MECHANICAL FASTENERS

TYPES AND
APPLICATIONS
 INTRODUCTION

 Mechanical fasteners include nuts and

bolts, screws, solid rivets, pop-rivets and
a wide variety of devices for securing
components together.

 They are most often used for securing

parts that may have to be adjusted or
removed in order to repair or replace
them.
 TYPES OF FASTENERS

They can be divided into two groups:

 Those that require access to both sides,
like a nut and bolt where a spanner is
needed on both the nut and the bolt.
 Those can be secured from one side as
with a pop-rivet, self-tapping screw or a
setscrew screwed into a captive nut.
 BOLTS

Bolts have a plain shank to pass though the

components and a short threaded portion for
the nut that goes on the end.

The size shown on a metric

spanner indicates the width
across the flats of the nut or
bolt head.
 SETSCREWS

Are threaded along the whole

of their length which reduces
the need to have bolts of
different lengths.

They can be screwed into a

captive nut until the parts are
pulled together.
 NUTS

There are several types including

castellated nuts that use a split pin or wire
to secure them in place.
 NYLOC NUTS

The nyloc nut has a

nylon insert that grips
the thread
 FLAT WASHERS

Flat washers spread the

load and prevent the nut
or bolt marking the
component.
 SPRING WASHERS

Spring washers are

made of hardened steel,
they have sharp edges
that cut into the surface
and prevent nuts from
working loose.
 SHAKEPROOF WASHERS

These are designed to grip the surface of

the component and the underside of the
nut to prevent them from coming loose.
 SELF TAPPING SCREWS

These are used to fasten removable vehicle body

components in place, they can be screwed directly
into the material that they are securing together
because they cut their own thread.
 SLOTTED SCREWS

The correct
screwdriver
must be used to
avoid slipping
and damaging
the slot
 PHILLIPS SCREWS

These have slightly rounded corners in the

tool recess, and are designed so the driver
will slip out, or cam out, under high torque
to prevent over-tightening.
 POZIDRIVE SCREWS

Are similar to Phillips, the advantage it

offers is that, it does not cam out, allowing
great torque to be applied.
 ALLEN SCREWS

Allen Screws use an

hexagonal key, they
are often used for
countersunk or
recessed fasteners.
 TORX SCREWS

Torx fasteners use a splined tool, there are

internal and external types.
 CAPTIVE NUTS

 Are used to speed up assembly times and where

access is difficult or impossible on the other side
of the component.

 They come in several types, nuts that are welded

or riveted in place, nuts that are secured in a
metal bracket or clip.

 Plastic blocks, spring steel clips, often referred

to as spire speed nuts and threaded metal plates
secured within car doors and hinge pillars etc.
 CAPTIVE NUTS

A wide range of captive nuts include those

that secured by metal cages, welded,
crimped and plastic blocks.
BODY PANEL BOLTS
 SPIRE SPEED NUTS

These are often used in conjunction when self-

tapping screws are used to secure plastic or
sheetmetal components, making them more secure
and less likely to work loose or pull through.
SPIRE SPEED NUTS
 POP RIVETS

Are often used to

secure body panels and
trim, but are not
suitable for securing
heavy components.
 PLASTIC TRIM CLIPS

 These come in a wide range of types

some can be reused but many of these
need to be renewed as they are often
damaged if they have to be removed.
INTERIOR TRIM CLIPS
WING LINER FASTENER