17 replies to this topic

[gaffer1986]

They came undone on my last car also? There is not enough room for hanky panky in these cars... am I the only one that experiences this?

 

20161013_113353 by Richard Fanders, on Flickr

 

20161013_113348 by Richard Fanders, on Flickr

 

Both bolts:

 

20161013_113341 by Richard Fanders, on Flickr

 

 

 

Also, does anyone know how to tell what size bolt I need and where to buy them from, I keep needing new bolts on this car because every time I do something one is broken, would be good to be able to identify size, type, etc.

 

The middle bolt has damaged thread:

 

20161013_113420 by Richard Fanders, on Flickr

[Johnboyhgt]

m8 x1.25 is thread and bolt size then you need length in mm to complete measurement  

 

ie m8x1.25 x 35mm (measured from start of thread to end of thread, not including the head)

 

Sources are varied but B&Q do a reasonable range.

 

 

[gaffer1986]

Thanks for your help, how do you know it's M8 and 1.25?

[gaffer1986]

These seem good.

 

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/boltworld/

[fezzasus]

for future reference; 

 

https://www.amazon.c...ead pitch gauge

https://www.amazon.c...ead pitch gauge

 

will help identify what the bolt is, 

[Johnboyhgt]

Experience of buying and repairing cars !

 

You can get a gauge from an engineering shop etc for the thread measurement ie 1.25 - 1.25mm between the threads top bit called pitch.

 

M8 (M = metric) refers to 8mm which is the thickness of the bolt - can be measured by a vernier caliper or micrometer.   (got my vernier from ALDI)

 

 

Fortunate thing is that VX for the most part is built with standard bolt sizes that could be found in the depths of norfolk.

[Johnboyhgt]

for future reference; 

 

https://www.amazon.c...ead pitch gauge

https://www.amazon.c...ead pitch gauge

 

will help identify what the bolt is, 

 

 

Or take the bolt to your local engineering suppliers and say "got one of these"  

[Arno]

Make sure you get the same grade as was fitted on the car and not lower!

 

Usually these are 12.9 high tensile grade bolts.

 

There should be markings on the bolt heads with either 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9. Get the new ones identical to the old ones.

 

Bye, Arno.

[gaffer1986]

Thanks for all your help, I've oredered 12.9 bolts even though the standard ones are 8.8 as that was all I could find in that size. I've also oredered those gauges tom and a vernier caliper so I can identify bolts in the future. I feel I need to go round and replace all the time bolts so I can fix things when they break.

[gaffer1986]

I'm assuming those tools will help me find 10.9 hub carrier bolts cheaper instead of paying about £20 for them from a Lotus specialist.

[gaffer1986]

I'm looking for this bolt for the coil pack, does it need to have the 5mm rounded nib at the bottom, does this serve a purpose as I'm struggling to find one:

 

20161026_101052 by Richard Fanders, on Flickr

[fezzasus]

You could always file 5mm of the thread off a normal M6 bolt

[gaffer1986]

Good point, what is the point in the part that's not threaded and rounded. Looks like hard work filing that without stuffing up the beginning of the thread.

[glitch]

I'm assuming those tools will help me find 10.9 hub carrier bolts cheaper instead of paying about £20 for them from a Lotus specialist.

 

Contact Gaz at spitfire engineering. he will sort you out with HCB bolts and toe link botls .etc.

Top bloke!

 

Spitfire Engineering

spitfire.engineering@googlemail.com

[gaffer1986]

Thanks.

[ukcat]

Thanks for all your help, I've oredered 12.9 bolts even though the standard ones are 8.8 as that was all I could find in that size. I've also oredered those gauges tom and a vernier caliper so I can identify bolts in the future. I feel I need to go round and replace all the time bolts so I can fix things when they break.

 

Not sure its a good idea to fit higher strength bolts - Im almost certain standard is 8.8 for the seat rails. - Im no expert but im sure you would have to apply more torque to the 12.9 bolts to achieve a similar (stretch) clamping effect increasing chance of thread damage !! - Also are the higher strength bolts more brittle ? Im not trying to open a can of worms of scare you but obviously this is quite a critical application (safety wise) and i would definitely try and do a bit of research into using the higher strength ones - Hopefully someone on here with much more knowledge than me may be able to offer definite advice.  

[gaffer1986]

 

Thanks for all your help, I've oredered 12.9 bolts even though the standard ones are 8.8 as that was all I could find in that size. I've also oredered those gauges tom and a vernier caliper so I can identify bolts in the future. I feel I need to go round and replace all the time bolts so I can fix things when they break.

 

Not sure its a good idea to fit higher strength bolts - Im almost certain standard is 8.8 for the seat rails. - Im no expert but im sure you would have to apply more torque to the 12.9 bolts to achieve a similar (stretch) clamping effect increasing chance of thread damage !! - Also are the higher strength bolts more brittle ? Im not trying to open a can of worms of scare you but obviously this is quite a critical application (safety wise) and i would definitely try and do a bit of research into using the higher strength ones - Hopefully someone on here with much more knowledge than me may be able to offer definite advice.  

 

 

 

As it turns out the front two hex bolts are 8.8 and the rear allen bolts were 12.9 standard so I didn't actually change the grade anyway.

 

I think brittle is the wrong word to use for 12.9 because they will still significantly bend before shearing the bolt. 

[ukcat]

 

 

Thanks for all your help, I've oredered 12.9 bolts even though the standard ones are 8.8 as that was all I could find in that size. I've also oredered those gauges tom and a vernier caliper so I can identify bolts in the future. I feel I need to go round and replace all the time bolts so I can fix things when they break.

 

Not sure its a good idea to fit higher strength bolts - Im almost certain standard is 8.8 for the seat rails. - Im no expert but im sure you would have to apply more torque to the 12.9 bolts to achieve a similar (stretch) clamping effect increasing chance of thread damage !! - Also are the higher strength bolts more brittle ? Im not trying to open a can of worms of scare you but obviously this is quite a critical application (safety wise) and i would definitely try and do a bit of research into using the higher strength ones - Hopefully someone on here with much more knowledge than me may be able to offer definite advice.  

 

 

 

As it turns out the front two hex bolts are 8.8 and the rear allen bolts were 12.9 standard so I didn't actually change the grade anyway.

 

I think brittle is the wrong word to use for 12.9 because they will still significantly bend before shearing the bolt. 

 

Hey thats good news then !  - I Would feel more comfortable knowing that the 12.9 ones were used as standard !!