My rearend is leaking at the gasket. I just changed the fluid about 1000 miles ago and i cleaned the old gasket off real good, applied orange rtv and stuff. I am gonna have to redo it i guess because of the leak. Most of the bolts down there are almost rounded out so i would like to put in new ones. I am using stock rear end cover.

Do i need to go through the extra trouble and costs to get grade 8 bolts for it?
or can i just use the matching bolts from aco or whatnot

(I know they aren't grade 8 but i dont think that they are the weakest ones either, i forgot)?

BTW,
Also, theres a bolt missin on my alternator i need to replace. Do i need a grade 8 bolt there or will anything work?

 

I think regular hardware grade stuff is fine for the cover.

Rich

 

grade 5 is probably more than enough for the diff cover, the cover doesnt do anything besides hold the oil in so its not under high stress

many auto parts places have gm alt bolts

 

None of the bolts that you described see high loads, therefore Grade 8 hardware is overkill.