Thread: good fasteners for any one ???

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If you are assembling something that specifies grade 8, you cannot use grade 9 as it is not a real SAE standard. Grade 9 is a proprietary standard and does not necessarily have to meet or exceed the standards of grade 8. It may, but it does not have to.

Pat, you should cut that bolt where it necks down and check for defects. Also, you need to find out who made the bolt and go after them. Very few bolts are made in the USA anymore, most are out of Taiwan. It's kind of hard for the SAE to regulate on them when they're half-way around the world.

If I'm using a bolt that is load bearing or might have a bearing on safety - it does not come from TSC (99% Chinese made) Lowe's or Home Depot. I'll occasionally use one of their Gr8's in place of a Gr5, and their Gr5's in place of the CS Gr2's.

Most of what I use are ARP(engine, for sure) McMaster-Carr or Fastenal - but even some of them are starting to be made off shore. With McMaster-Carr, you can order bolts based on the spec needed and is spelled out on-line. My experience with Fastenal is less because their local store is inconvenient and I find their on-line catalog not as easy to navigate.

All good points and I would offer the following;

1) It matters whether the bolt threads are lubricated or dry when torqueing.

2) It also matters whether the bolt threads are brand new or worn in a tad.

3) Even with name brand bolts it is possible to get a bad one on occasion.

Not all bolt applications require clamping to 90% proof load so sometimes it is hard to find a bad one. If you are clamping to 90% proof load than 1 and 2 above are critical.

Kitz