I upgraded my 18.5" wsm hardware to 300 series ss after 2 years...no problem...
I uograded my 14.5" wsm today... 3 years old...the nickel plated pos hw that weber ships with wsms...was starting to rust freeze the nuts to bolts...managed to remove without busting out dremel...but if i waited much longer they would have rust frozen and i wouldve spent an hr plus cutting the nuts off...which ive done before.
When upgrading your hw..have reolacement fiber washers...
The oem pos washers disinegrate when trying ti remove...some were melted to the wsm and i had ti use a mud knife to scrape the mess off.
Anyone else wonder which rocket scientist engineer thought it would be a good idea to use flathead bolts on the wsm where you have only several inches fir the bottom leg bolt access....where you cant easily access the bolt with screwdriver.
I uograde all the bolts to hex head which is the only way to go...easy to work with a socket head and easily torques in with the narrow headroom you have for the leg bolts.