Engine Casing Bolts

[Chappers]

My casings are off to get powder coated tomorrow, and the question is can I replace the oem steel bolts with ProBolt aluminium.

cheers guys

[grog]

Mate, have know idea. My clue would be if Suzuki fitted steel, so would be my choice or stainless. As i said, no idea about ali bolts.

[seth]

You can replace with probolt aluminium ones and lots do but for ones that keep thier finish much longer i fitted the stainless option ones .

[Batkwaka]

Well seems the right spot for this joke then.

A man walks into a Bar with a Jack Russell on a leash.
The Barman asks, "Whats the dogs name"?
"The dogs name is Blacksmith", responds the man.
With a sneer the Barman enquires, "well if I went to kick him, do you think he'd make a bolt for the door"?
"Oh certainly not", chastens the man, "but he will make a spring for your nuts"!

[Chappers]

You can replace with probolt aluminium ones and lots do but for ones that keep thier finish much longer i fitted the stainless option ones .

That was kinda my thought Seth, but there is obviously a big price difference between the stainless and ally, might have to bite the bullet and cough up.

[Hooli]

I'm pretty sure the torque figures will be different for aluminium bolts due to the different elasticity of the metal. Plus you'll get differential expansion as the engine warms up, ali expands more so they won't clamp as hard on a hot engine. Then there's bi-metallic corrosion over time to consider that'll make the bolts seize.

Having said that, I doubt it'll ever give a problem. Personally I wouldn't, but then as most here know I don't do bling.

[SpongeBob]

Max torque for aluminium M6 bolt is 8Nm (hex head) and 6Nm (socket head), hence below suggested torques in Suzuki's manuals.
Max torque for stainless and titane M6 bolt is 15Nm (hex head) and 14Nm (socket head), hence a bit above.
{source: pro-bolt}
Plus Aluminium expansion is to be considered as @Hooli says.

I would go stainless, then, not forgetting to grease the threads to avoid possible bi-metallic corrosion and seizing, and obviously use slightly lower tightening torque as... there is grease on the threads :-)

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Also note most Ali bolts would be single use, whereas with ss you can use over and over provide you don't overtorque them of course.