Fastest way to get SS exhaust bolts?

[bwringer]

Stock is 8X40mm, so you should be able to get them at any real hardware store. Or at least they will have a small empty box where they used to be... You might have to check a few stores to find eight of them.

FYI, Meantards, bLowes, and Home Despot are not real hardware stores.

Bolt Depot was mentioned for bolts in any quantity, and McMaster-Carr is an excellent source for stainless goodies by the box. The "official" term for stainless allen head bolts is "Stainless Steel Socket Head".

http://www.mcmaster.com

Some bikes (like my GS850) use 8X35mm bolts, and these are sort of an in-between size and not generally available locally.

[tas850g]

I go to Rocky's Ace hardware in Fitchburg MA and they have the best assortment that i have found. It sounds like most Ace hardware stores carry about the same stuff. The places i've checkout are Home Depot, Lowes, napa, cap, advance auto, car quest, and aubochon hardware and none of them come nowhere close to Ace in mm SS.

[UncleMike]

So, given that the stock Suzuki bolts are 20% harder than SS, would you guys still recommend the SS route?

[duaneage]

NAPA sells a kit for 13 dollars of studs and nuts that fit perfectly.

[hp1000s]

So, given that the stock Suzuki bolts are 20% harder than SS, would you guys still recommend the SS route?

I run S.S. socket-head cap screws on the two outer pipes(prettier), and studs w/S.S. nuts on the inner two(helps support header during remove/install). Both are trouble-free...use anti-seize either way. Got all of it at Ace Hardware, in the specialty fasteners section.

[bwringer]

So, given that the stock Suzuki bolts are 20% harder than SS, would you guys still recommend the SS route?

Geez, how hard are you pulling on that exhaust?

The yield strength of the bolt is not an issue here -- this is not a high-stress application. Most of us install stainless simply because it won't corrode and look nasty.

Slather on plenty of anti-seize and they'll work and look great.

Some people, as noted above, go to studs -- less wear and tear on the threads in the cylinder head, but you have to be careful to verify there's enough clearance and so forth.

[UncleMike]

How about those ones with the captive lock washers? Should prevent them from vibrating out, yes?

[UncleMike]

And any opinion on 316 vs 18-8 grade steel?