bolts and nuts
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 11
From: LA CA
bolts and nuts
Where is the best place to buy bolts and nuts? I am rebuilding the rear suspension in my 1979 and I do not want to put back in the car the same old bolts and nuts. I have gone through some threads and I found that some people buys the bolts and nuts from hardware stores, Is this an option or is it better to get them at a corvette parts store?
What is the best grade to get? if You think the hardware store is an option and finally can You recomend a hardware store?
Thanks for any advise
What is the best grade to get? if You think the hardware store is an option and finally can You recomend a hardware store?
Thanks for any advise
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Fastenal is going to be local to you. Just Google them and see where they are located. McMaster Carr is another option. I would not use hardware store bolts on suspension parts. They should be Grade 8 bolts, most hardware stores do not carry Grade 8s.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 16
From: Fl
the most cost effect way is as Gordonn stated.
If you want prepackaged correct in style and markings, for your car - I would recommend Paragon Reproductions.
I used them for all my replacement bolt/nut/washer/fasteners for my restoration and was VERY pleased. However - you pay a premium to have them all neatly labled and packaged up.
If you want prepackaged correct in style and markings, for your car - I would recommend Paragon Reproductions.
I used them for all my replacement bolt/nut/washer/fasteners for my restoration and was VERY pleased. However - you pay a premium to have them all neatly labled and packaged up.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 62
Likes: 2
I just replaced Trailing arms, bushings, shocks, calibers, etc.. On the back of my 1982.
I am so happy that I found out about Van Steel on this forum. Dan was extremely helpful and patient when dealing with my questions and tech questions. The point is I bought everything from him including bolts , nuts, clips etc.. He told me what I needed and supplied them quickly and at a good price. It was very helpful for the rookie ( me ).
Search the forum for Van Steel
P.S. I plan on creating a new post soon to voice my positive dealings with Dan at Van Steel
I am so happy that I found out about Van Steel on this forum. Dan was extremely helpful and patient when dealing with my questions and tech questions. The point is I bought everything from him including bolts , nuts, clips etc.. He told me what I needed and supplied them quickly and at a good price. It was very helpful for the rookie ( me ).
Search the forum for Van Steel
P.S. I plan on creating a new post soon to voice my positive dealings with Dan at Van Steel
Pro
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 582
Likes: 1
From: Madison Wisconsin
I purchased a complete body bolt kit from Totally Stainless they have suspension kits also.
http://www.totallystainless.com/
http://www.totallystainless.com/
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 11
From: LA CA
I purchased a complete body bolt kit from Totally Stainless they have suspension kits also.
http://www.totallystainless.com/
http://www.totallystainless.com/
Thanks a lot.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 11
From: LA CA
Thanks I will check them out..
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,353
Likes: 787
From: Redondo Beach, California
Grade 8 bolts are generally the best. Strong and surface hardened. The hardening make them more corrosion resistant.
Some bolts in the suspension are Grade 5. If GM put a Grade 5 bolt in your suspension you should think about keeping Grade 5. Grade 5 bolts have a little more flex. It may be that Grade 5 was selected because of this characteristic.
Also, some bolts ARE NOT REPLACEABLE with hardware store bolts. For instance the bolts that connect the lower front control arms to the frame. They have non-threaded shanks to closely match the holes in the frame mounting brackets. These bolts actually act as pins. Also the trailing arm bolts act as pins. The threaded surfaces are just to mount a nut to keep them from falling out. The repro trailing arm bolts have an extensively threaded shank that will cut into the frame. The stock bolts are untheaded where they pass through the frame and will not cut into the frame.
Don't use hardware stainless steel bolts in the suspension. Hardware stainless steel bolts are really not that strong. If you want stainless steel bolts, you need to get aircraft quality stainless bolts. They are stronger than grade 8 but $$$$$$$.
ACE Hardware stores have most of the Grade 8 bolts I need. For a better selection I go to Fairlady Hardware in old town Torrance. They have a much larger selection of Grade 8 bolts and also stainless and other hard to find bolts. I'd guess there are a few other stores with large selections. Fairlady also gave me a recommendation of a store in Orange County, but I forget the name.
Some bolts in the suspension are Grade 5. If GM put a Grade 5 bolt in your suspension you should think about keeping Grade 5. Grade 5 bolts have a little more flex. It may be that Grade 5 was selected because of this characteristic.
