Re: Need source for metric stainless steel hardware...

[James Marriott <marriott@lesbois.com>]

Meron wrote:
> 
> '>d like to replace all the nuts, bolts & washers with stainless steel
> >hardware.  Does anyone know of a good US source for these items?  I'd also
> >like to replace the "pinch-type" clamps Audi used but I haven't had any
> luck
> >finding a source for them, either ... ditto for the funky "hose clamps."
> 
> DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> 
> SS has much less tensil strength than your OEM hardware...... about equal
> to grade 2...........

Not necessarily. SS hardware is available in Gds 2, 5, 8, etc. BTW,
SS440C has the highest tensile strength (~285000 psi) of any
non-music-wire ferrous material I know of.

> Don't do it, SS can't take vibration very well either......

Many SS alloys have a fracture toughness that's as high as, or higher
than, carbon steel.

JMO, based on the literature,
James