View Poll Results: Which is better SAE OR METRIC bolts?
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Sae Or Metric?
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Saratoga, NY
Originally Posted by tjc transport
it depends. pre 80's American built cars were sae. newer cars and foreign were metric. neither interchange.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 963
Likes: 1
From: wichita kansas
I like the metric system of bolts as long as everything that I am workng on is all metric. But in the end it doesn't really matter. A bolt is still a bolt no matter what it's size. All I ask is don't mix them up. Use one or the other.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Hudson Florida.
Originally Posted by Timca
Nowdays, you need both to work on anything. Cars come mixed.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 445
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From: Vancouver, Canada
Like SAE myself because I was brought up on it. An engineer friend of mine once said there is a difference to the way the threads are shaped and that the SAE design is stronger - don't know if this is true. If you are a bit older you will remember Whitworth bolts as well - which was an even older (Brit) system. I still have a set of Whitworth wrenches for those old sports cars people have hidden away.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 748
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From: North US Border, Canada
Yeah well, to work on cars you definately need both. And as for the bolts well neither is better than the other. I understand both systems, but metric is definatley a simpler system, Everything is in increments of 10 it doesn't get any easier than that. Who likes to calculate fractions to get things done when you're in a hurry. 10x5=50 10x50=500 etc etc... You get it, metric system is simple, but both are essential in todays world.
Madmike33
Madmike33
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 512
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Prefer metric... but have tools for both... My Ford is mostly SAE with a smattering of metric. The '03 MINI and VW are naturally all metric. Surprisingly, the '73 Volvo is 99% SAE with a couple of metric bolts thrown in to annoy you. We just picked up a '79 Spitfire... so far, everything is metric... even the battery terminal clamps, which surprised me.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 445
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From: Vancouver, Canada
AndrewHR - I must admit there are a number of Whitworth threaded units lost in my basement somewhere (Hillman transmissions , SUs and flathead engines to name a few). There are many differences between these fastener systems and although I like SAE more than Metric, I really like the Whitworth bolts the best. The heads on the Whitworth bolts were slightly larger and the angle of the threads was 55 degrees not 60, which made them stronger. Also, my experience with the old Whitworths was that the bolts and nuts fit tighter as these were the days of cut threads not rolled threads. Guess I'm just an old ludite bugger.....