Source for M7 bolts?

Like the title states, any ideas? I'm swinging out so far. Some of you will know what I'm looking for as soon as I post the specs.

10.9 grade, 12 pt, M7x32mm, coated in black oxide/zinc whatever.

These would be the wheel bolts for a BBS RS wheel. yes, I know I can buy them from Black Forest Industries, but frankly, I've heard their quality is subpar and the bolts will quickly start to corrode/fade.

The stock BBS bolts are chrome and in great condition, so I have no intention of stripping/finishing them.

Thanks in advance for any help.

I'd try contacting your local Fastenal store. They've got M7's in their online catalog, but not exactly what you're looking for. They do have contacts at many fastener manufacturers/distributors though, and can get a lot of things that aren't shown in their catalog. I worked at one part time while doing my Master's degree and would regularly get oddball things for customers. Sometimes it was ridiculously expensive, sometimes not. You may want to pretend you're a business, we were discouraged from spending alot of time on things like this for non-commercial people. (98% of our sales came from our business accounts).

Bob

^Yeah, I'm currently waiting for Fastenal to get back to me. I told him I was an individual, but that I was looking at buying 150. And if they were super cheap, possibly more.

I just figured if any one group of people knows where to find cheap fasteners, GRM would be that group.

Try Metric and Multistandard.

Also - Why black Oxide? They will rust instantly. Zinc will last decent. Chrome better. Stainless Better still.

Also - Have you tried BBS?

Cheap fasteners? No. I'm too cheap and risk averse to buy cheap fasteners.

When I needed to rebuild a set of Kodiak 3-piece wheels recently (simmer down - I can't afford Kodiaks but the previous owner of the car could) I needed to find black oxide coated grade 8 1/4-20x3/4" flat head socket cap screws and jet nuts.

Turns out that real aircraft hardware - the jet nuts - are crazy expensive. They carry all manner of certification and traceability and were upwards of $.65ea. And I need 80+ fasteners.

Eventually I figured out that the homebuilt aircraft guys don't give a rats ass about certs. I bought 100 from Wick's Aircraft for $30 and the bolts from McMaster-Carr for a reasonable price.

These bolts and nuts are what's between my old, soft, pink body and the unforgiving hard things off the racing surface. In the context of $1000 sets of tires, $8.50/gallon race fuel and $10/lap entry fees - how much I saved on fasteners is not what I'm inclined to be thinking of as I go shrieking into T4 at Summit Point at a-hundred-god-knows-what.

So - odd metric bolts? I generally check McMaster-Carr first, and in the most dire emergencies I'll go to these guys:

http://mdmetric.com/fastindx/indexmstr.htm

Please don't use stainless unless it was designed that way - it's quite weak. Most coatings that can be done in non third world countries also lower the strength of the bolt.

Agreed on black oxide rusting quickly. I wonder why no one has approached ARP about making BBS wheel bolts. They seem to be pretty open to doing custom runs for people.

Also any black oxide socket head cap screws will be 12.9 strength. That might be perfect for this application but it might be too brittle as well. Something to think about there.

Dave, checking now on the first two. But as far as BBS, it's my understanding that they do not sell replacement/repair parts for RS. You have to send them back to BBS who will disassemble, install new parts, reassemble and ship back to you.

I'm terrified by what that might cost.

motomoron, Black Forest industries charges $1.70 for the bolt/washer/nut, I need 134. So we are at $230 before shipping.

Hence my desire to try to find a cheaper source. And especially if I'm told that the ones currently available suck as well.

ditchdigger wrote: Agreed on black oxide rusting quickly. I wonder why no one has approached ARP about making BBS wheel bolts. They seem to be pretty open to doing custom runs for people. Also any black oxide socket head cap screws will be 12.9 strength. That might be perfect for this application but it might be too brittle as well. Something to think about there.

This! Any real socket headed cap screw is going to be the same though - they were originally intended for indoor apps because coatings are harder and harder to get right as you get a harder and harder bolt.

These are 12point hex head, flanged cap screws.

Not socket head. Like these

http://www.titanium-touch.de/shop/product_info.php?info=p28_Rim-screws-M7x32.html

tuna55 wrote: Please don't use stainless unless it was designed that way - it's quite weak. Most coatings that can be done in non third world countries also lower the strength of the bolt.

Yes, stainless is weaker than graded bolts. But, there are 30+ of these on the wheel, near the outer diameter where they are less stressed. A wheel that is held to the car with four M12's, 50mm from the center. I'm gonna say that even the weakest of stainless bolts is still more than sufficient for the job.