tool consideration

Rani, do you have a tap and die kit?

I recommend getting one because it is good to chase any used threads that you use to clean them up. I always chase the bolts with a die and the holes with a tap before reassembling it. It prevents dirt and contaminates from getting caught in the threads and then binding before properly seating. You get much better clamp loads for the specified torque and less problems with contaminates binding the parts before they are properly fastened.

I found a local Ace Hardware that carries a tap and die kit for english threads up to 1/2 inch. They also carry seperate ones in 9/16", 5/8", and 3/4" which is used for suspension components. Not all Ace hardware stores carry them. I have about 6-7 of them around me and only one carries the kit and he's like 30 minutes away from me. I only use the Hanson/Irwin kits. I had a Craftsman kit when I started, but their taps were junk. I broke 3-4 of them when chasing the threads for an oil pan and had to install 4 heli coils to fix them - on the same engine! I rarely, if ever, break a Hanson/Irwin tap. It takes a little "finesse" to get the feel for them so you don't break them when getting to the bottom of the hole, but it makes putting things together much easier and trouble free. It also makes it easier if you have to do a repair later. They come apart and go together much easier.


I see from your thread referenced above that you know to measure the outside diameter of the thread and the pitch (threads per inch) and then the length of the bolt from under the bolt head to the end of the bolt.

For example: If you have a thread that is 5/16" diameter, and 18 threads per inch and is 2" from under the head to the tip of the bolt, that would be called a 5/16 x 18 x 2" bolt.

A bolt that is 3/8" diameter with 16 threads per inch that is 3" long would be called a 3/8 x 16 x 3" bolt.

Go into a hardware store and ask for a bolt like that, and I bet the guy will almost fall over and be impressed that you know that much about threads. They would never guess that you would know that much about threads and bolts by looking at you.