Pressure Plate to Flywheel Bolts - Over-Torqued!

[clmop3l]

Okay,
I was bad and went by the factory manual specs before I noticed that OGTS had included a 4-spd. Trans/Clutch tips page with my parts that point out the incorrect torque specs. And I did not look here before starting the project either- duh....

Anyway, I have already torqued the pressure plate cap head bolts to 34 ft/lbs. I thought 36 was high for so small a bolt, so went a couple of ft/lbs lower and used red thread-loc to ensure they do not back-out.

I got lucky and none of the bolts broke. Now, I'm wondering if I should leave them as-is or pull the bellhousing back off and attempt to take them out and replace?

Will they be okay now that they are already torqued, or should I worry about them shearing off?

I'm concerned that if I try to take them off, they may break due to the already high torque and the red thread-loc. If there is not significant danger of them failing during use, then I would prefer not to attempt the disassembly.

Thanks,

Craig Marquis
73 GT (driver)
71 GT (parts)
73 Manta (driver in the near future - I hope and my neighborhood assn insists)
97 BMW 328IS (my DD)
2000 E350 - (Wife's DD also used to pull 27' TT)
96 suburban (son's DD)

[RallyBob]

It's a good idea to replace them. There are no locating dowels on an Opel flywheel to share the loading, so I'd be concerned with bolt shearing. I've always used better grade 10.9 bolts and torqued them to 28 lb. ft., and they hold strong, even to stratospheric rpms. HTH.

Bob

[GTJIM]

Since you asked the question - you know the answer!
The bolts you have are now stretched beyond their yeild point and the whole clutch assembly is ready to fall off when they let go - so, replace them!

[namba209]

Craig, Loc-Tite is a good product to use in that application, but don't worry about it causing the bolts to shear or snap. It will take just a little bit of force to break the bolts loose, then they should spin right out. Go with Rally Bob's suggestion and get some good grade replacement bolts. HTH.

[clmop3l]

Thanks for the great replies!

I guess I will pull the bellhousing back off - glad I hadn't already installed the transmission.

Next - what grade bolts should I use and should I stick with cap head or go with something else?

Thanks,

Craig

[houserc]

I had an issue with one twisting off as I torqued mine down just about 2 months ago.

My problem came from the fact that the PO had installed four different types and hardness' of bolts to hold the pressure plate down. I first realized this as I drilled out the twisted bolt and had no problem (like a hot knife through butter.).

I went to Lowes Home Center and replaced mine with Cap Sockets of either 10.9 or 12.9 hardness.

The originals looked to be Flange bolts.

Like Rally Bob stated, with the proper hardness, I was able to torque to 24 ft lbs. very easily.

Good luck.

[GTJIM]

Metric Allen head caps are probably too hard - they exceed 12.9 grade.

The best replacement is metric hex bolts with 10.9 grade forged on the heads - and black oxide ones at that because cadminim (silver or gold) plating can also weaken the bolts.

Best is to find some "RiceBoy" Jap car pressure plate bolts with the correct metric thread size and head markings ......

Glad I have an auto!

[Dan-MI]

I agree replace them. The PO of mine had someone replace the clutch and they must have put them in way too tight or used crappy bolts. They did sheer off. Had to replace the cluch plate and flywheel. Luckily a junkyard near by had a flywheel. But it was an expensive fix when the right bolts would torqued correctly would have caused no problem.