Also, some bolts ARE NOT REPLACEABLE with hardware store bolts. For instance the bolts that connect the lower front control arms to the frame. They have non-threaded shanks to closely match the holes in the frame mounting brackets. These bolts actually act as pins. Also the trailing arm bolts act as pins. The threaded surfaces are just to mount a nut to keep them from falling out. The repro trailing arm bolts have an extensively threaded shank that will cut into the frame. The stock bolts are untheaded where they pass through the frame and will not cut into the frame.
Don't use hardware stainless steel bolts in the suspension. Hardware stainless steel bolts are really not that strong. If you want stainless steel bolts, you need to get aircraft quality stainless bolts. They are stronger than grade 8 but $$$$$$$.
ACE Hardware stores have most of the Grade 8 bolts I need. For a better selection I go to Fairlady Hardware in old town Torrance. They have a much larger selection of Grade 8 bolts and also stainless and other hard to find bolts. I'd guess there are a few other stores with large selections. Fairlady also gave me a recommendation of a store in Orange County, but I forget the name.
Last edited by 68/70Vette; May 11, 2010 at 12:42 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Grade 8 bolts are generally the best. Strong and surface hardened. The hardening make them more corrosion resistant.
Some bolts in the suspension are Grade 5. If GM put a Grade 5 bolt in your suspension you should think about keeping Grade 5. Grade 5 bolts have a little more flex. It may be that Grade 5 was selected because of this characteristic.
Also, some bolts ARE NOT REPLACEABLE with hardware store bolts. For instance the bolts that connect the lower front control arms to the frame. They have non-threaded shanks to closely match the holes in the frame mounting brackets. These bolts actually act as pins. Also the trailing arm bolts act as pins. The threaded surfaces are just to mount a nut to keep them from falling out. The repro trailing arm bolts have an extensively threaded shank that will cut into the frame. The stock bolts are untheaded where they pass through the frame and will not cut into the frame.
Don't use hardware stainless steel bolts in the suspension. Hardware stainless steel bolts are really not that strong. If you want stainless steel bolts, you need to get aircraft quality stainless bolts. They are stronger than grade 8 but $$$$$$$.
ACE Hardware stores have most of the Grade 8 bolts I need. For a better selection I go to Fairlady Hardware in old town Torrance. They have a much larger selection of Grade 8 bolts and also stainless and other hard to find bolts. I'd guess there are a few other stores with large selections. Fairlady also gave me a recommendation of a store in Orange County, but I forget the name.
Some bolts in the suspension are Grade 5. If GM put a Grade 5 bolt in your suspension you should think about keeping Grade 5. Grade 5 bolts have a little more flex. It may be that Grade 5 was selected because of this characteristic.
Also, some bolts ARE NOT REPLACEABLE with hardware store bolts. For instance the bolts that connect the lower front control arms to the frame. They have non-threaded shanks to closely match the holes in the frame mounting brackets. These bolts actually act as pins. Also the trailing arm bolts act as pins. The threaded surfaces are just to mount a nut to keep them from falling out. The repro trailing arm bolts have an extensively threaded shank that will cut into the frame. The stock bolts are untheaded where they pass through the frame and will not cut into the frame.
Don't use hardware stainless steel bolts in the suspension. Hardware stainless steel bolts are really not that strong. If you want stainless steel bolts, you need to get aircraft quality stainless bolts. They are stronger than grade 8 but $$$$$$$.
ACE Hardware stores have most of the Grade 8 bolts I need. For a better selection I go to Fairlady Hardware in old town Torrance. They have a much larger selection of Grade 8 bolts and also stainless and other hard to find bolts. I'd guess there are a few other stores with large selections. Fairlady also gave me a recommendation of a store in Orange County, but I forget the name.
Lowes carries a nice selection of grade 8
also-as he says most generic stainless bolts are quite weak, less than grade 5 in many cases. Stay away from cheap stainless bolts in anything that has a load on it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
I typically get all my Grade 8 bolts from Lowes, Ace or Home Depot. For my suspension, I could not find exactly what I needed, so I went to a local bolt supplier and got a sack full for $5. I think the guy just put the $5 bucks in his pocket. I guess they are not set up to supply small fish like me. Sometimes you just get lucky. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Mcmaster Carr has a good selection of black coated nuts and bolts but you will have to buy them by the box. Be mindful of the length of bolt you take out because back in the day, GM used odd length bolts 5/8" 7/8" etc. The hardware store bolts will only be in 1/4" increments at best.
