Can I use standard bolts instead of specialty fasteners?
When original specialty fasteners are damaged and no standard equivalents exist, finding safe replacements is difficult because standard hardware store bolts may not match the unique head shape or grade. This leaves people unsure whether regular bolts with washers are safe to use or where to source the correct parts for critical repairs like brake calipers.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Using regular hex head bolts combined with a matching washer and verifying thread pitch, length, and grade.
- 2Matching the existing bolt at a local hardware store
- 3Buying a replacement bolt from an auto parts store like AutoZone
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“While replacing the front struts. I found that I am missing a caliper bolt”source ↗
“Take the other one and go match it up at a hardware store”source ↗
“Autozone got the bolts for about 9 dollars.”source ↗
“I want to replace that bolts because the heads are in bad condition, but Im unsure if i can just use regular ones that match the tread, Length and Grade and just use instead of the flat head part a washer.”source ↗
“Not sure where to get them and (ofc chap) because they dont look like any common DIN or ISO standart ones.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 5How to fix a stripped screw hole that won't hold