Replace the POS battery terminal bolts
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 762
Likes: 2
From: Huntington ma
You really don't Want anything you can really tighten - the threads are into Lead. Not the Strongest of materials...
Be aware too - if you Do replace the bolts with something you shouldn't, make absolutely certain that the new bolts don't reach any further into the battery than the Old ones do. If the new bolts are too long they will break thru out the Inside of the lead fitting and allow acid to seep past the threads, and to splash against the inside end of the bolt. The life of the bolt when that happens is a matter of Weeks, before it dissolves away and the cable falls off the battery... Been there, done that.
Of course you Could find 316 or 303 stainless bolts.. hardware 304 stainless (really 18-8, but close enough) will last better than mild steel, but not forever
Be aware too - if you Do replace the bolts with something you shouldn't, make absolutely certain that the new bolts don't reach any further into the battery than the Old ones do. If the new bolts are too long they will break thru out the Inside of the lead fitting and allow acid to seep past the threads, and to splash against the inside end of the bolt. The life of the bolt when that happens is a matter of Weeks, before it dissolves away and the cable falls off the battery... Been there, done that.
Of course you Could find 316 or 303 stainless bolts.. hardware 304 stainless (really 18-8, but close enough) will last better than mild steel, but not forever
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 2
You really don't Want anything you can really tighten - the threads are into Lead. Not the Strongest of materials...
Be aware too - if you Do replace the bolts with something you shouldn't, make absolutely certain that the new bolts don't reach any further into the battery than the Old ones do. If the new bolts are too long they will break thru out the Inside of the lead fitting and allow acid to seep past the threads, and to splash against the inside end of the bolt. The life of the bolt when that happens is a matter of Weeks, before it dissolves away and the cable falls off the battery... Been there, done that.
Of course you Could find 316 or 303 stainless bolts.. hardware 304 stainless (really 18-8, but close enough) will last better than mild steel, but not forever
Be aware too - if you Do replace the bolts with something you shouldn't, make absolutely certain that the new bolts don't reach any further into the battery than the Old ones do. If the new bolts are too long they will break thru out the Inside of the lead fitting and allow acid to seep past the threads, and to splash against the inside end of the bolt. The life of the bolt when that happens is a matter of Weeks, before it dissolves away and the cable falls off the battery... Been there, done that.
Of course you Could find 316 or 303 stainless bolts.. hardware 304 stainless (really 18-8, but close enough) will last better than mild steel, but not forever
The small stock bolt heads are to keep Gorillas from stripping the threads!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,961
Likes: 707
From: WI
I learned that lesson when I first got my car. I ended up buying a better socket then my 12 point and stopped using a wrench. I replaced the worn bolts with the same thing bought from NAPA.
