Stainless hardware with RCI sliders?

[BurghRunner]

I just got in on the recent RCI group buy and picked up sliders.

Is the provided hardware stainless steel?

Thanks

 

[BurghRunner]

So my goodies arrived but I'm on the road. I'll post what is inside when I get to it in a few days. I may upgrade to stainless hardware if it doesn't come that way.

 

[shyuperman]

Just installed mine on Sunday, they look like grade 8 bolts... but not 100% sure

 

[techno]

In case you didn't know, bolt grades/properties can be determined from the markings on the head. Do a google images search for bolt markings and you will get tons of sites to visit to help you figure out what you have.
For example;

 

[Baystate4Runner]

Bolts that came with the RCI sliders are marked 10.9 (metric) which is approx. grade 8 in US.

 

[jrandom]

The hardware that came with my set of skids are zinc coated metric 10.9.

 

[BurghRunner]

After doing a little research, the grade 8 seems to be what you want. Stainless do not seem to contain the same strength and hardeneing process. Correct me if I got it wrong.

 

[dta1984]

After doing a little research, the grade 8 seems to be what you want. Stainless do not seem to contain the same strength and hardeneing process. Correct me if I got it wrong.

You are correct. Stainless bolts are not as strong as even a grade 5 bolt.

"It is a common misconception that stainless steel is stronger than regular steel. In fact, due to their low carbon content, many stainless steel alloys cannot be hardened through heat treatment. Therefore, when compared to regular steel, the stainless alloys used in bolts are slightly stronger than an un-hardened (grade 2) steel but significantly weaker than hardened steel fasteners. "
https://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/materials-and-grades/materials.aspx

 

[techno]

Keep in mind though, the stainless hardware could easily be strong enough for what it's doing. It's the corrosion resistance which make them the better choice for certain applications.

 

[BurghRunner]

Thanks to all. Should these things ever get used for what they are designed, I'd want to know the weight of the truck is being held up by the strongest option.

I may prime the bolts, at least the heads that hit the frame, and then a coat of rust-oleum.

 

[jrandom]

Zinc coated hardware is plenty corrosion resistant as long as you don't trash the coating. That said I usually through a couple of coats of rattle can on the thread sides I can reach after they are installed.

 

[nb rob]

galv 10.9 bolts + anti seize.

My sliders were rusted to hell after 2 winters. Hardware broke free no problem. Sandblast and paint, and back in business.

 

[xj4play]

personally i have been switching over to dacromet coating. It passes a longer SST than galvanizing and is much thinner than galvanizing, so incase you need to replace the nut with a standard one. ( 9 microns vs 60 microns). Whats nice about dacromet, is you dont have to worry about hydrogen debridement during the coating process, plus it will pass a 1000 hour SST easily and some of the dacromet+ will pass 5000 hours.