My stem and top cap bolts are rusting from being exposed to sweat and water and want to replace them. Ideally with titanium ones or stainless steel, all in black.

Better bolts has a good selection but I prefer to buy within the EU. Does anybody has a another source?

I was able to order upper and lower Ti shock bolts for a Guerilla Gravity frame from here: RaceTi: Titanium Screw Bolts - Titanium Dirt Bike Race Bolts

 

I've been using them for years. The last order was for the exact bolts for the same frame. Those M8 steel bolts add up. I buy a lot through Better Bolts too. If it can be replaced with Ti it gets replaced.

 

My stem and top cap bolts are rusting from being exposed to sweat and water and want to replace them. Ideally with titanium ones or stainless steel, all in black.

Better bolts has a good selection but I prefer to buy within the EU. Does anybody has a another source?

I've used Titaniumplanet.com for a few orders. They often have strange specific bolts and thinks like seat post bolts/axles etc. that you wouldn't find elsewhere.
R2 bike of course as well but they're very limited. Fine for a stem and some general stuff but not much choice in lengths and colours.

 

 

I know we stupidly voted to leave the EU, but there are quite a few good suppliers in the UK...

Bicycle Titanium Bolts – Lightweight, Durable, and Corrosion-Resistant

Upgrade your bike with our high-quality Bicycle Titanium Bolts. Experience enhanced performance with lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant fasteners, available in various colors to match your style.

www.rideark.com

Bicycle Parts - Page 1 - Pro-Bolt UK

www.pro-bolt.com

Titanium Upgrade Bolts for Mountain, Road, eMTB, Gravel bikes

Enhance your ride with our titanium upgrade bolts. Perfect for mountain, road, eMTB, and gravel bikes. Lightweight, durable, and stylish.

www.uberbikecomponents.com

Bicycle Titanium – TiBike

tibike.co.uk

 

r2-bike.de

 

Just a note of caution, but aluminum stems and Ti and Stainless are both galvanically active, likely even moreso than regular steel bolts. Definitely use grease or antiseize wherever they are in contact, or your problem may just get worse if sweat gets in the joints. (PS, you can also use aluminum for topcaps if you want since they are low-load)

 

Thanks for the heads up! I was planning on getting some Ti prep from Finish Line along with the bolts, it’s just some copper grease in small packages since I rarely need any.

 

After some research I learned that nickel grease is better suited for Ti and Al interfaces. I just can’t seem to find the small package from Permatex in EU stores, only the aluminum based option is available. This leads me to think that there’s maybe some sort of ban in the EU related to products containing nickel??

I just prefer to get the right stuff, if nickel is the preferred option. But I can only find very large quantities with a hefty price tag and I’m just wondering if I should just get ParkTool ASC-1 and move on with life?🤣

My main question is if Ti-Al interfaces need anti-seize, how come an aluminum based grease (ASC-1) is fine as anti-seize if it contains aluminum too.

 

Galvanic corrosion requires an electrolyte solution (like sweat, or just water + ions it strips from the materials / environment).
The most important part of any anti-seize is grease and will solve your issue if it stays in place. Anti-seize solid metal fillers make it a better at staying in place.

I personally would consider the type of metal filler in anti-seize an issue for aerospace applications more than bikes. Mechanics use aluminum anti-seize on just about every combination of metals in the automotive world without issue. I personally would just use a heavy grease or low strength threadlocker myself on my bikes. I save anti-seize for my car where heat and loads are high unlike bikes.

 

I've never used anti seize. Just grease and torque by hand.

 

I use Motul XHP 222 for stuff that needs to move and a ceramic anti-seize for things that shouldn't.
For Ti bolts a lot of the time I just use Loctite 243 never had any issues with galvanic corrosion.