Brass—Brass rod end bolts resist corrosion in humid and wet environments, but not as well as stainless steel bolts. They're also not as strong. Often, brass bolts are chosen for their look, or to match other components, such as hinges.

303 Stainless Steel—303 and 304 stainless steel rod end bolts won't rust in humid, wet, and washdown environments. They're stronger than brass bolts and nearly as strong as steel. They will rust when exposed to salt water and chemicals, however.

Black-Oxide 303 Stainless Steel—Black-oxide 303 stainless steel rod end bolts have a matte-black finish that adds some corrosion resistance but is mostly chosen for its looks.

17-4 PH Stainless Steel—17-4 PH stainless steel rod end bolts have the most tensile strength—a similar amount to high-strength alloy steel. They also won’t rust in humid, wet, and washdown environments. Even at high temperatures, they maintain their excellent strength and corrosion resistance, so they’re often used in automotive drive trains and heat exchangers. However, they’ll rust when exposed to salt water and chemicals.

316 Stainless Steel—316 stainless steel rod end bolts are our most corrosion resistant, and they're nearly as strong as steel rod end bolts. Use them in areas with salt water, chlorine, and chemicals without worrying about rust.

ASTM A276, ASTM A564, ASTM A582, and ASTM B16—ASTM rod end bolts meet a standard for material.