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are car bolts standard or metric

by Norma Jerde Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Are car bolts standard or metric? As with all wrenches, you have the choice between U.S., also known as standard, or metric sizes. American cars are assembled with nuts and bolts that use standard measurements while foreign cars almost exclusively use metric measurements.

Metric

Full Answer

What is the size of a metric bolt?

Metric bolts are referenced using “M” sizes, such as the M8 bolt size. The size of a metric bolt is specified using pitch, diameter, and length in millimeters. For example, in M8-1.0*20, the “M” means the Metric thread designation, the digit 8 refers to the Nominal diameter (in millimeters), 1.0 refers to the pitch, and 20 refers to the length.

How do I know if a bolt is standard?

Bolt Length. How long is that bolt? Most bolts come in pretty uniform lengths; and this is a good way to determine if the bolt is metric or standard. Measure the bolt length (not including the cap), and see if it’s closer to a fraction of an inch, or a nice and round millimeter length that ends in 5 or 0. Sometimes bolts can be a very specific ...

What are the different types of machine bolts?

Machine bolts can be divided into hex bolts and square bolts based on the head type. Metric bolts are referenced using “M” sizes, such as the M8 bolt size. The size of a metric bolt is specified using pitch, diameter, and length in millimeters.

How are bolt sizes broken down?

Standard is pretty simple too, inches are “usually” broken down into quarters, and smaller fractions. Once a standard bolt has a diameter of less than a 1/4, they go to whole numbers counting down from 12 to 0 (you can see this here Standard USA Bolt Dimensions ).

What kind of bolts are used on cars?

Grade 8 bolts are made of a medium carbon alloy steel that is also quenched and tempered and are the most durable bolts you can purchase for automotive use.

What size bolts are used in cars?

American Manufacturers generally use 13mm, 15mm, 18mm, and 19mm bolts. Anything smaller than these is likely an 8mm or 10mm, and bith asian and american companies use them most often. Ok, on to manufacturer specifics. GM: Uses the common american bolt sizes.

What car use metric or SAE?

Typically, SAE sockets and wrenches are used on American-made cars, as mentioned previously, however, when it comes to working on imported cars (assuming you're in the USA) you'll most likely be looking for metric units of measurement.

Are automotive bolts coarse or fine?

Most automotive-screws are coarse-threaded. This is also why head studs have coarse threads on the engine side and fine threads on the nut.

When did cars go metric?

When General Motors decided to go metric in 1973, letters announcing the move were sent to its 47,000 suppliers. Six months later the manufacturer held a meeting for 600 of its suppliers of nuts and bolts to explain the thread system it had adopted. The mostly metric Chevette was the result.

What are automotive fasteners measured with?

Most common automotive fasteners are sized using two sets of number, the diameter and the thread count or pitch. For example, SAE bolts come in coarse and fine thread, which is referred to as thread count, such as ¼-20 and ¼-28, 28 being the fine-thread variant.

Do cars still use standard bolts?

American cars are assembled with nuts and bolts that use standard measurements while foreign cars almost exclusively use metric measurements.

Are most automotive bolts metric?

Today, most of the domestic cars prefer using Metric bolts over the SAE inch sized bolts. Your new car must be a joint of Metric bolts and not the standard SAE bolts.

Does Ford use metric or standard bolts?

With a few exceptions of really old carryover parts (like the 8.8 rear axle in a Crown Vic), Fords and all manufacturers are metric and have been for quite some time. Even my 80's Dodges are metric except for body fasteners and plumbing.

How can you tell if a bolt is metric?

Metric Bolt SizesThe letter 'M' indicates that this bolt uses a metric thread.The number '8' refers to the nominal diameter of the bolt shaft in millimeters.The number 1.0 is the thread pitch of the bolt, which is the distance between threads, in millimeters.And the final figure, 20, is the length in millimeters.

What grade are automotive nuts?

Nuts are generally made from low-carbon or mild steel, similar to a Grade 2 bolt.

What grade are automotive head bolts?

grade 8For most home and automotive applications, you won't need anything more than a grade 8 bolt strength or metric class 10.9.

How to tell if a bolt is metric or standard?

Most bolts come in pretty uniform lengths; and this is a good way to determine if the bolt is metric or standard. Measure the bolt length (not including the cap), and see if it’s closer to a fraction of an inch, or a nice and round millimeter length that ends in 5 or 0. Sometimes bolts can be a very specific length and this way might not always ...

What is a bolt made of?

The bolts we deal with are primarily made from steel, which is an iron alloy that rusts . Most bolts are coated with zinc (galvanization), which makes it corrosion resistant.

What is a low grade bolt?

Low grade bolts are going to work for most everyday applications, like mounting a flat screen television, or keeping your chair together. The higher grade bolts are reserved for heavier machinery that really need that extra strength.

Is a coarse metric bolt fine?

As you can see, the thread pitch of the coarse metric bolt is much finer than a coarse thread standard bolt. It’s hard to tell, but the fine thread standard bolt is just slightly finer then a regular coarse thread metric bolt. For bonus points here, you will notice these bolts aren’t made from the same materials.

What is the difference between grade 5 and grade 8 bolts?

the difference being the strength of the bolts. This means the shear strength has a different value , before the bolt will break. The first one is called grade 5, while the second is ‘grade 8’. But the bolts used for auto / truck use depends on the torque needed to fasten them down.

What size socket fits 19mm?

In Imperial, 3/4 inch may fit 19mm , and 13/16 inch is closest to 21mm. Although very few Imperial and Metric socket sizes are interchangeable, the 3/4 is virtually interchangeable with 19mm but the 13/16 is slightly too small to fit 21mm. You may have luck with 27/32.

