Warning - Broken control arm bolt!

[CueBall]

I stumbled across this thread and now I'm thinking I better do this! I got the letter about a year ago and forgot all about it.
I think I'll try to get them out myself. I'm wondering why no one has thought to try and find better bolts.. something that has more resistance to corrosion.. like stainless steel maybe? What do you all think? Does stainless torque well? Will it hold the 118 ft/lbs?
Any input is appreciated.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by CueBall

I stumbled across this thread and now I'm thinking I better do this! I got the letter about a year ago and forgot all about it.
I think I'll try to get them out myself. I'm wondering why no one has thought to try and find better bolts.. something that has more resistance to corrosion.. like stainless steel maybe? What do you all think? Does stainless torque well? Will it hold the 118 ft/lbs?
Any input is appreciated.

Stainless is too brittle for this application.

[dkwilfert]

Originally Posted by CTScott

Stainless is too brittle for this application.

Just curious, what was the source of the information that stainless is too brittle for this application? That seems to imply quite a bit of motion/flex at this joint.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by dkwilfert

Just curious, what was the source of the information that stainless is too brittle for this application? That seems to imply quite a bit of motion/flex at this joint.

The bolt is mounted in a metal tube that is then suspended in dense rubber so that the control arm can move, so there is definitely flex at that joint. The right blend of stainless would be fine, but off the shelf bolts would be more brittle of a stainless blend then would be appropriate.