Reading ETKA hardware #s

[Phil Payne]

> > Do yourself a favor:  replace with Stainless Steel!
>
> warning - unless it is one of those funny greyish black hardened bolts
> in the suspension, etc.

This is one of my bete noirs, so pardon the RANT that follows!

Stainless steel was never specified or used by Audi.  The reason is usually
strength.

It has one advantage - it doesn't rust.

It has two disadvantages - it's usually weaker and it's usually austenetic.

So - do not consider stainless steel fixings unless the location does not
require particular strength and is exposed to substantial corrosion.

All that said - I have three places where I LOVE to meet stainless fixings:

a) The 10mm nut securing the cup in which the end of the later type of bomb
rests.  This is low down under the car, exposed to serious corrosion, and
not subject to any load.  For some strange reason, it also rusts.

b) The two 10mm nuts securing the ur-quattro's front right undertray.

c) The bolts holding the right rear undertray in place on a Type 44.

I'll give a pass on some of the radiator bush securing nuts, and award half
a merit point to any nut securing a rubber bush (this is the reason I like
them on the undertray and the radiator fittings) otherwise I prefer to
struggle a bit.

The second disadvantage - that it's usually austenetic - can be a RIGHT PAIN
IN THE TITS!  Ever seen anyone drop a stainless cam cover nut into a bore?
There is no corrosion risk up there, and retrieval of stainless bits that
fall into the wrong places can be - erm - awkward?