What size wrench do I use for 3/8 inch threads?

THe head size has to be large enough to retain and spread the load but not too large that they can’t be spaced reasonably close. So every increasing thread size is pretty much increasing head size, also. 3/8″ threads have 9/16″ wrench sizes and 1/2″ inch threads use 3/4″ wrenches.

Is the axle nut metric or metric?

However, the unit bearings are native metric bolt pattern for mounting and the axle nut that holds the axle into the unit bearing is metric as well. So are the brake calipers and every suspension link bolt that connects the axle housing to the chassis and suspension linkages.

Do cars use metric fasteners?

Most new American cars use exclusively metric fasteners. This is due to the increasing penetration of American cars in foreign markets, the increasing acceptance of metric fasteners by engineers, and the large quantity of components sourced overseas. You will only see imperial fasteners on joints that have been designed and validated years ago.

Can you bolt a 2001 Jeep Cherokee 4.0L to a 60s CJ?

It was designed with SAE fasteners and you can still bolt a 2001 Jeep Cherokee 4.0L longblock straight into a 60s CJ or 70s/80s Pacer or Eagle that came with the 258 or 232 with only the slightest of modifications due to intake and exhaust port dimension changes.

What is metric bolt?

These bolts are medium carbon steel, that has been quenched and tempered for strength. They feature three radial lines on the head. Metric bolts have the grade number formed on the head face. Strength ratings are as follows-

What is the thread count of SAE bolts?

For example, SAE bolts come in coarse and fine thread, which is referred to as thread count, such as ¼-20 and ¼-28, 28 being the fine-thread variant.

What are grade 8 bolts made of?

They feature 6 radial lines on the head and are made from medium carbon alloy steel which has been quenched and tempered. Metric bolts have the grade number formed on the head face. Common uses for Grade 8 bolts – suspension, steering, brakes, motor/transmission mounts, high-stress items.

How many threads per mm?

This references 1.25 threads per 1 mm of length. This makes determining the pitch more difficult, as an 8mm bolt can be 1.25 or 1, and 10mm can be 1.5, 1.25 or 1, each is a different count. Metric bolts are typically labeled as standard or fine, but not always.

What is the metric bolt size?

Metric bolts are referenced using “M” sizes, such as the M8 bolt size. The size of a metric bolt is specified using pitch, diameter, and length in millimeters. For example, in M8-1.0*20, the “M” means the Metric thread designation, the digit 8 refers to the Nominal diameter (in millimeters), 1.0 refers to the pitch, and 20 refers to the length. Sometimes, the pitch is omitted in the abbreviated format, such as M8-20, this means the bolt has a coarse thread. The bolt dimension can also be expressed in imperial units.

What is a bolt?

Bolts are a type of essential fastener that often assembled with nuts. Using a bolt with the right sizes is vital for jobs in various machinery and equipment. In this article, we’ll go through a complete guide of bolts, which involves bolts definition, types, dimensions explain, and the standard bolt sizes chart in metric and imperial.

Why are hex bolts used?

Hex bolts can be used for infrastructure that requires a strong fastener with high tensile strength properties, they can also be used in tight spaces with limited access because tools can access them from all angles, or fastening wood, steel, or other materials in bridges, buildings, and more construction projects.

What are hexagonal bolts made of?

Steel is one of the most common materials of bolts, but hex bolts may also be made with aluminum, copper, brass, titanium, or even plastic.

What is an anchor bolt?

Anchor bolt. With a threaded part in one end and non-threaded in another end, which can be made in L shape, Pin type, Wedge type, or other forms, often work with steel plates or stiffeners to connect structural and non-structural elements to the concrete, transfer tension forces and shear forces. Anchor bolts come in different types based on ...

What is the diameter of a M8 bolt?

The defined diameter of metric bolts is actually slightly larger than the actual diameter. So an M8 bolt would have a diameter that’s slightly under 8mm. 2.

What is an elevator bolt?

Elevator bolt. Similar to the carriage bolt but elevator bolt with a thin flat or countersunk head and a square undercut, used in conveyor system setups. The head diameter of elevator bolts is larger than other types, which can prevent the bolt from going through soft conveyor material.

Fastener standards organizations

Standards are necessary to enable us to specify, test and assess fasteners’ properties. These are the organizations we’re covering in this article:

How do ISO standards compare?

Within the U.S., the metric system vs standard scenario can now be phrased as the metric system vs. metrics. ANSI is known for the imperial system, but also has metric standards, which differ slightly from ISO metric standards. The U.S. isn’t alone in converting to ISO with little enthusiasm.

Comparing DIN, ISO and British Standards

ISO 4762 vs DIN 912 – or are they the same? Is there a British equivalent for DIN 931? What’s DIN 934 or ISO 2340 equivalent to? What’s the din 6914 ISO equivalent? The chart below should help you answer these and other questions.

What size drive for a Toyota?

You can take nearly anything on a Toyota apart with 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, and 21. 3/8 drive is fine for up to 17mm and 1/2 drive for 13mm and above, overlap is fine. Since you won't be only working on Toyota, get every metric size from 1/4 drive 4.5mm to 1/2 drive 23mm.

How many impact wrenches do I need for a Yota?

As most impact wrenches are 1/2 inch it will spin the head off the bolt or nut in an instant. For a Yota, you need 17, 19, and 21, 22 and whatever else you run into. If you use a small 3/8 impact driver I would go ahead and use standard sockets. You not putting huge amounts of torque on the item.

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