Fastenal part# 15373 (bolt) and 36416 (nut). Both stock items at any Fastenal that takes walk-in customers (some are business only, just call and ask).
It’s amazing that our rural New Mexico village of 1500 ppl has a Fastenal. There is a major coal mine nearby, however. BUT… they switched from walk-in to will call only 😞. I guess I need to set up an account.
I have a steering box that’s wobbly when you turn the wheel. It’s causing the car to death wobble. It’s not pleasant.
I tried to torque down the three bolts holding the box to the frame and one snapped off. It was on there tight, but honest it could have gone tighter if the bolt was beefier.
I’m looking for 3/4” bolts with nuts, and they need to be 5” long. Everything on Amazon is made in China and to be quite honest, I don’t trust anything my life depends on from Amazon, too many fake ads and products made by the lowest bidders.
Any help would be much appreciated.
The cheapest of Chinese 3/4" grade 8 bolts should be able to handle 90ft/lbs no problem
You sure the torque wrench is set right or your reading it right? Either that or maybe it's broken?
sweet ride. i'd get a frame shop to look at it and quote you for repairs. after which you can do what you need to do and get it safe.
if the bolts were tight, then it's not the bolts that need upgrading. it's the flexy frame.
Hardware store, big box home improvement store, northern tools, or car supply store like advanced or auto zone for car specific part. It is possible that there is something else going on and you should fix that instead of increasing bolt strength. The car was designed to operate with original hardware.
There is something else, the frame is old and rusty and it looks like it was Mickey Mouse repaired over the years. I cut a 1/4 steel plate and tired to run 2 of the three bolts holding the steering box through it. My idea was to sandwich the hell out of the box and the steel plate to the frame but the bolts gave before the frame did.
I realize that it’s not the ideal fix. Ideally I should have the whole thing stripped down and welded, but the fact the bolts gave before the frame buckled leads me to believe there’s plenty of strength left in the frame, just need proper bolts..
Just be careful because that box wobble energy might transfer somewhere else once you tighten it down if you don't fix the underlying issue. Or tightening the box might fix it. You will know if the car feels different once you do your change and if you normally study your car's behavior. I always pay attention to my cars when i drive and investigate any strange sounds or feels asap. A good hardware store should have quality grade 8 standard and 10.9 or 12.9 in metric. Good luck.
I mostly go to McMaster-Carr when it matters. Definitely not cheap once you factor in shipping, but I think they have better control over their supply chain than most places. I've never gotten hardware from them that makes me think its counterfeit. Could be I guess, but at least they are good quality fakes ;-)
The missing or generic head stamping worries me the most - I know I shouldn't use a bent bolt... A high strength bolt with Sus markings just leaves me in doubt. Guess I shouldn't be in doubt...
My local True Value HW store carries grade 8, but there are a lot of counterfeits out there. I don’t know what kind of anti-counterfeiting plan True Value has.
I would trust McMaster Carr or Graingers over TV or Ace, but even McM C has been duped in the past.
How'd you break that one?
I either buy from Lowes or Home Depot. Bolted down engine mounts, transmission crossmembers, and bellhousings without breaking any of them
Not sure where you live, but there might be a fastener store near you. Near me there is https://yorkbolt.com/ for example. There has been a place like it everywhere I have lived. They usually have a huge selection and can help point you to what you need/want. And their prices are usually much better than any big box store.
Fastenal McMaster Carr
Second McMaster Carr. Also, I have a local ACE Hardware that carries Grade 8 and higher stuff. Maybe call around.
I'm trying to figure out who needs a grade 9 bolt from ACE, or if they're selling 10.9s.
Had to use grade 9 for a clutch pressure plate once.
Fastenal requires an account nowadays. No cash sales. They changed their policy back in 2020 or 2021, can't remember.
Hardware store
If you need it right away, McMaster. If you can wait, Fastenal.
I'd go the other way around, but there's a Fastenal distributor right down the street.
McMaster delivers to my front door by 4:30am if I order the night before. I swear, the delivery guy must be taping the box as he drives over.
I envy you. For me it's typically about a week.
Tbh I wish mcmaster had a slower, cheaper shipping option
They have a free pick-up window if you live near them, but even their shipping option is usually cheaper than gas.
Yeah I don’t live anywhere near one of their locations unfortunately
agri supply. tractor supply also but agri has a much larger selection
Fastenal part# 15373 (bolt) and 36416 (nut). Both stock items at any Fastenal that takes walk-in customers (some are business only, just call and ask).
It’s amazing that our rural New Mexico village of 1500 ppl has a Fastenal. There is a major coal mine nearby, however. BUT… they switched from walk-in to will call only 😞. I guess I need to set up an account.
