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Seriously, McMaster treated me like dirt on an order over a decade ago and I've made a point to avoid them since. In that time it's cost them tens of thousands from me which, honestly, is such a paltry amount to them compared to daily sales that they don't care. Then again, that was the point for me ‐‐ they don't care. MSC has treated me far better but sadly they don't have the depth and breadth of McMaster's product line.

 

I checked those threads this evening with a fine thread 7/16 tap which was a bit too small to really work with those threads. Luckily, I tried a M12x1.25 tap I had laying around and it made a very light cut in the existing threads to make them M12x1.25. I just ordered a 10.9 M12x1.25x100MM fully threaded bolt that should arrive here shortly. Thanks to all for the ideas for my dilemma..

 

Well we don't know the details so can't comment on that. If I need something from them I order it threw work. We regularly buy from them and don't have issues. You do have to pay attention to what you are buying, If you want hardware sometimes they only sell them in a bag of a certain # of them. What I really like is they have spec sheets so it tells you everything you want to know for dimensions etc.

 

Over the years, I've used a bunch of industrial suppliers - MSC, McMaster-Carr, BelMetric, Fasternal and Grainger to name a few - for me, it all comes down to price, sometimes quality and availability of the item(s).

 

I stay away from Grainger, There are a few around me and years ago they gave me a hard time because I wasn't associated with a business. They said I couldn't buy anything unless you were from one. They have since changed but are more expensive than others. I acquired some bolts years ago, They are grade 8 (carbon steel) with a stainless steel coating. Strength from the grade 8 and corrosion protection from the stainless coating. Smart! Not exactly easy to find.

 

I use Grainger rarely due to their high prices, but like using them when I need 'a quality, hard to find part'.

 

I just plug Grainger part numbers into Zoro. I'm not sure I've ever ordered from Grainger-proper, and yet Zoro is the same thing and I use them when they're competitive on price.

 

Never heard of Zoro before, Have to check them out next time I need something.

 

Welp the plot thickens for me. Went to tap out the lower caliper pin hole on the knuckle and it turns out that it was already repaired once with a Helicoil. They did not use thread locker so the helicoil pulled out with the tap. It turns out that one of the threads in the helicoil was flat sided towards the end. I ordered a new helicoil and red loctite to make the repair. The threads in the knuckle for the helicoil are in good shape, but I will chase them any way with the supplied tap in the helicoil kit. Now if I can only get the steering stabilizer off, the front will be complete for now until I have to replace something else. Thank you for all the help.

 

Truck is back on the road. Fixed the knuckle with a new Helicoil and got the steering stabilizer off with a small pitman arm puller from Habor Freight. Front is done for now. Next weekend will be back brakes and shocks. Thank you for all of the help.