TorqueReference

Bolt torque, grades and vehicle specs, sourced

M30 bolt torque specifications (8.8, 10.9, 12.9)

An M30 x 3.5 class 8.8 bolt takes 1,117 ft-lb (1,515 N·m) dry, and class 10.9 takes 1,545 ft-lb (2,095 N·m). Both are for plain steel, dry threads (K 0.20) tightened to a clamp load of 75% of proof load.

By the Torque Reference editors 7 sources cited Last reviewed Method
Contents14 sections

Key takeaways

  • Class 8.8 dry: 1,117 ft-lb (1,515 N·m); class 10.9 dry: 1,545 ft-lb (2,095 N·m).
  • M30 x 2 fine carries about 11% more clamp load than M30 x 3.5.
  • About 90% of the input torque goes into friction ⁠1, so the thread condition sets most of the result.
  • With moly paste (K 0.11) class 8.8 drops to 614 ft-lb ⁠2.

Quick facts

Coarse threadM30 x 3.5 (561 mm²)
Fine threadM30 x 2 (621 mm²)
Wrench, ISO 4014/401746 mm
Wrench, DIN 931/93346 mm (same)

M30 bolt specifications

ThreadPitchTensile stress area
M30 x 3.5 (coarse)3.5 mm pitch561.0 mm²
M30 x 2 (fine)2 mm pitch621.0 mm²
Wrench, ISO 4014/401746 mm⁠1

Stress areas from ISO 898-1 Table 4⁠3.

M30 torque by grade

M30 x 3.5 torque, coarse pitch
GradePlain, dry K 0.20⁠1Lubricated K 0.15⁠1Clamp load
Class 4.6419 ft-lb568 N·m314 ft-lb426 N·m94.7 kN
Class 8.81,117 ft-lb1,515 N·m838 ft-lb1,136 N·m252.5 kN
Class 10.91,545 ft-lb2,095 N·m1,159 ft-lb1,572 N·m349.2 kN
Class 12.91,806 ft-lb2,449 N·m1,355 ft-lb1,837 N·m408.1 kN

Calculated with T = K × D × F, where F is 75% of the bolt’s proof load⁠1 and K is the nut factor for each condition. Real preload from a torque wrench scatters by about ±25%⁠4. When the equipment maker gives a torque, use theirs. How these numbers are made.

M30 4.6 torque

Proof 225 MPa · yield 240 MPa · tensile 400 MPa⁠3. Clamp load at 75% of proof: 94.7 kN (M30 x 3.5).

ConditionKM30 x 3.5M30 x 2
Plain steel, dryAs-received black or plain finish, clean threads, no lubricant0.20⁠1419 ft-lb568 N·m464 ft-lb629 N·m
Zinc-plated, dryClean zinc-plated threads, no added lubricant0.18⁠1377 ft-lb511 N·m417 ft-lb566 N·m
Lubricated (oil or grease)Light oil or grease on the threads and under the nut or head0.15⁠1314 ft-lb426 N·m348 ft-lb472 N·m
Copper or metal-free anti-seizeLoctite C5-A copper or N-7000 metal-free anti-seize0.16⁠5335 ft-lb454 N·m371 ft-lb503 N·m
Moly pasteMolybdenum disulfide paste0.11⁠2230 ft-lb312 N·m255 ft-lb346 N·m

M30 8.8 torque

Proof 600 MPa · yield 660 MPa · tensile 830 MPa⁠3. Clamp load at 75% of proof: 252.5 kN (M30 x 3.5).

ConditionKM30 x 3.5M30 x 2
Plain steel, dryAs-received black or plain finish, clean threads, no lubricant0.20⁠11,117 ft-lb1,515 N·m1,237 ft-lb1,677 N·m
Zinc-plated, dryClean zinc-plated threads, no added lubricant0.18⁠11,005 ft-lb1,363 N·m1,113 ft-lb1,509 N·m
Lubricated (oil or grease)Light oil or grease on the threads and under the nut or head0.15⁠1838 ft-lb1,136 N·m928 ft-lb1,258 N·m
Copper or metal-free anti-seizeLoctite C5-A copper or N-7000 metal-free anti-seize0.16⁠5894 ft-lb1,212 N·m989 ft-lb1,341 N·m
Moly pasteMolybdenum disulfide paste0.11⁠2614 ft-lb833 N·m680 ft-lb922 N·m

M30 10.9 torque

Proof 830 MPa · yield 940 MPa · tensile 1040 MPa⁠3. Clamp load at 75% of proof: 349.2 kN (M30 x 3.5).