Gary
Gary
Last edited by Duke94; May 11, 2010 at 07:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 11
From: LA CA
Grade 8 bolts are generally the best. Strong and surface hardened. The hardening make them more corrosion resistant.
Some bolts in the suspension are Grade 5. If GM put a Grade 5 bolt in your suspension you should think about keeping Grade 5. Grade 5 bolts have a little more flex. It may be that Grade 5 was selected because of this characteristic.
Also, some bolts ARE NOT REPLACEABLE with hardware store bolts. For instance the bolts that connect the lower front control arms to the frame. They have non-threaded shanks to closely match the holes in the frame mounting brackets. These bolts actually act as pins. Also the trailing arm bolts act as pins. The threaded surfaces are just to mount a nut to keep them from falling out. The repro trailing arm bolts have an extensively threaded shank that will cut into the frame. The stock bolts are untheaded where they pass through the frame and will not cut into the frame.
Don't use hardware stainless steel bolts in the suspension. Hardware stainless steel bolts are really not that strong. If you want stainless steel bolts, you need to get aircraft quality stainless bolts. They are stronger than grade 8 but $$$$$$$.
ACE Hardware stores have most of the Grade 8 bolts I need. For a better selection I go to Fairlady Hardware in old town Torrance. They have a much larger selection of Grade 8 bolts and also stainless and other hard to find bolts. I'd guess there are a few other stores with large selections. Fairlady also gave me a recommendation of a store in Orange County, but I forget the name.
Some bolts in the suspension are Grade 5. If GM put a Grade 5 bolt in your suspension you should think about keeping Grade 5. Grade 5 bolts have a little more flex. It may be that Grade 5 was selected because of this characteristic.
Also, some bolts ARE NOT REPLACEABLE with hardware store bolts. For instance the bolts that connect the lower front control arms to the frame. They have non-threaded shanks to closely match the holes in the frame mounting brackets. These bolts actually act as pins. Also the trailing arm bolts act as pins. The threaded surfaces are just to mount a nut to keep them from falling out. The repro trailing arm bolts have an extensively threaded shank that will cut into the frame. The stock bolts are untheaded where they pass through the frame and will not cut into the frame.
Don't use hardware stainless steel bolts in the suspension. Hardware stainless steel bolts are really not that strong. If you want stainless steel bolts, you need to get aircraft quality stainless bolts. They are stronger than grade 8 but $$$$$$$.
ACE Hardware stores have most of the Grade 8 bolts I need. For a better selection I go to Fairlady Hardware in old town Torrance. They have a much larger selection of Grade 8 bolts and also stainless and other hard to find bolts. I'd guess there are a few other stores with large selections. Fairlady also gave me a recommendation of a store in Orange County, but I forget the name.
Or is it OK to put back the same old bolts?
I thought it would be better to buy stainless but apparently not..
Thanks for the info
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 11
From: LA CA
Thanks for the advise I was ignorant about this and only thought of the benefit of rust resistance.. It seems the best thing for me is to go and get the right bolts from my Corvette parts provider. What do You think? It seems a hustle to have to get sizes and threads and grades for this bolts... I am going the lazy way about this I think
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 11
From: LA CA
Mcmaster Carr has a good selection of black coated nuts and bolts but you will have to buy them by the box. Be mindful of the length of bolt you take out because back in the day, GM used odd length bolts 5/8" 7/8" etc. The hardware store bolts will only be in 1/4" increments at best.
Gary
Gary
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 286
Likes: 11
From: LA CA
Fastenal seem like a good idea to me when I checked them out, because it says on the homepage that they carry kits for specific cars, But I don't know if it is my computer or their website that is too slow and I went to sleep before I got a list of the cars they carry the kits for.. Thank You very much for the info
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
If you want them to stay looking good, you need to buy cadmium plated (silver) bolts or phosphate coated (black) bolts for your project. As noted above, I don't know that you can find Grade 8 bolts in stainless, unless they are aircraft quality.