Stainless Steel Bolts for Chassis & Suspension

[Apache]

Else said:

Apache said:

I'd be more concerned about the ss bolt/steel chassis interface as it's pretty much impossible to do anything about the moisture within the frame

Please forgive me for asking so many questions but what does "moisture within the frame" mean?

Your chassis is a collection of hollow steel tubes which, ideally, should be airtight but aren't. As temperature varies moisture will form within it and this will act as the catalyst for the electrolytic interaction between the two dissimilar metals making, as some chap mentioned earlier on, a battery.

[Else]

Yup, i understand that but i'm not sure that is a valid point. Most of the suspension and steering fixings are via external brackets or lugs. There are four bolts that pass through the tubing that supports the outriggers but they are sleeved.

There are, however, six bolts, that fix the centre chassis section to the body, that screw into threaded holes that are open to the inside of the tubing but even if they do corrode i can't see how it could be so bad that they would loosen or unscrew or pull out.

[Apache]

In that case sealing them with something like Hammerite should be ok. It was just a headsup really to be aware of the issue, how it affects things will vary on how exposed the parts are to the elements

[shpub]

TVR actually made a handful of wedges with stainless chassis but they quickly stopped when they started to crack prematurely.

The MSA banned the use of stainless steel for roll cages because of issues with brittleness and strength.

Even though bolts go into lugs and not the tubes, they are not waterproof and will get wet through atmospheric moisture let alone rain spray. They will make electrical connection to the chassis. Threads will cut through powder coating and paint for example. The areas around the bolt holes usually start to corrode first. Because of contaminants, the rain spray is enough to create an electrolytic reaction.

Even the sleeving is not 100% guaranteed to be waterproof either and welds may have micro holes that will allow water to penetrate.

[Else]

Mmmm... shame, i wanted to preserve the look of my newly powdercoated chassis and suspension, back to good old plated nuts and bolts then.