ConditionKM30 x 3.5M30 x 2
Plain steel, dryAs-received black or plain finish, clean threads, no lubricant0.20⁠11,545 ft-lb2,095 N·m1,711 ft-lb2,319 N·m
Zinc-plated, dryClean zinc-plated threads, no added lubricant0.18⁠11,391 ft-lb1,886 N·m1,540 ft-lb2,087 N·m
Lubricated (oil or grease)Light oil or grease on the threads and under the nut or head0.15⁠11,159 ft-lb1,572 N·m1,283 ft-lb1,740 N·m
Copper or metal-free anti-seizeLoctite C5-A copper or N-7000 metal-free anti-seize0.16⁠51,236 ft-lb1,676 N·m1,369 ft-lb1,856 N·m
Moly pasteMolybdenum disulfide paste0.11⁠2850 ft-lb1,152 N·m941 ft-lb1,276 N·m

M30 12.9 torque

Proof 970 MPa · yield 1100 MPa · tensile 1220 MPa⁠3. Clamp load at 75% of proof: 408.1 kN (M30 x 3.5).

ConditionKM30 x 3.5M30 x 2
Plain steel, dryAs-received black or plain finish, clean threads, no lubricant0.20⁠11,806 ft-lb2,449 N·m1,999 ft-lb2,711 N·m
Zinc-plated, dryClean zinc-plated threads, no added lubricant0.18⁠11,626 ft-lb2,204 N·m1,799 ft-lb2,440 N·m
Lubricated (oil or grease)Light oil or grease on the threads and under the nut or head0.15⁠11,355 ft-lb1,837 N·m1,499 ft-lb2,033 N·m
Copper or metal-free anti-seizeLoctite C5-A copper or N-7000 metal-free anti-seize0.16⁠51,445 ft-lb1,959 N·m1,599 ft-lb2,169 N·m
Moly pasteMolybdenum disulfide paste0.11⁠2993 ft-lb1,347 N·m1,100 ft-lb1,491 N·m

Coarse or fine pitch

M30 x 3.5 coarse has 561 mm² of stress area ⁠3; M30 x 2 fine has 621 mm² ⁠1, about 10.7% more. The gap between the two pitches, 1.5 mm, is the widest in this chart. In class 8.8 dry the fine thread takes 1,237 ft-lb instead of 1,117 ft-lb, 120 ft-lb more, and clamps 279.4 kN instead of 252.4 kN.

Class 8.8 above and below M16

Class 8.8 at M30 uses the over-16 mm values in ISO 898-1: 600 MPa proof stress and 830 MPa minimum tensile strength ⁠3. The clamp load at 75% of proof is 252.4 kN (about 56,750 lbf) for 8.8 and 349.2 kN (about 78,510 lbf) for 10.9. Class 10.9 sits about 38% above 8.8, and 12.9 dry reaches 1,806 ft-lb (2,449 N·m).

M30 is the largest size in this chart, though ISO 898-1 tabulates coarse threads up to M39 ⁠3. Its class 8.8 torque is about twice that of M24.

Wrench size

M30 heads are 46 mm across the flats in both ISO 4014/4017 and DIN 931/933 ⁠1.

Which class you have

Look for the class symbol and maker’s mark on the head ⁠3; see the bolt grades page. Class 4.6 at M30 is 419 ft-lb (568 N·m) dry, so applying the 8.8 value to a 4.6 bolt would put it far past proof.

Where friction takes the torque

Fastenal estimates that about 90% of tightening torque is lost to thread and under-head friction, with about 10% stretching the bolt ⁠1. At 1,117 ft-lb, roughly 1,000 ft-lb goes into friction, so small changes in the thread surface move the clamp load a lot. NASA-STD-5020B assumes 35% preload variation for dry or as-received threads under torque control and 25% for lubricated ones ⁠6; for a class 8.8 M30 dry, 35% is about ±88 kN around the 252 kN target.

When the chart does not apply

Match the torque to the thread condition. Class 8.8 M30 is 838 ft-lb oiled (K 0.15) ⁠1 and 614 ft-lb with moly paste (K 0.11) ⁠2. If you add an extension to the wrench to reach these values, correct the setting with the torque wrench extension calculator. For structural joints, see structural bolts; RCSC does not accept unverified table torque for calibrated-wrench installation ⁠7.

Sources

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