Quote Originally Posted by jerry clayton View Post
aircraft parts need aircraft hardware---use the proper grip length AN bolt--they have a HIGH TOLERANCE diameter to fit the holes of the size bolt---you can get them already drilled for safty wire or cotter keys and castle nuts----don't ever drill thru a bolt/nut as you will kill the integerty of the bolt and nut , almost surely causing a failure
My apologies: I was pretty off on the bolt size - it should have been 5/8-18, not 1/2-20. Gone are the days when I could judge sizes from a distance. In any case, I measured the inside of the heim and it's as close to .625 as my micrometer can measure. Hardware store bolts are a thousandth or two undersize and if I'm going to replace what I have, I might as well get the right bolts. McMaster-Carr has grade 18-8 stainless in my size, but those aren't necessarily the "aircraft quality" I'm looking for. Does anyone know of a source that will sell me just two bolts, and that they've had good service from?

If I can't get the bolts I want with a tighter fit, how does everyone feel about light knurling to tighten them up?