RIVNUTS: what's the best metal to avoid rust

[infamousRNR]

opinions or facts are welcome...


looking to insert RIVNUTS into my pillar next to wind-shield for a snorkel installation....


what metal material listed below would be best in the sheet metal of the pillar by the windshield & does anyone think an M5 size would be too big for that area?.....


also is the thread depth of the rivnut is 12mm... should i pair it with a 14mm torx bolt to accommodate extra length need for the thickness of the metal pillar mount for the snorkel?



thanks!

 

[shadow247]

Stainless or Aluminum. I would personally go with the Stainless, as the aluminum can cause Galvanic Corrosion and create other issues down the line by reacting with the high iron content steel in our 4 Runner body.

 

[thatoneguygeoff]

Also use some zinc chromate paint on the rivnut where it will contact the body for further corrosion prevention.

 

[D Farms]

they look like they are all plated anyways so it really doesnt matter. i personally havent pulled any zinc chromated bolts off that had rust on them from my truck so id suspect the steel b ones will be fine. the main issue you will have is the base metal itself, I would paint it after you rivet it in, in that case.

 

[infamousRNR]

Good looking out everyone... I was going to go stainless steel with all my hardware but just wanted to see what everyone else thought..


When I drill into the sheet metal I will use a touch up pen to get all the holes I made

 

[Ryderblackbird]

12mm is the installed depth or original depth of the rivnut? Class b is more than enough, it is plated and stronger than the stainless or aluminum. Drill your holes and prep with por15 or similar if you are worried. Don't use stainless hardware as they are softer and take into account the mount thickness and a washer unless you are going with a button head. Mc master has cad diagrams of almost all products if you have questions about squish if you can't find it there try the manufacturer and add the panel thickness. Normally I install rivnuts into carbon and as a safety measure I create a hard point/anti rotation device with a quick cure epoxy like 3m dp110 or dp420. Just coat the install tool with grease do keep any epoxy out of the insert.

 

[meRockboost]

If anyone uses steel/aluminum you need a product like tef-gel to stop galvanic corrosion. It's also a great anti-seize for you rust belt people, very sticky and won't wash or dry out. I've used it on aluminum hulls in some of the worst environments in the U.S. It's good stuff. Just thought I'd share.

http://www.amazon.com/Tef-Gel-TG-02-Anti-seize-Anyi-gull-Lubricant/dp/B00CEF65T4

 

[Ericsbr]

Not all rivnuts pull/expand the same way. You may want to test a few in some scrap sheet to see how they behave/hold.

 

[IBallEngineer]

Any of those choices would work. The above post about testing is spot on. Some of those steel rivets are very hard to compress, even in an M5. The sheet metal you are installing in is what you should focus on, as has been stated by a few others, don't just leave the raw metal after you drill.

That said, I have aluminum rivets in my A pillar on my land cruiser(on the inside) for my grab handle. ( I have them on both sides) And they've been in there since 1998. Of course this IS California...

PS I like the epoxy/anti-spin idea, I'm going to steal it and call it mine:lol:

 

[Elesage]

I've got B steel on my truck and it's been there for a few years with out any trouble. But if you could have stainless the rest of the truck will be out way before the nutsert.........:doh:

 

[4eigner]

Have you considered using an expansion nut?

 

[MTD]

Gold.

 

[Bandit Runner]

I used rubber well nuts in my A-pillar for my snorkel:

They work really well. The rubber also seals tightly with the sheetmetal so no water can seep in to the A-pillar.

 

[infamousRNR]

I used rubber well nuts in my A-pillar for my snorkel:

They work really well. The rubber also seals tightly with the sheetmetal so no water can seep in to the A-pillar.

.... Ok so what size are these rubber versions...?

Are those an M5? Or smaller or larger?

 

[Bandit Runner]

.... Ok so what size are these rubber versions...?

Are those an M5? Or smaller or larger?

Thread size was #10-24, which is pretty close to M5.

 

[infamousRNR]

Thread size was #10-24, which is pretty close to M5.

Did you put a little silicone sealant in the hole after you used some touch up paint in there? Or just drilled, painted the holes & inserted the rubber nut?

 

[4eigner]

Did you put a little silicone sealant in the hole after you used some touch up paint in there? Or just drilled, painted the holes & inserted the rubber nut?

I drilled, painted, and let the rubber nut do the rest.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Did you put a little silicone sealant in the hole after you used some touch up paint in there? Or just drilled, painted the holes & inserted the rubber nut?

No silicone sealant. Just let the rubber seal it up.

 

[nc-grayson]

Where does everyone buy their rivnuts?