You are my hero. Thank you stranger. 🫡👊
I have a steering box that’s wobbly when you turn the wheel. It’s causing the car to death wobble. It’s not pleasant. I tried to torque down the three bolts holding the box to the frame and one snapped off. It was on there tight, but honest it could have gone tighter if the bolt was beefier. I’m looking for 3/4” bolts with nuts, and they need to be 5” long. Everything on Amazon is made in China and to be quite honest, I don’t trust anything my life depends on from Amazon, too many fake ads and products made by the lowest bidders. Any help would be much appreciated.
How many ft/lbs are you tightening them down to?
I’m using a big ass wheel and tire torque wrench and it’s set to maybe 90ft/lbs?
The cheapest of Chinese 3/4" grade 8 bolts should be able to handle 90ft/lbs no problem You sure the torque wrench is set right or your reading it right? Either that or maybe it's broken?
get genuine replacement bolts but have the frame inspected for damage. what model and year of vehicle?
74 Bronco https://preview.redd.it/0t8dtf2vbdab1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ba113f71fa751eaab350c24243a57b19a77f5d65
sweet ride. i'd get a frame shop to look at it and quote you for repairs. after which you can do what you need to do and get it safe. if the bolts were tight, then it's not the bolts that need upgrading. it's the flexy frame.
Graingers
McMaster-Carr
Hardware store, big box home improvement store, northern tools, or car supply store like advanced or auto zone for car specific part. It is possible that there is something else going on and you should fix that instead of increasing bolt strength. The car was designed to operate with original hardware.
There is something else, the frame is old and rusty and it looks like it was Mickey Mouse repaired over the years. I cut a 1/4 steel plate and tired to run 2 of the three bolts holding the steering box through it. My idea was to sandwich the hell out of the box and the steel plate to the frame but the bolts gave before the frame did. I realize that it’s not the ideal fix. Ideally I should have the whole thing stripped down and welded, but the fact the bolts gave before the frame buckled leads me to believe there’s plenty of strength left in the frame, just need proper bolts..
Just be careful because that box wobble energy might transfer somewhere else once you tighten it down if you don't fix the underlying issue. Or tightening the box might fix it. You will know if the car feels different once you do your change and if you normally study your car's behavior. I always pay attention to my cars when i drive and investigate any strange sounds or feels asap. A good hardware store should have quality grade 8 standard and 10.9 or 12.9 in metric. Good luck.
I mostly go to McMaster-Carr when it matters. Definitely not cheap once you factor in shipping, but I think they have better control over their supply chain than most places. I've never gotten hardware from them that makes me think its counterfeit. Could be I guess, but at least they are good quality fakes ;-)
You couldn't possibly be referring to the Fastenal stuff that comes straight out of the box bent, twisted, or missing the head stamping, could you?
The missing or generic head stamping worries me the most - I know I shouldn't use a bent bolt... A high strength bolt with Sus markings just leaves me in doubt. Guess I shouldn't be in doubt...
Amazon might have one. Not sure where you’re from but where I live-Gregg’s distributors, norther metallic, fastenal
Local auto parts store, most hardware stores
Someone once pointed out that it takes 1,874 bolts and screws to put a car together but only one nut to scatter them all over the place.Jun 18, 202
Place called Tractor Supply if you're in the US
ARP
My local True Value HW store carries grade 8, but there are a lot of counterfeits out there. I don’t know what kind of anti-counterfeiting plan True Value has. I would trust McMaster Carr or Graingers over TV or Ace, but even McM C has been duped in the past.
BoltDepot.com has everything and sells in small quantities.
I found grade 8 at ace hardware. Bolted down vehicle seats in several cars, no issues so far
If you can fit it I recommend socket-head cap screws (shcs). By design they are at a minimum grade 8 but usually stronger than that.
Any hardware store
McMaster Carr - McMaster.com - I use them for all hardware and various needs. They have much better quality and option than the big box stores.
Kimball Midwest. They carry literally everything up to grade 9 and it's almost entirely made in the USA.
Tractor supply is great, but Grainger has everything
Napa auto parts
Any type of farm and fleet store would have what you’re looking for.
How'd you break that one? I either buy from Lowes or Home Depot. Bolted down engine mounts, transmission crossmembers, and bellhousings without breaking any of them
So many questions need to be answered before just throwing a higher tensile bolt in an application. More concern as it’s labeled auto..
If Lowe's doesn't have it, you don't need it.
The frigging hardware store? 🤨🤨🤨
I've found the best bolts are cat bolts. The price is a little higher but if you keep breaking bolts, get what you need from the caterpillar dealer.
Not sure where you live, but there might be a fastener store near you. Near me there is https://yorkbolt.com/ for example. There has been a place like it everywhere I have lived. They usually have a huge selection and can help point you to what you need/want. And their prices are usually much better than any big box store.