My 98 is getting old enough that I want to start replacing bolts as I work on it. Unfortunately, the dealer charges ridiculous rates. For example, rear differential bolts are $6.60/ea (12 needed).

So I have two questions:
1. Where do I find the specs for each bolt?
2. Where can I get these bolts that meet or exceed oem quality?

 

$6.60 each? Are they made of gold? Are you sure you heard right, that's almost $80. I got new intake manifold bolts from the dealer for like $12 (12 bolts, pretty much a buck a piece)

Actually, everything I've gotten from the dealer so far has been pretty cheap. My TCC/OD Solenoid Assembly has been the most expensive part at $138 with tax...

 

Yup.

The differential cover is part# 4384293AC with a cost of $76.01+tax
The bolts are part# 6036671AA with a cost of $6.60/ea+tax

 

Well I called my local autozone asking about intake manifold bolts and they don't carry anything specific, but you can root and toot through their bolt bin, might find something that'll work. I wouldn't think differential cover bolts would be anything extremely special...

 

I dropped by there this afternoon. I also asked another local parts store. In both cases they said to bring one of the bolts in (which involves getting a ride from someone) and try to match it up...which seems an inexact way to do it. I was hoping for a better solution.

 

You should be able to remove one of the top differential bolts without it causing a leak, and then drive your truck there and match it up,

Or you could just remove a bolt in their parking lot and compare it. Lol

 

you can get some REALLY good stage 8 bolts from hardware stores. Heck, you can get header bolts that have hex heads.

In Ft Smith Arkansas, I went to a Fastener store. Just bring in the old bolt and they will come out with the exact one, OR you can tell them that you want a different head for the same thread size. I did that for my header bolts. Got a 5/16 star head so I can use a 5/16 gear wrench....NICE AND SMALL!!!

 

are you replacing them because they are rusted all to hell?
otherwise - there's no need to replace them cause they'll last for about 200 years.

if you just want to clean them up and repaint them. use a wire brush on a bench grinder and hold them with a pair of pliers. spray with brake cleaner to remove oil.

if you do replace them, here's the ID table.
http://www.engineershandbook.com/Tables/boltgrades.htm

 

Thanks for the URL.

The rear differential has never been touched and the truck has 135k miles. The bolt heads are a bit rusty and the cover is getting definite rush through the edges. My plan was to replace the cover and bolts while I was tearing into it.

I prefer to replace relatively cheap parts *before* they break off and I have to spend a ridiculous amount of time fixing the problem. It also tends to save on cleaning time.

(the truck has been all over the country and has quite a bit of rust at this point)

 

Look in the Dodge parts manual located in the FAQ/DIY section. Most bolt specs are listed in the chart to the right with the part number. This will include diameter, length, and thread pitch. Most bolts are grade 5. Some are grade 8. There is a section in the Haynes manual that shows how various grade bolts are marked on bolt head.