suspension bolts

[catsey]

Last year around 12 months ago I stripped down and cleaned painted Suspension. I decided for no other reason but to have piece of mind replace all suspension bolts. Today i checked my suspension to find the bolts i installed new 12 months ago to have heavily rusted. The old bolts had been in the car to my knowledge from before my ownership i. pre-2008 no rust no wastage. I will check were i bought this bolt kit from and have words.Ill now have project source new set and plan replacement next year. In interim will slap some paint on.Pissed off lesson learnt but expect better from TVR parts supplier

[hoofa]

I did my last year , sprayed the bolt heads with acf50

[RobXjcoupe]

Unfortunately you need to either oily rag or grease the bolt heads regularly to prevent them rusting.

[nigelj77]

Never gone that far into looking after the underside but from engineering background can you not get BZP fasteners? They look as good as stainless without all the issues with cold welding etc.

[TwinKam]

The OP's new bolts indoubtedly were BZP. The plating doesn't last forever, it is by nature sacrificial. But there is a varying quality/thickness of plating above and beyond the required minimum standard. Some 'Ebay' etc bolts may not even be to bsi standard.

[Steve_D]

It's also likely the factory fitted bolts were cadmium plated. cad plating is no longer allowed and BZP is a poor replacement.

Steve

[Classic Chim]

I found this too.
I purchased a TVR front end bolt kit off Ebay about 8 years ago ( bad choice) unless it’s a known supplier, they looked great for all of a year.
Worse still, when I stripped the front end down again to do chassis they were so corroded down the shanks too. I’d copper slipped everything on install but did drive through a pretty bad winter!
The rears in comparison were all Tvr original and all good, like new in comparison.

[TwinKam]

I have a handy firm around the corner do metal treatments for me; hard anodising, nickel plating, zinc plating with passivating. They can finish in different colours incl clear ('bzp'), colour (looks like the old cad & pass), black, olive drab. And of course they can plate heavier than normal on request.
This thread has persuaded me to get my existing bolts replated where suitable, only replacing those that I consider past it. I'll keep a note of what and where, and see how they fare over time.

[Belle427]

I always copper grease suspension bolts on any car I do but more so on the Tvr as the bolts can be difficult to remove in awkward locations.
Makes getting them out a lot easier.
The heads never bothered me that much but maybe a spray of clear rustproofing for them.

[RobXjcoupe]

Another idea is clean as much of the rust off the bolt heads, carefully heat up with a blow torch until red then quench in some old sump oil for a black finish. You will still need to wax or grease regular but saves buying all new bolts

[phillpot]

It's going to take a decent blow lamp to get the head of a 1/2" bolt glowing red!


Another way is to hide them

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162725704664?_trkparms=...

[RobXjcoupe]

phillpot said:

It's going to take a decent blow lamp to get the head of a 1/2" bolt glowing red!


Another way is to hide them

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162725704664?_trkparms=...

Yep lol keep forgetting not everyone has the equipment