3
Identification and Measurement
1: Identifying Cap Screw Grades
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has created specications that cover chemical and
mechanical requirements for threaded and non-threaded fasteners as are used widely within automotive
and other industries.
The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) has created specications that cover chemical
and mechanical requirements for fasteners used in engineering applications, such as structural bolts
used in building.
In the overall MRO (Maintenance Repair Operations) market, the wide majority of the hex head cap
screws used are covered by SAE specications. These cap screws are graded by the SAE by strength
levels, and are head-marked to reect the SAE grade and strength (See Table 3.1.1).
20
3: Identication and Measurement: Identifying Cap Screws
Table 3.1.1
Varying cap screw grades, their specications, details, and identifying markings.
Head
Markings
Nominal Sizes
Tensile Strength
(PSI)
Rockwell Harness
1/4 thru 1-1/2
60,000
B70-100
1/4 thru 3/4
7/8 thru 1-1/2
74,000
60,000
B80-100
B70-100
1/4 thru 4
60,000
B69-100
ASTM A307 - Gr. B
1/4 thru 4
60,000
B69-95
SAE J429 - Gr. 5
ASTM A449 - Type 1
1/4 thru 1
over 1 thru 1-1/2
120,000
105,000
C25-34
C19-30
over 1-1/2 thru 3
90,000
B183-B235
1/2 thru 1
over 1 to 1-1/2
120,000
105,000
C24-35
C19-31
1/4 thru 1-1/2
150,000
C33-39
1/4 thru 2-1/2
over 2-1/2 to 4
150,000
140,000
C33-39
C31-39
Specications
Material
SAE J429 - Gr. 1
SAE J429 - Gr. 2
ASTM A307 - Gr. A
ASTM A449 - Type 1
A325
ASTM A325 - Type 1
SAE J429 - Gr. 8
ASTM A354 - Gr. BD
A490
A490
A490
Low or Medium
Carbon Steel
Medium Carbon
Steel, Quenched
and Tempered
Medium Carbon
Steel, Quenched
and Tempered
Medium Carbon
Alloy Steel,
Quenched and
Tempered
SAE J429 - Gr. 1
Grade 8.2
Low Carbon
Martensite Steel,
Quenched and
Tempered
1/4 thru 1
150,000
C33-39
ASTM A490
Type 1
Medium Carbon
Alloy Steel,
Quenched and
Tempered
1/2 thru 1-1/2
150,000 min
170,000 max
C33-38
ASTM A490
Type 2
Low Carbon
Martensite Steel,
Quenched and
Tempered
1/2 thru 1
150,000 min
170,000 max
C33-38
ASTM A490
Type 3
Atmospheric
Corrosion
Resistant Steel,
Quenched and
Tempered
1/2 thru 1-1/2
150,000 min
170,000 max
C33-38