trailer bolts

Ribtec1 · 22 August 2016, 10:44

Hi I have noticed that the short arms that hold the wobble rollers on my indespension trailer have seized up. On closer inspection the bolts holding the arms onto the beams have rusted up and in 1 case the head has snapped off. My question is what type of bolts should I replace them with? - Standard bolts? Galvanized bolts? or stainless steel bolts?

jeffstevens763@g · 22 August 2016, 10:55

galv is best but doubt you will get them that small only electroplated, their pence anyway and you can change out each time you service the trailer.
you could use stainless but you will find they corrode with the steel.

Rogue Wave · 22 August 2016, 15:09

Galvie

jyasaki · 22 August 2016, 16:36

Hot dipped galvanized if you can find them. Zinc plating only protects steel for about 10 minutes in salt water conditions (that was facetious, before anyone starts quoting scientific studies.)

jky

Pikey Dave · 22 August 2016, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ribtec1

Hi I have noticed that the short arms that hold the wobble rollers on my indespension trailer have seized up. On closer inspection the bolts holding the arms onto the beams have rusted up and in 1 case the head has snapped off. My question is what type of bolts should I replace them with? - Standard bolts? Galvanized bolts? or stainless steel bolts?

What size are they? & where are you?

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Ribtec1 · 23 August 2016, 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

What size are they? & where are you?

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Hi
Bolts are m8 x 50mm . I had a quick look yesterday on the internet at the galv. ones and there seem to be plenty of 6mm but when you go to 8mm they get plenty expensive. I suppose the originals have lasted 17 odd years so standard bolts may be the way to go. I live in north west of Ireland.

Pikey Dave · 23 August 2016, 10:14

M8x50 are readily available. You could try BAPP, but I'm guessing the delivery will be prohibitive.
http://www.bapp.co.uk

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Last Tango · 23 August 2016, 18:53

Looking at the price of galvanised bolts, I'd go for stainless. They'll last longer than the electro-zinc rubbish (JKY ....10mins

) and they'll be well hard enough for your application. (50 nuts bolts & washers £16).

M8 FULLY THREADED HEXAGON HEX BOLT SET SCREW + NUT AND WASHER A2 STAINLESS | eBay

Jabamusic · 23 August 2016, 19:00

I'd go for A4 (316). Will last forever...maybe overkill thought

Last Tango · 23 August 2016, 19:55

I think A4 is probably overkill for a trailer....maybe go with nylock nuts.

Pikey Dave · 24 August 2016, 07:08

You don't want to be putting stainless bolts on your galv trailer unless you start adding isolation between the metals, you will accelerate the corrosion of both components. Go for galv.

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Last Tango · 24 August 2016, 17:25

A2 (316) austenitic stainless or 300 series.....the electrolysis effect will be minimal.

http://www.galvanizeit.org/images/up...ized_Steel.pdf

Paragraph 3.............................

Pikey Dave · 24 August 2016, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last Tango

A2 (316) austenitic stainless or 300 series.....the electrolysis effect will be minimal.

http://www.galvanizeit.org/images/up...ized_Steel.pdf

Paragraph 3.............................

I think you'll find A2 are 304, A4 are 316. You are correct in that the corrosion will be minimal, but what happens in a salt water environment, is the "minimal" corrosion compromises the galv around the stainless fixing & allows salt "into the wound" the galvanised metal will rot under the zinc causing the zinc to spall off. As I said, galv to galv, stainless to stainless , never the twain shall meet.

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