The reason I am asking is because I am keeping a car grounded this weekend until I can order the exact caliper bolts that were lost by my relative when I helped her rebuild her brakes. Her husband says he will accept full responsibility for my using any carbon steel bolt from my parts box, but I have hercar "backed-in" and won't let him move it until the exact bolts come Monday.
Thats quite a bit of kinetic energy these bolts absorb. A three thousand pound load going at 60 mph. When you hit the brakes, the four front caliper brake bolts ( 2 on each side) absorb all this energy when the pads clamp down on the rotors. So thats a dynamic shear load hitting four 10.9mm diameter pieces of steel, which is kind of fascinating and scary.
Please tell me I am not wrong

I have seen dozens snapped, by freight train impacts, and other catastrophic killers.
Never, in a survivable impact.
Bend, distort and stretch, yes........

Professional opinion:
Replace with OEM bolts only....................

You are doing the right thing.

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JUST SAY NO!!!!!!!!!!

nothing like a grade 8 or better

If he continues to feel the way as stated then tell him where he can purchase fasteners like what is in your tool box and let him get one and put it in.

OEM only for this application. Use the ones in the toolbox for air cleaners and such.

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Jim

Why not go get a couple from the junkyard?

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I'm not a certified mechanic, but I did stay at a HolidayInn Express last night.

Carra,

Should the caliper bolts snap easily? Ansolutely not. They are designed to handle the job they do. I'm sure there would be a recall if many of them snapped.

The caliper bolts do not absorb any kinetic energy, it is all converted to thermal energy and dissapated to the air.

Shear load yes, but no energy absorbed, except for the slight amount of temperature increase.

The bolts that attach the caliper to the front suspension are not really bolts per se, they are shoulder screws and must be replaced with shoulder screws. You can not the caliper tight if you used regular bolts.

P E H