Fasteners, Gaskets, Seals, and Sealants
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Fasteners, Gaskets, Seals, and Sealants After studying this chapter, you will be able to: The information presented in this chapter is important Identify commonly used automotive fasteners. and will prepare you for many repair operations and other text chapters. Select and use fasteners properly. Remove, select, and install gaskets, seals, and sealants correctly. Fasteners Summarize safety rules relating to fasteners, gas- Fasteners are devices that hold the parts of a car kets, seals, and sealants. together. Thousands of fasteners are used in vehicles. Correctly answer ASE certification test questions Figure 9-1 shows some of the most common types. that require a knowledge of fasteners, gaskets, seals, and sealants. Bolts and Nuts A bolt is a metal rod with external threads on one end Many different fasteners, gaskets, seals, and sealants and a head on the other. When a high-quality bolt is are used by the automotive technician. It is almost impos- threaded into a part other than a nut, it can also be called sible to connect any two parts of a vehicle without them. a cap screw. A nut has internal threads and usually a Cap screws Quick-lock Spring lock pins Hex head Carriage pins bolts bolts Wing nuts Snap rings Locking nuts Washers Castle nuts Socket head Studs screws Machine Plow bolts screws Tapping screws Rivets Clevis pins Set screws Lock washers Cotter pins Woodruff Toothed lock Keys keys Adhesives washers Figure 9-1. A fastener is any device or adhesive used to hold parts together. Study these basic automotive fasteners. (Deere & Co.) six-sided outer shape. When a nut is screwed onto a bolt, Customary System (1/2-13 x 1 bolt) a powerful clamping force is produced, Figure 9-2. In automotive technology, bolts and nuts are named after the parts they hold. For instance, the bolts holding the cylinder head on the block are called cylinder head bolts. The bolts on an engine connecting rod are called connecting rod bolts. A — Grade marking B — Head size (inches) C — Thread pitch (thread/inch) Bolt and Nut Terminology D— Nominal diameter (bolt Bolts and nuts come in various sizes, grades size in inches) (strengths), and thread types. It is important to be familiar E— Length (inches) with these differences. The most important bolt dimen- Metric System (M12-1.75 x 25 bolt) sions are: • Bolt size—the measurement of the outside diam- eter of the bolt threads. See Figure 9-3. • Bolt head size—the distance across the flats or outer sides of the bolt head. It is the same as the F — Property class (bolt strength) wrench size. G— Head size (millimeters) • Bolt length—measured from the bottom of the H —Thread pitch (thread with bolt head to the threaded end of the bolt. crest to crest/mm) I — Nominal diameter (bolt size • Thread pitch—the same as thread coarseness. in millimeters) With U.S. conventional system fasteners, thread J — Length (millimeters) pitch is the number of threads per inch. With metric fasteners, it is the distance between each Figure 9-3. The naming systems for both customary and metric bolts. (Ford) thread in millimeters. Refer again to Figure 9-3. Thread Types There are three basic types of threads used on fasteners: Never interchange thread types or thread damage will • Coarse threads (UNC-Unified National Coarse). result. As shown in Figure 9-4, metric threads look like customary threads. If a metric bolt is forced into a hole • Fine threads (UNF-Unified National Fine). with fine threads, either the bolt or part threads will be • Metric threads (SI). ruined. Bolts and nuts also come in right- and left-hand threads. With right-hand threads, the fastener must be Flat washer turned clockwise to tighten. This is the most common Gasket Lock washer style of thread. With left-hand threads, turn the fastener in a counterclockwise direction to tighten. Left-hand Bolt Nut threads are not very common. The letter L may be stamped on fasteners with left-hand threads. Bolt Grade Tensile strength, or grade, refers to the amount of pull a fastener can withstand before breaking. Bolts are made of different metals, some stronger than others. Tensile strengths can vary. Bolt head markings, also called grade markings, specify the tensile strength of the bolt. U.S. customary bolts are marked with lines or slash marks. The more lines, the stronger the bolt. A Parts metric bolt is marked with a numbering system. The larger the number, the stronger the bolt. Look back at Figure 9-2. A bolt and nut exert a powerful clamping force on parts. Notice the washers and gasket