Sigh, I give up, you guys win. So YOU tell the guy why they don't make the pins out of stainless and don't give me that "cost" line because it ain't true. The minuscule difference in cost wouldn't even faze those guys at Daimler 'cause it'd be included in the base car expense.

I don't really know why they aren't SS. All sorts of stuff is made from SS including cheap pots and pans. It could be cost, car makers will cut cost to the penny.

That's not true, cost is always a concern. No one can say for sure in this case without asking the design engineers, but usually they give the vendor a spec to fulfill, like corrosion resistance against 500 hours of salt spray. If coated steel does the trick, and there are no other field issues, then why go more expensive?

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Prost!

Thanks all - yes the blanket statement of stainless being "hard" is plain wrong, if you want a quick description of some of the more commonly available alloys - their strengths, machineabillity etc look at speedy metals (they sell in small quantities). Hit a brake pad backing or a brake pin with a file and you will score both of them.

I asked because I have the equipment to make my own and was wondering if there was an actual reason that I may not be aware of. I figure I'll make some to try out. Now to get a new one so I can get an accurate measurement (99% that the OD is a even metric size) 303 stainless machines really easily (no work hardening problems and is resistant to galling).

Paul

I will give you the cost line because it is a big factor in deciding which materials are used in an application. I know, because I am intimately involved in these decisions.

Why limit your discission to pins? Why not make all parts on a car out of stainless steel? I mentioned cost. But theere can be other factors as well. If you look at stainless in the galvanic series, you's find it would cause the adjacent touching steel components to rust quicker, and even more so if it contacted aluminum. Then there's the issue of sensitization of parts that are either welded or processed incorrectly.

That's why you have pins that are steel that is hopefully zinc or Dacromet coated.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

Well...both of my Mercs have had grotty or even unusable pins when I got them and needed replacements, you don't always get replacements with new pads
Stainless makes perfect sense if you're a 'fit & forget' type - warm salty water corrosion notwithstanding - there are plenty of grades of ss available

....oooh shiney... http://www.pro-bolt.com/Products/0001000b000f003d

or even magnesium !

Stainless cars - and even motorbikes! - have been tried, a big problem is weight

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cheers!!