Why do auto parts stores not carry bolts needed for cars
- Thread starter tblt44
- Start date
i was a commercial parts pro at advance auto for over 7 years and i still know where that bolt would be, at least the metric thread. the question is a a fellow beamer owner, i'm about to get my third in a couple of days, why did the bolt break. now back to advance, the carquest deal is garbage. and i have first hand bad experience . needed a new gas cap, part was garbage it broke off leaving a piece in the filler so i could not pump gas. i returned the cap and blasted the women to get me the store tools to get the piece out, which i did and used the original part that is now 15 years old !!
i believe much of this thread is about parts for so called older vehicles, or the exotic metric stuff. i think that the good ole USA should bite the tongue and convert to the metric system. on a side note not all advance stores are created equal, mine was a hub store at least 2 of my large commercial accounts had total lifetime purchases of close to a million bucks. my car only goes to geoff at big g for maintenance
I'm also guessing that most people given a car that's older wouldn't bother doing these repairs, when the cost of the repair at a dealer is probably as much as the car is worth. Since I'm going this repair myself. I'm saving at least 50% if not more.
Big box hardware stores normally (at least in the US) do not carry much in the way of metric hardware, which is disappointing.
I do wonder how that works in Canada.
I checked Home Depot and Lowe's. HD was a waste of time but it's close to my house, So I always check there first. Lowe's had one or two metric M10 *80 mm 1.25 thread they are all in separate bags. Also checked Canadian Tire which didn't have anything longer than a 60mm bolt.
We don't have Ace hardware, so that's not an option. Place I went was a local independent industrial fastener supply and the girl at the counter was very helpful.
No problem it's just a big time waster when you are trying to get something fixed. Good thing I don't need the car right away. I have extra bolts now for the next repair 15 years from now lol.
HD came in clutch when I snapped most of my trans pan bolts off the Touareg.
Try the dealer? I had to get some odd sized bolts for my BMW in the past and the dealer had them next day for a few dollars.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
- 9,514
I work at a Napa and it blows my mind the number of people who come here to buy common non automotive bolts, which we oddly do carry, instead of stopping at one o
of the three hardware stores they pass on the way to Napa. It wouldnt even cross my mind to go to an auto parts store for bolts, straight to the hardware store for me.
of the three hardware stores they pass on the way to Napa. It wouldnt even cross my mind to go to an auto parts store for bolts, straight to the hardware store for me.
I had a hard time finding an oil pan crush washer for my 2005 Neon. I'm going to change my oil this week and am tired of the slow drip. It seems that automotive part stores have less in the back. Have you tried fastenal?
When I worked at the local NAPA store in the 1970's, the fastener boxes had more dust than hardware in them.
McMaster-Carr is the first place I look for hardware. Shipping from Los Angeles is typically 48 hours.
When I lived (and worked) in the Bay Area, Olander in Sunnyvale was the go-to. They were good for an extended lunch hour.
https://www.olander.com/
McMaster-Carr is the first place I look for hardware. Shipping from Los Angeles is typically 48 hours.
When I lived (and worked) in the Bay Area, Olander in Sunnyvale was the go-to. They were good for an extended lunch hour.
https://www.olander.com/
On other forums, reddit, etc, there are a lot of people who direct others to the dealer for standard bolts. There are people who truly believe a) the fasteners are "special" and b) made by the automaker.
One thing I have noticed is how nice it is using brand new hardware when doing a repair on my own vehicle.
Also the hardware at the dealer or a parts house that is for a specific application can be different than what a hardware store will have. A lot of times the fastener head sizes are different, or the lengths of bolts are in something other than 5mm increments.
The annoying thing, at least with Ford, is the part numbers do not coincide with the actual hardware. I took a picture from just one drawer in a shelf in one of our parts bins. This container has 4.0L t-stat o-rings, metal rivets, some little tiny bolts, big bolts, exhaust studs. Its not like the next number up is the next length bolt in that size. This is where Ford takes their part numbering from GM and throws random numbers on the wall.
Also the hardware at the dealer or a parts house that is for a specific application can be different than what a hardware store will have. A lot of times the fastener head sizes are different, or the lengths of bolts are in something other than 5mm increments.
The annoying thing, at least with Ford, is the part numbers do not coincide with the actual hardware. I took a picture from just one drawer in a shelf in one of our parts bins. This container has 4.0L t-stat o-rings, metal rivets, some little tiny bolts, big bolts, exhaust studs. Its not like the next number up is the next length bolt in that size. This is where Ford takes their part numbering from GM and throws random numbers on the wall.
They'd have to house a lot of bolts.
You could try your local Grainger.
You could try your local Grainger.
