Rusted hardware..

So, apologies in advance if this is a stupid question..

When I took off my factory side steps I went to the local hardware store and bought some stainless steel bolts and washers to plug up the remaining holes, since I included the factory hardware with the steps when I sold them.

Well, they accumulated a decent amount of rust on them despite being stainless steel. I’m assuming it’s the copious amount of salt that’s on Pennsylvania roads this year.

My question is - Is there any risk of the rust working it’s way up into the body? Do you guys have any suggestions? Let me them be or swap them out for some galvanized hardware (if I can find some) etc..

Honestly, in hindsight I’m not even sure if it was completely necessary to plug the holes up the in first place (anyone please feel free to correct me).

Thanks!

 

No way that's stainless my dude. As far as plugging those holes I would just use some rtv.

 

RTV or even some strong tape will do the trick in terms of sealing those holes

 

Stainless steel is rust-resistant, not rust proof!

The washers appear to be ss, but I'm betting the bolts are not. The rust WILL migrate to the surrounding area, eventually. If not sooner.
Also know that dis-similar metals touching each other will promote corrosion. Steel bolts through aluminum structure; aluminum rivets in steel plates; etc..

 

Ditto. Not SS bolts. Your washers look like they are are SS. Plugging the holes is not a bad idea since the hole is threaded.

 

Maybe I got had at the local hardware store lol.

So the general consensus is to pull them out and just fill the holes with some off the shelf RTV?

 

From the factory they have plastic screws. Probably more to preserve the threads than to plug anything. You could probably find some nylon screws at the hardware store.

Edit: They are 8mm x 30mm x 1.25mm Bolts

 

No, stainless won't rust it corrodes other metals around it through galvanic corrosion.

 

Stainless steel WILL rust in the right environment. I've personally seen it (on ships). Not rust proof at all, but it sure takes a while in really bad conditions!

 

Would nylon screws be favorable over some RTV?

 

The grade of stainless matters too. Most standard SS is 304 and it will corrode. 316 (marine grade) won't. It's possible that your washers are 316 and the bolts are 304.

 

doubt its was real stainless, probably an alloy that had stainless steel a base, added carbon to the mix for strength. Corrosion resistant steel (Cres) and stainless steel are to different steels.

 

Your call. If you ever might use them again, I'd go with the screws. Otherwise black RTV should be just fine. I was just sharing how they come from the factory.

 

No stainless. Get stainless.

 

Just curious... can you tell the diff between cres and ss with a magnet? (ignoring the obvious of "depends on how much iron is used". I've also seen other ss that was magnetic, so maybe that was actually cres.)

 

SS is not magnetic

 

true stainless in not magnetic, take knife blades for example. Most will rust and they are also slightly magnetic. This is because ss isn't tough enough to make a knife blade, they've had to alloy it. They still say its stainless though.

 

All stainless steels will eventually rust - it's more of a question of how long it takes for the various grades of stainless. Marine grade 318 will likely survive the longest and will take several decade before rust (oxidation) begins to occur. 304 & 18-8 will degrade quicker. Most of the fasteners in your local hardware store are now sourced from China, so don't expect that they'll never rust. FWIW, I had a German-made top-shelf stainless steel straight edge that never saw the outdoors. After about 45 years it was beginning to show some very tight rust on small spots at one end.

 

High carbon stainless steel. True stainless sucks to keep an edge on so typically knives are made from multiple types of metal.

 

Well, if you ever sell your truck and the next dude wants to put on steps, I’m sure they would appreciate nylon bolts over picking out a glob of RTV!