I know somewhere I have a list of what steels are used in what auto parts but I haven't been able to find it. Does anyone have a list? Specificly, I was given a steering stabilizer for a dodge pickup. It's quite a large piece of stock. I'm thinking I remember this as 4140 but not sure.
Gobbler

you might look here Blacksmithing and metalworking FAQ

Steering stabilizer? If you're talking about a sway (anti-roll) bar it's probably spring steel.

Try:
BP0002 Junk Yard and Rail Road Steels | Blueprints 000-100

All right, let's call it a sway bar. That sounds right. It's about 11/4' in dia. and about 3 plus feet long. A lot of metal stock there. The list only says "steering arms". Are these one and the same? And what about tie rods? Are these the same also?
Gobbler

I'd think it's closer to coil spring spec. Steering arms and tie rods are not parts that flex in use (hopefully).

You are dealing with a sway bar. Spring steel for sure. The same goes for torsion bars.
I have been a mechanic for too long. I have been collecting this stuff for years. German and Asian cars seem to produce better/cleaner steel. Some of the is just plain crazy, you beat away on it for days and get nowhere. Cylinder head bolts out of newer vehicles are real neat. They are made of some exotic slight spring steel. They referred to as stretch yield bolts. The get thrown out after each use. I have buckets of them. They make great punches. Caution, stay away from intake and exhaust valves, some are filled with sodium, bad corrosive stuff.

Not sure what you mean by 'newer', stretch bolts have been in use since the '80s, Escorts had them.

Never seen a sodium filled intake valve, there would be little reason for such expense (intake valves don't need the cooling, they get cooled by the incoming air). The sodium filled exhaust valves are easy to spot, they have big stems since they are hollow. The real danger is not corrosiveness, but explosiveness. But even regular exhaust valves are high temp alloys, not much good to a smith.

Not sure what you mean by 'newer', stretch bolts have been in use since the '80s, Escorts had them.

Never seen a sodium filled intake valve, there would be little reason for such expense (intake valves don't need the cooling, they get cooled by the incoming air). The sodium filled exhaust valves are easy to spot, they have big stems since they are hollow. The real danger is not corrosiveness, but explosiveness. But even regular exhaust valves are high temp alloys, not much good to a smith.

Actually exaust valves make excellent hot work tools. Yes they are small but for punches and decorative chisels they work very well. The Business end can, with some effort, be forged in to heat resistive shapes for molding. Cutting off the stem usually needs to be done with a grinder.

Charlotte. Could you explain more on the valve tools you speek of? Have you actually done this? Pictures?
Gobbler

Actually exaust valves make excellent hot work tools. Yes they are small but for punches and decorative chisels they work very well. The Business end can, with some effort, be forged in to heat resistive shapes for molding. Cutting off the stem usually needs to be done with a grinder.

OK, thanks for that info! :)

I just need to learn what the number's mean, 1040 , Would that mean,, 40 is the carbon, ?????? I'm still learning,, I got some axle's that a friend gave me and was wonder what I could make with them.. Thanks..

Not sure what you mean by 'newer', stretch bolts have been in use since the '80s, Escorts had them.

Never seen a sodium filled intake valve, there would be little reason for such expense (intake valves don't need the cooling, they get cooled by the incoming air). The sodium filled exhaust valves are easy to spot, they have big stems since they are hollow. The real danger is not corrosiveness, but explosiveness. But even regular exhaust valves are high temp alloys, not much good to a smith.

The Sodium filled exhaust valves were used extensively in the old aircraft piston engines (and VERY large--4360 cubic inches, 28 cylinder was the largest ever made) and although I've never seen it or heard from someone who's had first hand knowledge--the sodium filled valves have a tendency to EXPLODE when the sodium is either heated and exposed to air, or just exposed to air. Having this information beat into my head for years and years, I just stay from them to be safe.

I just need to learn what the number's mean, 1040 , Would that mean,, 40 is the carbon, ?????? I'm still learning,, I got some axle's that a friend gave me and was wonder what I could make with them.. Thanks..

Tom , 1040 has 40 points of carbon. Its a simple carbon steel. How big in diameter are the axles? I think if I remeber correctly they are 1045? I would consider making hammers out of em .

Was wandering... I made a screwdriver out of them with a grinder. it worked well. Why when i forge them they get REALLT brittle, the last 2 FELL apart red hot on the anvil?

Short Swing, did you anneal them, first? And don't forge them at too high of a temp. That can make high carbon crack or shatter.