My Haines manual and Audi shop manual say to replace many fasteners where mentioned in the directions. I have talked with a CSR from one online Audi parts house and he said most of them do not need to be replaced and their kits include the ones that must be replaced.

Any advice on this?

Thanks.

 

Whenever possible replace the fasteners, especially if the factory indicates the need such as the cylinder head bolts and axle bolts.

Some fasteners may be reused, but if they are designed for 'one-use' like the cylinder head bolts, there is no other option but to replace them.

 

They are replaced for a few reasons, some bolts have locktite on them from the factory, some nuts are locknuts, usually not with the nylon ring on them, they are pinched in 3 different angles to make the nut so it isn't perfectly round. Suspension hardware gets rusty and when hard to remove from wheel bearing housings or steering knucles you have to pound them out and they are ruined after that. As another said, torque to yield or stretch bolts like head bolts always should be replaced with new. Not exactly hardware related but plastic clips with new o rings when transferring engine sensors from old to new cooling flanges are a good idea too.

 

Thank you.

John

 

If the torque spec involves turning it x degrees after reaching a certain torque then it's a stretch bolt and much be replaced no matter what, otherwise just replace them if they're rusty or damaged. I like to err on the side of caution so I replace anything that looks even a bit damaged, my local dealership is great with prices so it's worth it paying an extra $5-30 to know that the hardware won't fail.

 

My take on this- many bolts are said to be replaced when there is no need. The only bolts I have ever replaced are internal engine bolts, which are stretch stlye. Wheel bolts? Ive taken them out many times and never replaced them. My wheels have yet to fall off. Realistically, the only bolts off the top of my head that need to be replaced are cylinder head bolts, main bolts, rod bolts, and flywheel bolts.

With all that said, if you order a kit, and it comes with new bolts, might as well replace them. I did when I replaced my control arms. But I always keep all my old bolts just in case. I have parted out 4 or 5 motors and kept all the spare bolts. They really come in handy sometimes