1/2" Grade 8 bolt question.

[Kevin K]

Is a 1/2' Grade 8 bolt, strong enough to bolt a dexter axle bracket to a 13' Scamp trailer?

[Pete Dumbleton]

It might be too 'strong'. As the hardness and grade go up, so does the brittleness (you wouldn't want a very hard diamond bolt in there, would you?). Most receiver hitch manf supply and specify Grade 5 bolts. Dexter does spec the torque for your kit's 1/2" at 70-90 ft-lbs.

http://dexteraxle.com/i/u/1080235/f/6-8K%2...0-05_80_res.pdf

It might be a moot point, however, as I think the correct hardware comes with the A/P -165 hanger kit. You could call Dexter to be sure about that. Give us some feedback.

[Kevin K]

Looks like grade 8 -------Dexter axle says 70-90 ft lbs grade 8 = 92 ft lbs grade 5 = 60 ft lbs
http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/pontiacdude428/Bolt.html

[Pete Dumbleton]

Table says those are minimum torques, so the either is still possible, but I would lean towards the G-5, because Dexter's 70-90 is slightly below Table minimum of 92 for G-8.

Good table; I didn't know that socket head cap screws are even harder than G-8 and the reduction factors for lubes is useful.

[Kevin K]

Pete Dumbleton
Good point,I think I will go with the Grade 5 Bolts.

[Pete Dumbleton]

Just go with whatever Dexter puts in the bracket kit!

[Bill Murray]

Grade 8 is fine, not too brittle.
Before they went metric, you'd see grade 8 bolts all over CAT equipment.
(now they're usually metric 10.9 grade)