Fact is that replacing a manufacturers recommended grade 5 bolt with a grade 8 is just a bad idea. They spec their stuff the way they do for a reason. Maybe if the bolt holds up because it is grade8 it will lead to a more substantial, costly, or dangerous failure elsewhere in the system.
I gotta disagree here wholeheartedly. The bottom line..... on any rig build, whether it be a trail ridin jeep, rock crawlin jeep, a mud boggin chev or a racin chev, is make it as strong as physically possible, everywhere you can. Making 1 point weaker than another is just going to leave you stranded somewhere, gettin towed out, who cares if its a $100 part or a $200 part, busted is busted lol.
What's to disagree with. Manufacturers are making systems with failure points in them. The bolt will give before a more costly component will. So if you are only replacing fasteners then you should stick with the same. If you are replacing components then by all means fasten with something as strong as the new components. I said specifically something about matching manufacturers.
I did however fall prey to a common misconception about the grade 5's ability to give a little before breaking. Upon further research I see that's not the case. Sorry for the miss info there guys. That's one I've always been told and had no reason to disbelieve until reading it in black and white today.
Seems a whole lot like you are just wanting to pick at something bud. Bottom line is we sound very much alike. I don't beleive in building a "fuse" into the system in any way. I have no use for the Warn hubfuse either. But then again my rig is a long ways from a hubfuse or grade of bolt discussion. I agree completely about building it as strong as possible, no breakage ever. But when dealing with stock or aftermarket components you need to match everything, including fasteners to make it all function properly together. If you build your own or have something made for you then by all means match everything again, this time as strong as your custom stuff.