How hard is it to replace battery terminals? (searched)
 

I just realized today that my negative battery terminal is cracked right in half and loose as hell. I've never had to replace terminals on any car before so how hard would it be and where can I get replacement terminals? I would prefer some after market terminals as the stock ones seem to be made of really soft metal that nicks pretty easy and apparently breaks easy. thanks for any help and advice you can give.

It pretty easy. Just go to your local auto parts store and get a replacement terminal. I'd do both the positive and negative. Take a hammer and chisel (or a screwdriver) and brackway the terminal from the wire. I like this method better then cutting the wire so that the wires aren't to short. The new terminals will bolt right on.

Most battery terminals are a soft metal... They're Lead.

OBLIGATORY WARNING: LEAD (Pb) is POISONOUS. Avoid getting it into your bloodstream and wash hands after handling.

Most of the ones you are gonna get at the local auto parts store are gonna be lead with a little clamp. I don't much like these, as they leave the wire exposed and invite corrosion.

I suggest hitting up a dedicated battery store. The local Batteries Plus store has steel crimp on ones in the area where they make custom battery cables out of 0/0 gauge wire. remove the stock connector and if necessary, cut it back till you have CLEAN, SHINY copper. Crimp on a new connector, then seal with weatherproof heat shrink...

I figured the terminals seemed like lead. I have a 2000 subaru impreza 2.5rs and the terminals on that are thinner and seem more durable which is why I asked about different types. I don't think there are any dedicated battery shops within 2 hours drive of where I live, just advance auto,napa,etc. so I'll try there I guess. thanks for your help, I thought I would have to change the whole wire with it.

If you don't mind the lesser quality the auto parts store terminals have bolt-on crimps. You'll be done in no time. Ya, it could corrode, but it could be years (more?) before the effects of that are noticeable.

You should wash your hands after handling lead (and certainly before eating) but unless you spill acid on the lead and then handle it 1,000 times as you work with it for a living I wouldn't worry. We used to make tons of things out of lead until we realized "Hey, 20 years of exposure to this stuff isn't so good for you." You should see the old black & white superman episodes where this was great for superman whenever kryptonite became a problem. "Hey, Jimmy, that common household object over there is lead, use that!"

Older cars use the lead terminals where the lead was melted, poured into a mold of the terminal, and the wire was put in the molten lead.

Newer cars use tin plated copper or even steel terminals that are crimped on.
These are the terminals I suggested using and the ones that they offer at the battery store.

See if there's a heavy truck shop around you. Forklifts and shit use lead acid batteries.

I bought mine at TSC (Tractor Supply Company). They are really heavy duty.

there are a few tractor places around, I'll take a look there and see if they have some good ones. I'm not in a hurry, the car is still put up until I can afford a fender and then need to drive it to my brothers shop to put on a new rocker. being without a job makes it hard to afford things,lol. thanks for all the input and I understand the safety tips concerning lead. I always wash my hands after working on my FC anyway as it is so dirty and rusty anyway, working on restoring her as it is more then salvagable.

Dont use the lead ones they sell. They suck. Use crimp terminals...they aren't much more.

I just tossed some lead terminals on my car last year and they corrode like crazy, and I get half of an ohm of resistance across them....they suck.