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H2OSB
Samba Member
Joined: April 14, 2013
Posts: 1291
Location: Modesto, CA
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 Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2017 5:37 pm Post subject: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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Has anyone ever tried to replace the socket head bolt(s) from one of the spindle nuts? Turns out the bolts are M7-1.0 and about 18mm long. Trying to find an M7 bolt is nearly impossible. I did eventually find them from McMaster-Carr, but they were $4.69 per bolt (I got the 20mm long bolts). The spindle nut can be purchased new with a bolt, but they are $9-$12. Sheesh.
H2OSB |
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ach60 
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2001
Posts: 4139
Location: Santa Maria
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| Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2017 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: WHAT THE HECK?! |
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I was at Olander, the local bolt supplier waiting for them to put my order together,
and a College age kid walked in carrying a basket of bolts.
His plan was very simple, Make my bike lighter by replacing steel bolts with titanium bolts.
Little did he know that his $40 budget was not going to get the job done,
but he did manage to get a few bolts swapped over.
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Good Luck
Al |
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Jacks
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2006
Posts: 2347
Location: San Clemente, Ca.
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iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9829
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 10:55 am Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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| H2OSB wrote: |
Has anyone ever tried to replace the socket head bolt(s) from one of the spindle nuts? Turns out the bolts are M7-1.0 and about 18mm long. Trying to find an M7 bolt is nearly impossible. I did eventually find them from McMaster-Carr, but they were $4.69 per bolt (I got the 20mm long bolts). The spindle nut can be purchased new with a bolt, but they are $9-$12. Sheesh.
H2OSB |
Why would you need to replace just the locking bolt?
And, I agree that $4.69 is outrageous. Somebody in China is making way too much money.  |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 21513
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 11:40 am Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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| iowegian wrote: |
| H2OSB wrote: |
Has anyone ever tried to replace the socket head bolt(s) from one of the spindle nuts? Turns out the bolts are M7-1.0 and about 18mm long. Trying to find an M7 bolt is nearly impossible. I did eventually find them from McMaster-Carr, but they were $4.69 per bolt (I got the 20mm long bolts). The spindle nut can be purchased new with a bolt, but they are $9-$12. Sheesh.
H2OSB |
Why would you need to replace just the locking bolt?
And, I agree that $4.69 is outrageous. Somebody in China is making way too much money. |
Not really. They are class 12.9 bolts....and you are also paying the service charge for a company that keeps about 3,000,000 million products in stock...and ready to ship and individually bagged and generally get to most people in the US in about 2 days.
I have seen country of origin from Mcmaster Carr...mostly Taiwan and US. Ray |
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iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9829
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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| raygreenwood wrote: |
| iowegian wrote: |
| H2OSB wrote: |
Has anyone ever tried to replace the socket head bolt(s) from one of the spindle nuts? Turns out the bolts are M7-1.0 and about 18mm long. Trying to find an M7 bolt is nearly impossible. I did eventually find them from McMaster-Carr, but they were $4.69 per bolt (I got the 20mm long bolts). The spindle nut can be purchased new with a bolt, but they are $9-$12. Sheesh.
H2OSB |
Why would you need to replace just the locking bolt?
And, I agree that $4.69 is outrageous. Somebody in China is making way too much money. |
Not really. They are class 12.9 bolts....and you are also paying the service charge for a company that keeps about 3,000,000 million products in stock...and ready to ship and individually bagged and generally get to most people in the US in about 2 days.
I have seen country of origin from Mcmaster Carr...mostly Taiwan and US. Ray |
Sorry------my sarcasm switch musta been turned off.  |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 21513
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 4:53 pm Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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| iowegian wrote: |
| raygreenwood wrote: |
| iowegian wrote: |
| H2OSB wrote: |
Has anyone ever tried to replace the socket head bolt(s) from one of the spindle nuts? Turns out the bolts are M7-1.0 and about 18mm long. Trying to find an M7 bolt is nearly impossible. I did eventually find them from McMaster-Carr, but they were $4.69 per bolt (I got the 20mm long bolts). The spindle nut can be purchased new with a bolt, but they are $9-$12. Sheesh.
H2OSB |
Why would you need to replace just the locking bolt?
And, I agree that $4.69 is outrageous. Somebody in China is making way too much money. |
Not really. They are class 12.9 bolts....and you are also paying the service charge for a company that keeps about 3,000,000 million products in stock...and ready to ship and individually bagged and generally get to most people in the US in about 2 days.
I have seen country of origin from Mcmaster Carr...mostly Taiwan and US. Ray |
Sorry------my sarcasm switch musta been turned off. |
No problem!....and they sell some Chinese stuff too!.... 
The really sad thing is when you find a part that IS made in USA......and its crap. I have found issues with made in USA bolts and tools.
