Replacing bolts with SS

[Jjaysbk]

Hi all, quick question, swapping components from a old 06 RXT SC to a SBT shortblock and running into a ton of fasteners that are corroded.

Would it be wise to replace these with SS or keep them as mild steel?

I know SS has less strength and can cause galling etc.

It would be bolts for the oil cooler, crank sensor, front and rear covers of the engine. Preferably everything on the outside, even the SC mounting bolts that aren't SS

Thoughts?

 

[skiasylum]

Actually carbon steel (harder than SS) is the material of choice when joining dissimilar metals (aluminum and steel) per the fastener manufacturing peeps. Jet ski engineers we now have to assume are aware of galvanic corrosion issues so using the stock fastener for each particular application would be the best choice. Although in 80's Beechcraft King Air airplane wings kept folding up on their owners and the temporary solution was the infamous wing strap. It was later discovered galvanic corrosion between the wing bolts and aluminum structure was the culprit.

 

[ski-d00]

BRP used SS bolts for all years on their 4tecs except for around 06-08 when they must have been trying to save cost. They switched back to the exact SS E-torx bolts they used before probably after enough dealers complained.

So, yes, you should change to SS unless you like rusty bolts. Just buy a used bolt set from someone on ebay that parted one out.