[s-cars] Yet More Bolt Scientology

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

Good information Bill.  I'm not sure he addressed your questions exactly...

Two points.  First, audi doesn't list ANY documentation wrt the use of A/S.
So, the 81 is a dry torque, Clean Inspect/replace (re)Torque by default.

Antisieze:  The only marque that specifies it that I can find is Porsche, and
they use a wet torque, and use alloy (not steel) lug nuts, *threads* only.

Opinions aside (mine of course being right:), IF you use A/S, again by
definition, the torque MUST be adjusted downward from the stock audi
specifications.  IF you aren't doing this, by definition, you are
*overtorquing* your wheels.  That is putting the wheel in an "extreme"
environment every single day of it's life.  This would require a more
diligent inspection of wheels for cracking (zyglo is the typical consumer
stress crack identifying agent, tho it's accuracy is assured only on an
unpainted wheel = problem).

Using A/S or NOT still requires routine inspection of bolts for signs of
fatigue (stretch, nicks, galling), which also requires routine cleaning to do
so.  And frequent retorques of any non/coated bolt should be routine as well.
 A program of complete hardware replacement isn't such a bad idea either.

Summary:  The CIRT (tm- sj) process should be the standard for ALL wheel
installs, and ANY wheel change (including a removal/remount) should be
accompanied by cold retorque procedures (right now the consensus is that 50
and 150 miles post is a good guildeline, more if "extreme" environment).

HTH

Scott 3dubua Justusson