In most cases the metal is excellent....but the workmanship is crappy.
Almost as bad as finding Chinese parts....with beautiful machine work and tolerances....made of the worst metal around! Ray |
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Mike Fisher
Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006
Posts: 17970
Location: Eugene, OR
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| Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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I've bought 12.9 socket head bolts made by DORMAN from my local specialty hardware dealer, Eugene Fastener a lot cheaper than that.
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H2OSB
Samba Member
Joined: April 14, 2013
Posts: 1291
Location: Modesto, CA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:55 am Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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| Mike Fisher wrote: |
| I've bought 12.9 socket head bolts made by DORMAN from my local specialty hardware dealer, Eugene Fastener a lot cheaper than that. |
Ah but are the bolts from Dorman M7? Every place I went to locally had 12.9 socket head bolts, but only one place had any kind of M7, and it was a non-graded hex head.
My reason for replacing just the bolts is I converted my son's Super Beetle front suspension to the later style and for whatever reason of my 4 spare spindle nuts only one had a bolt.
H2OSB
Last edited by H2OSB on Mon Mar 20, 2017 1:12 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mike Fisher
Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006
Posts: 17970
Location: Eugene, OR
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:45 am Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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I used them to replace my Type 3 ball joint bolts, but I don't know about M7. Eugene Fastener will take you back in their warehouse to see/measure what they have in stock & special order what you need/want out of their catalogs.
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69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold
Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey |
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jason
Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2002
Posts: 3444
Location: Garage
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 11:28 am Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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| I just bought new ones from SACO. |
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H2OSB
Samba Member
Joined: April 14, 2013
Posts: 1291
Location: Modesto, CA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 1:16 pm Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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Well, heh, in hindsight, I might simply have replaced the spindle nuts, but it became a mission, and I bought replacement bolts just to prove (to myself) I could get them. My son's car is almost done, and getting replacement bolts would have been ideal.
It wasn't until I got home I realized what a pain in the ass it had become.
H2OSB |
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H2OSB
Samba Member
Joined: April 14, 2013
Posts: 1291
Location: Modesto, CA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 1:18 pm Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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OMG, I just now finally clicked on this link. Good source, thank you
H2OSB |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 21513
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:02 pm Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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In reality....these bolts do not have ro be any better than class 8.8. Its just a pinch lock ro prevent rotation.....its not like the bolt has any more load when the car is driving....but since in the life of the car its likely to get used a bit here and there and maybe torqued without a torque wrench a few times while doing a side of the road repair......its nice to have higher quality bolts.
By the way the torque on this bolt is only 7.0 to 9.0 ft. .lb (1.0 to 1.3 mkg).
A comment on Dorman products. In my experience....some of them are really high quality. Dorman has been and probably still is an OEM supplier for numerous products. However over the past five years....I have seen more than a few Dorman products that have had sketchy workmanship. Just keep an eye out on what you get. Ray |
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Jacks
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2006
Posts: 2347
Location: San Clemente, Ca.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:16 pm Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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Why would you need to replace just the locking bolt?
Because ham handed do-it-yourself money saving geniuses (in VW and Porsche) LOVE to over tighten EVERYTHING. You can not believe the butchery I have seen on this poor part, including rounded out Allen bores (often from using inch wrenches on M7, but not exclusively), collapsed/stretched nuts that no longer have a gap at the split, making further adequate tightening impossible, bolts stretched so far that they have inconsistent thread pitch, and bolts bent so far out of shape that they couldn't be turned more than 1/4 turn before binding up when trying to loosen 
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Jack Staggs
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 21513
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:39 pm Post subject: Re: What the Heck?! Spindle nut socket head bolts |
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| Jacks wrote: |
Why would you need to replace just the locking bolt?
Because ham handed do-it-yourself money saving geniuses (in VW and Porsche) LOVE to over tighten EVERYTHING. You can not believe the butchery I have seen on this poor part, including rounded out Allen bores (often from using inch wrenches on M7, but not exclusively), collapsed/stretched nuts that no longer have a gap at the split, making further adequate tightening impossible, bolts stretched so far that they have inconsistent thread pitch, and bolts bent so far out of shape that they couldn't be turned more than 1/4 turn before binding up when trying to loosen |
Yes...I agree. I have a whole bag of these. I used to collect them from the junkyards and wrecks Istripped.....primarily because if you ever need to locate a left hand one in a pinch.... ....and....the factory ones compared to brazilian crap are just beautifully made.....and if you ever had to source one at an actual dealer back in the day.....they were NOT cheap.
I found the same things on too many cars I have bought or worked on.....these pinch clamps were just beaten to death.
But to start with....make sure the threads are not packed with grease before you start...or you will over torque them. Ray |
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