temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

[toplessvw]

Just wondering how bad of a thing it would be to reuse motor mount stretch bolts for a couple weeks until I can get a stage one engine mount that comes with new hardware, I was not very organized on my timing belt swap and only thought of the engine mounts after the fact but need my car next week. I would just buy new bolts but it seems like a huge waste of $50 for bolts that will be in place for 2 weeks.
If reused what would you torque the bolts to since you can not restretch them?

[BaggedGLI]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

I've had mine out a number of times on the GLI and have reused them, they've never been a problem. Torque spec I used was: tight.

[onceover]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

I'm with Colin on this one

[MechEngg]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

I always reuse those bolts when doing timing belts, never failed. Just make sure not to under or over torque them putting them back in, i use the straight arms pull until i feel it is a good torque technique (left hand on the shaft of the wrench, right hand on the handle of the wrench, both arms straight and pull back with my shoulders etc so i can get a good feel for exactly how tight it is relatively speaking)

[Natty54]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

I've had mine out a number of times on the GLI and have reused them, they've never been a problem. Torque spec I used was: tight.

x2

[witchcraftz]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

I did reuse a bolt and had it snap on me, but it was a few months later so I may have over torqued it.

[Benjamin]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

I have seen many of these bolts snap that were reused. The only bolts that do typically snap are the ones between the engine and mount, not the mount to the frame ones. These were all on tdi's though which are heavier and harder on the bolts due to their low end torque.

In your situation you should be fine, but I would atleast replace the ones between the engine and mount. You are putting on stiffer mounts with less flex which will stress the bolts more.

There will always be those that don't have problems and those that have them snap off. You always hope you are in the no problem camp when you reuse the bolts, but is the gamble worth the payoff? Cost of the bolts is nothing compared to the time and damage caused if they do snap, that's how you should look at it.

In terms of torque, you are going to want to over torque the reused bolts a little I am talking an extra 5lbs or so as you have technically stretched them and the torque is for new bolts, not reused.

Take it easy if you reuse the bolts and limit the hard launches and hard down shifting as this is what puts the most stress on the bolts.

[witchcraftz]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

The only bolts that do typically snap are the ones between the engine and mount, not the mount to the frame ones. These were all on tdi's though which are heavier and harder on the bolts due to their low end torque.
...
Cost of the bolts is nothing compared to the time and damage caused if they do snap, that's how you should look at it.

Yup, I have a TDI and it was the engine side that snapped after doing the Tbelt.
However I was lucky as it fell onto my skid plate.

[dJ]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

Had mine snap and have never reused bolts since. It was on my tdi's but like Ben said. A couple of dollars for bolts vs being stranded somewhere and then having to replace all the mouts and bolts because your engine is hanging down putting all the stress on those two mounts.

[Stonewall]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

Sean and I saw one guy at his place who had a snapped one. He was explaining to us the noise he had while failing to tell us he just did the timing belt and reused the bolts. least to say he caused even more damage for a cheap bolt.

[doubleclutch]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

My motor has come out every winter for the past 5 years. Always reused the mount bolts never had a problem. Your good

[witchcraftz]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

I think the answer is:

Yes - You can reuse them for a short time and you will be safe.

In the long run it is a risk as many have snapped and many have not.

[danosaur]

Re: temp reuse of motor mount stretch bolts

I have seen so many of these bolts shear off from guys doing their own timing belts and reusing them. It's like playing Russian roulette. Any shop that deals with them on a regular basis replaces them when removed. They might last, they might not.. go get some appropriate length grade 8 bolts and then you don't have to worry anymore.