Anybody got a generic source for the ubiquitous "yellow" hardware that is used so extensively on the Japanese autos? Traditional hardware is easy to find, but I'm looking for some of the stuff that has captive washers and I'm not finding sources that sell small quantities. There are some sources that mention "SEMS" (as in pre-assembled?) as a catch name for the hardware with the captive washers, but that name isn't consistently applied.

 

I'm looking for a source that lists by size, pitch, and length. Not by application.  Something like M8 x 1.25 x 25mm long with captive lock and flat washers. Not "seat hold down bolts for a 98 Subaru".

 

I found some stuff on ebay, but there's got to be better selections out there. Anyone got a source that they like?

clipsandfasteners.com has some. Search for M6 SEMS or M8 SEMS and you'll find some goodies. SEMS is short for ASSEMBLED, its the keyword for your searches for sure.

https://www.fastenal.com/web/products/_/Navigation;jsessionid=QyKGJsTHBtkvBZJMSQ7MzNYBNTTsph1zTPp1V6sQ6GKFTCmFTMLl!1674018065!185499280?r=%20~|categoryl1:%22600000%20Fasteners%22|~%20~|categoryl2:%22600051%20Screws%22|~%20~|categoryl3:%22600064%20SEMS%20Screws%22|~

bolts https://www.fastenal.com/web/products/bolts/_/Navigation;jsessionid=QyKGJsTHBtkvBZJMSQ7MzNYBNTTsph1zTPp1V6sQ6GKFTCmFTMLl!1674018065!185499280?term=sems&termca=&termpx=&sortby=webrank&sortdir=descending&searchmode=productSearch&filterByVendingMachine=&r=%20~|categoryl1:%22609389%20Fleet%209and%20Automotive%22|~%20~|categoryl2:%22604789%20Automotive%20Fasteners%22|~%20~|categoryl3:%22604790%20Bolts%22|~

more screws   https://www.fastenal.com/web/products/self-drilling-screws/_/Navigation;jsessionid=QyKGJsTHBtkvBZJMSQ7MzNYBNTTsph1zTPp1V6sQ6GKFTCmFTMLl!1674018065!185499280?term=sems&termca=&termpx=&sortby=webrank&sortdir=descending&searchmode=productSearch&filterByVendingMachine=&r=%20~|categoryl1:%22609389%20Fleet%209and%20Automotive%22|~%20~|categoryl2:%22604789%20Automotive%20Fasteners%22|~%20~|categoryl3:%22604803%20Self-Drilling%20Screws%22|~

Captain,

 

I have gone through some pretty exhaustive searches on SEMS as well and you are correct that many times when you can locate them, the vendor requires a minimum purchase of 100 pieces, or enough to satisfy most of the Z world with that kind of quantity.  Regardless, I have found myself purchasing these kinds of quantities in some cases, because it was the only alternative I found.

 

In any case, in addition to the suggestions above, you can also try the following vendors who I have had good success with:

 

1. Auveco.  Their catalog is enormous but they have just about everything and the minimum purchase is typically reasonable (25 pieces or less).  In addition to SEMS, they have a very good selection of metric parts as well as plastic retainers.  I managed to find an almost exact match for the door panel retainers on this site as well as a lot of other hardware.  If I recall, their distributor is called Dixieland Distributors (or something close to that) and their customer service has been outstanding.  They appear to be a major supplier to the auto industry in general.

2. BelMetric.  Have also used them pretty extensively and very happy with their product as well as customer service.

3. Metric Threaded Products.  They h ave a good selection but their minimum quantities are usually pretty high.  Regardless I have purchased some things from them and very happy with the quality.  I believe that I have a few hundred SEMS in both zinc as well as yellow / cadmium all in M6 sizing so if anyone needs a few of these please let me know.  I have plenty.

 

Hope that helps a bit.

 

Mike.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

Unfortunatelty clipsandfasteners and Fastenal only seem to have bolts with a captive flat washer (no lock) and I'm looking for something with both lock and flat.

 

Mike W, Thanks for the additional source ideas. I didn't get the chance to dig into them yet, but hopefully something will pan out.

 

And if you have a list of what you've purchased in the past... I'm looking for (this time) M6 x 1.00 x 25mm long with both lock and flat washers captive. Of course, too long is fine as I can just cut them off shorter, but it would be nice to find a source where I could buy ten of them or similar parts for other projects.
 

... I'm looking for (this time) M6 x 1.00 x 25mm long with both lock and flat washers captive. Of course, too long is fine as I can just cut them off shorter, but it would be nice to find a source where I could buy ten of them or similar parts for other projects.

 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zinc-Plate-6mm-Hex-Dog-Point-SEMS-1-Bolts-Fender-Body-M6-x-1-Metric-Thread-/221646973461?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item339b306a15

A few here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sems%20m6&sprefix=sems+m%2Caps

Thanks again guys.

 

acarnut, That's the same ebay seller I had turned up, and he's got some stuff that would be good enough. I'll hold out a little longer looking for something better, but that's exactly what I was going to do if something better didn't turn up. (He's got dog point in the length I need, but I'd just end up cutting the dog point off)

 

And Blue, I had previously said that clipsandfasteners didn't have the bolts with both lock and flat washers, but the link from Amazon clearly has a bunch of them. So they're on Amazon, but I couldn't find them on clipsandfasteners.com. Can you figure out where the dual captive washer SEMS are on the clipsandfasteners website? They obviously DO have them!

 

... Can you figure out where the dual captive washer SEMS are on the clipsandfasteners website? They obviously DO have them!

 

It seams like they only have upto M8 at clipsandfasteners. On their website the search term "m8 sems" lists them with both washers but search term "m10

sems" does not.

 

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/searchresults.asp?Search=m8+sems

 

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/searchresults.asp?Search=M10+sems

 

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/searchresults.asp?Search=m6+sems

 

I didn't see M10 with both on Amazon either.

 

Mike

 

 

edit: Sorry I thought you were looking for M10 I searched with "m6 sems" on clipsandfasteners and they do come up with both washers.

 

They are difficult to find without using search, but it can be done:

 

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Metric_JIS_Phillips_Indented_Hex_Head_SEMS_Screws_s/717.htm

 

Had to go:  Home > Screws > Screws, Machine > Metric JIS Phillips Indented Hex Head SEMS Screws

Still a pain as there is no description about the washers.

 

 

Mike, It appears to be a goofy search issue on their website. I found the dual washer versions the same way you did (by searching for "m8 sems") but they don't show up if you search only for "sems" and then choose bolts or screws.

 

So there's just something weird with their search engine.

 

Thanks for the help.