Suspension bolt strength: 8.8 good enough?

[Safety Guy]

When I went into my local hardware store a few weeks back, I got a bolt to replace the one I had burned out of my Aspire rear axle assembly. The hardware guy said he didn't think the Grade 8.8 bolt was strong enough to hold the lower shock on the axle. He said it should be at least a Grade 10.

I used Grade 8.8 to replace the control arm pivot bolts on my '89L. That's been almost two years ago, though I didn't get to drive it that much afterwards (maybe two months before it began having "carb problems").

Is Grade 8.8 safe for suspension hardware?

Karl

[Whittey]

ISO grade 8.8 is equivalent to SAE grade 5. So yes, 10.9 is the way to go (equivalent to SAE grade 8).


-=Whittey=-

[Safety Guy]

Ah so!

I guess I'll be looking for harder hardware soon! Luxstiva's suspension swap ain't till spring. I need to fix a booboo on my Aspire axle: the threaded part inside one of the trailing arms was pushed out of alignment and won't accept any shock bolts now.

Arrrgghhh! Well, I have a few months to fix it--or rip off another axle!

Karl