re-use of connecting rod bolts

[Darrell Boehler]

Hi Ben,
     I recently replaced mine. The i5 is new to me so I asked the same question of the list
with little response so I replaced mine on an mc engine.    I tried the torque procedure
on some old ones and noticed the old and the new ones torque  to 45 - 50 foot lbs and
 then started stretching during the 1/4 turn sequence of the torque procedure.  If you reuse
 the old ones you might want to torque them to about 40- 45 lbs instead of using 1/4 turn.
 Might not be a good idea to stretch them twice. I have reused stretch bolts on vw boxer
 engines with no problems.

Darrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben Swann" <bswann at worldnet.att.net>
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 7:01 AM
Subject: re-use of connecting rod bolts


> Question: How critical is it to replace the rod bolts?  Doing bearing
> shells and piston rings in' 87 Turbo Quattro.  I ask because 1) they are
> very expensive, and 2) I can't get them fast enough.
>
> Can't you just reuse the existing ones and use locktite?
>
> TIA
>
> Ben
>