The Nuts and Bolts of Nuts & Bolts
Take a closer look at your automobile and you’ll notice that practically every part is held together by nuts, bolts, washers, screws, studs and brackets. Though small and in most cases inexpensive, the value of mechanical-fastening hardware—especially for your vehicle—cannot be overestimated. Whether it’s a seemingly minute carburetor set screw or a hefty engine mount bolt, AutoAnything is the place to find all your nuts and bolts..
Nuts & BoltsA nut is a threaded fastener—usually hexagonal in shape—in which a mating bolt threads through to fasten parts together. The friction between the
nut and bolt threads, along with a slight stretching of the
bolt and compression of the parts being mated causes the nut to stay tight on the bolt. Since vibrations and parts rotation can cause
automotive nuts & bolts to come loose, several locking mechanisms have been developed to help keep the tension.
ScrewsA
screw is a threaded fastener designed to fasten parts together. Screws are usually shafts carved with a helical groove—threads—on its surface. At one end is a sharp point, at the other, a head used to turn the screw. There are many head designs, each requiring its own specialty tool to turn it.
StudsNot to be confused with the luckiest of farm animals, think of a
stud like a bolt without a head. Studs have threads at both ends, usually in opposite directions. One end of the stud threads into a solid block, like a cylinder head, leaving the other threaded end exposed so a nut can screw onto the open end.
WashersA
washer is a thin plate with a hole in the middle that sits between nuts, bolts and the parts they’re holding together.
Washers are normally used to evenly distribute fastener loads, as a spacer, or as a locking mechanism to maintain the nut/bolt friction.
BracketsA bracket is a support used to mount and secure various engine and ancillary components. Usually designed with bolt holes on either end, there are nearly as many brackets for automobiles as there are automobiles themselves.
Class and Grade Ratings
Nuts and bolts are graded with strength ratings called class or grade. There are many different nut and bolt property grades. Usually, the grade is the amount of load the hardware can bear without stripping. The ratings are comprised of 2 numbers separated by a decimal point. For the most part, replacement nuts and bolts for your automobile require a certain grade depending on their job, so the hardware you buy is usually made to the appropriate grade.
Common Nuts & Bolts Parts
Copy the code in the box below and add a link for this page to your web site or blog.
Please feel free to call toll-free 800.874.8888 or e-mail sales@autoanything.com with any questions. We are delighted to be of assistance in finding the right auto parts for you, be they car parts, truck parts or SUV parts.
|