Sure the chinese do it all the time! Do you know where your bolts come from?!

 

X2

 

Honestly unless you bought them from a fastener store they're probably bogus anyhow, or at least that's what Carroll Smith says from his book, and I believe him.

If you're really worried get some bolts from someplace like an aircraft surplus or hotrod shop or something...I bought fasteners at a surplus shop and they're $$$ but the quality is just unreal

 

x3!

 

i like grade 8's on things of importance . but im an over doer . been racing to long , its a habit .................. steve

 

For just a few dollars more, you can be sure!
Go grade 8

 

OK i'm going with the grade 8 to be safe. I did run into another problem. The bolt head touches off on the bottom of my axle when I turn the spindle. How much travel should the spindles have? Any suggestions?

 

It depends on your steering set up and whether you have stops or not.

(and the grade 5 are still fine)

 

I don't have stops.

 

Do you have your steering gear hooked up? It will probably limit the travel from causing the issue you are talking about.

 

Here's pic.s of the issue. Circled in red is the touch point on both sides.

 

hotroddon,

No, axle is out of the car.

 

Momma always said, "Better safe than sorry". When it comes to fasteners, it never hurts to go for the best. The price difference is PPPHHHTTTT!

 

Does anyone have a pic of a steering stop set-up? I'm not sure I know what they look like.

 

The price of the grade 8 bolt is just a few cents more than the 5's. As far as the nuts go always use a nut rated at or above the bolt. Then torque them to speck, loctite works as a lubrication when torquing. JC

 

I appreciate all the input guys!

 

Good choice on the CE arms. I can see now why you had a big issuse with the speedway arms before.

Its hard to tell from that pic but it looks like you have enough steering throw. Could you get a pic from like strait down on the kingpin?

I wouldn't worry about that bolt hitting at the stage your at now. Get a little father along and I think you'll find either your steering set up doesn't have enough throw to make it hit or the tire will hit your radius rod/hairpin before that bolt hits.

 

For me it's a really easy decision:

Cheap Grade 5 bolts $5, expensive Grade 8 bolts $10, staying alive - priceless...

 

HAMB metallurgist advice:

Grade 5 is fine, but grade 8 is better. Don't use stainless for critical suspension application like this

Now some education on bolts: Grade 5 are not heat treated, they get their strength increase from the better material than Grade 2 and form the cold working during the boll forming process. Grade 8 are heat treated, making them stronger. Both have rolled threads typically, which is always better than cut threads for strength and fatigue crack resistance. Grade 8 should be rolled threads after heat treat, not before. Similar for metric 8.8 vs 10.9.

Stainless is only increased strength from work hardening, but they are lower strength than Grade 5. Better than Grade 2, but less than Grade 5.

Most all bolts are zinc plated. The silver color has clear chromate (makes a real slight blue tint if you open a new box and see them all together. Yellow chromate is better for corrosion resistance, can be yellow to gold color. There is also olive drab (even better corrosion resistance) and black chromate. Yellow chromate is what used to be used on cadmium plated parts, slang term "gold cad plated". Cad plating is actually silver, the chromate makes it colored. Cad is not used for commercial applications anymore, about the only use is for aerospace and some marine. Zinc is fine for our hot rod use.

 

For a few dollars more go with grade 8 and don't be cheap with your life !

 

Lets just say you use grade five. And tomorrow you drop over with a heart attack and later one of your family members wants to take the car out for a ride and finds out grade 5 will not cut it. I always like to over build. My 2 cents

 

If in doubt, go grade 8 (six marks on the head), grade 5 (3 marks).

 

Grade 8 have five line marks on the head and are usually yellow chromate.