Thread: Which bolts to use with heim joints

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Originally Posted by Dorsey

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?

...a couple thou is a nice fit, but probably not .015.

Originally Posted by IC2

...a couple thou is a nice fit, but probably not .015.

....an update.

The McM C 18-8 are probably not good enough(at least not for me) as they are not rated for grade, and are but 70,000psi. Their black Gr8, they are 180,000psi

ARP makes some HS SS fasteners. You want 17-4 PH stainless which is 170 ksi material.

I like these or G8 as well, although if you look at suspension stress analyses you will generally find even G5 fasteners have substantial safety factors in a good design. I have seen some designs that ain't that good though.

Kitz