ball-joint bolt torque [How to spot a stretch bolt???]

[Ingo D. Rautenberg]

They say to always replace with new because it's a safety-critical area.  To
make this pinch bolt a stretch bolt would make no sense.  I believe that
almost any manufacturer recommends replacing these type of bolts any time a
ball joint is serviced.  The only true stretch bolts are the head bolts.  If
you take one a new one and put it next to a used one, you'll see why they're
called stretch bolts (1/4" longer after use).  I don't believe the subframe
bolts are stretch bolts.  At least not on the Urq.  Or at least not to that
degree.

Ingo

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ameer Antar" <antar at comcast.net>
To: "Quattro List" <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 11:33 PM
Subject: Re: ball-joint bolt torque [How to spot a stretch bolt???]


> (This is for a 5kT type-44)
>
> >Not a stretch bolt, but make sure the thread is
> >facing rearwards.
>
> So why do they say in the Bentley to always replace the ball-joint bolt? I
have my suspicion that it's a stretch bolt b/c of that and b/c it says so in
the manual. The confusion is b/c it doesn't say anything on another page.
How can you tell if the bolt is a stretch type? The bolts for the subframe
are s'posed to be stretched and they had a pointed tip at the end. Is that a
standard for stretch bolts or something? I really want to be sure, cuz it
could be pretty dangerous to stretch the wrong bolt or not stretching the
right one... I'm sure a lot of people have BTDT...any advice??? TIA.
>
> -Ameer
>
>


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