used. Figure 9-3. Coarse threads Fine threads Metric threads 3/4 - 10 UNC - 2A x 1 3/4 3/4 - 16 UNF - 2A x 1 3/4 Threads Fit symbol per inch M-20 x 2.00 x 50 - 8.8 Thread Unified Bolt Threads Fit symbol diameter coarse length per inch or bolt size in inches Thread Unified Bolt Metric Distance Property diameter fine length thread between class (bolt size) in inches threads in strength millimeters (pitch) Diameter of Length in threads in millimeters millimeters (bolt size) Figure 9-4. The bolt designation number gives information about the bolt. This number is commonly used when purchasing new bolts. Warning! Nut Types Never replace a high-grade bolt with a lower Many types of nuts are used in a vehicle. The most grade bolt. The weaker bolt could easily snap, common ones are pictured in Figure 9-5. Study their possibly causing part failure and a dangerous names closely. A slotted nut, or castle nut, uses a safety situation. device called a cotter pin. The cotter pin fits through a hole in the bolt or part. This keeps the nut from turning and possibly coming off. Look at Figure 9-6. Bolt Description A bolt description is a series of numbers and letters that describe the bolt, as shown in Figure 9-4. When pur- Washers chasing new bolts, the bolt description information is Washers are used under bolt heads and nuts. The two needed. basic types are flat washers and lock washers. Look at Slotted Hex plain Serrated Cap (acorn nut) Flanged Spring Speed nut Flange-lock nut Panel Lock Wing Specialty Palnut Barrel-prong nut Figure 9-5. Common types of nuts used in vehicles. (Deere & Co.) trim, dashboard panels, and grilles. Several are shown in Correct: Figure 9-8. Sheet metal screws have tapering threads that Cotter pin bend prongs are very widely spaced. They come in a wide range of head configurations and sizes. Nonthreaded Fasteners Castle nut Nut Numerous types of nonthreaded fasteners, such as snap rings, clips, and adhesives, are used in the assembly Bolt of a vehicle. It is essential to learn the most common types. Figure 9-6. A cotter pin slides through a castle nut and a hole Snap Rings in the bolt. This makes sure the nut cannot turn and come off. (Deere & Co.) A snap ring fits into a groove in a part and com- monly holds shafts, bearings, gears, pins, and other components in place. Figure 9-9 shows several types of Figure 9-7. A flat washer increases the clamping surface snap rings. Snap ring pliers are needed to remove and under the fastener. It prevents the bolt or nut from digging install snap rings. As pictured in Figure 9-9, these pliers into the part. have special jaws that fit and grasp the snap ring. A lock washer prevents the bolt or nut from becoming loose under stress and vibration. Lock tabs, or lock plates, perform the functions of both flat washers and lock washers. They increase clamping surface area and secure the fastener. Machine Screws Screwdriver- Fillister Round Flat Hex hex Machine screws are similar to bolts, but they nor- mally have screw-type heads. They are threaded along Figure 9-8. Basic types of tapping screws. (Deere & Co.) their full length and are relatively small. Refer back to Figure 9-1. Machine screws are used to secure parts when clamping loads are light. They come in various head shapes. Sheet Metal Screws Internal Internal External External Sheet metal screws, or tapping screws, are com- prong-type hole-type hole-type "E"-type monly used on plastic and sheet metal parts, such as body External Internal snap snap ring ring Tab Lock plate Figure 9-9. Different snap ring types. External snap rings fit into Figure 9-7. Basic washer types. A—Plain flat washer. B—Split a groove on a shaft. Internal snap rings fit into a groove inside lock washer. C—Toothed lock washer. D—Lock plate. a hole. Warning! the shaft but still not rotate. This sliding locking action is Wear eye protection when working with a snap commonly used in manual transmissions, clutches, and ring. When flexed, the ring can shoot into your drive shaft yokes. face with considerable force. Adhesives Keys and Set Screws Adhesives are special glues widely used in vehicles. A metal key fits into a keyseat, or slot, cut into a shaft They hold body moldings, rubber weather stripping, and and a keyway cut into the mating part, such as a gear, body emblems. Some adhesives are designed to stay soft pulley, or collar. The key prevents the part from turning and pliable; others dry hard. Some take hours to dry, on its shaft. Refer to Figure 9-10A. Set screws are nor- while others dry in seconds. Observe all directions and mally used to lock a part onto a shaft. See Figure 9-10B.