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Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 07 Sep 2013, 10:13
by lsidir
Hi,

when re-assembling, for example the rear trailing arms, should one lightly grease the bolts? I have seen grease on the wheel lug nuts, but what about the allen bolts that tight together the trailing arm, the ball bearing housing, and the brake plate? Is it ok if I slightly grease those ones to prevent corrosion?

cheers

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 07 Sep 2013, 11:50
by Syncrobaz
I always use copperslip but not on caliper bolts.

You probably won't get any comments from the other guys 'cos they're at Busfest ! :ok

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 07 Sep 2013, 11:56
by lsidir
right I forgot that:) Busfest!

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 07 Sep 2013, 18:08
by max and caddy
I'm at Busfest..I copper slip everything!

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 07 Sep 2013, 20:54
by Drunk Aardvark
I have recently been introduced to copper grease. Great stuff

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 08 Sep 2013, 11:13
by syncropaddy
I copperslip everything except anything to do with brakes or steering

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 08 Sep 2013, 16:56
by skippymoss
What if its a bolt with a prescribed torque setting?
Wouldn't the grease alter that?

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 08 Sep 2013, 18:14
by max and caddy
skippymoss wrote:What if its a bolt with a prescribed torque setting?
Wouldn't the grease alter that?


Might do..I do it anyway and will continue to do so...better than rusted in every time.

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 08 Sep 2013, 18:37
by Wychall
Not sure on present regs, but back in the 70's a HGV could fail it's annual test if there was grease on the wheel studs. As mentioned above, greased studs and nuts could not be correctly torqued. The lubricant allowed the nuts to be over-torqued which could lead to stud failure and wheel loss.

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 08 Sep 2013, 19:09
by syncropaddy
skippymoss wrote:What if its a bolt with a prescribed torque setting?
Wouldn't the grease alter that?

No it wont because the prescribed torque is the force applied to tighten the bolt. It will alter the clamping force of the bolt. This is why more and more manufacturers are quoting a small initial applied torque and then angular movement to achieve the required clamping force.

Engineers Edge Engineering Forum ...... its all there!!

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 08 Sep 2013, 21:54
by max and caddy
I think hgvs do still fail if copper grease is visible on the nuts..vw also state that no lubricant should be applied...but then they get stuck in to the point where it damages the threads getting them out and if the car gets a puncture the wheel brace may as well be chocolate..it may be controversial and even illegal but I'm carrying on greasing up my nuts!

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 09 Sep 2013, 07:22
by lsidir
I have read in so many different forums long discussions about whether or not grease effects the torque readings. Maybe we should send it to mythbusters to investigate it:)

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 09 Sep 2013, 07:54
by max and caddy
It certainly affects the tourque readings getting them back out again in ten years time! And the swear word readings!

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 09 Sep 2013, 19:42
by toomanytoys
max and caddy wrote:It certainly affects the tourque readings getting them back out again in ten years time! And the swear word readings!
By not greasing them.. ha ha ha ha

I always use copperslip on just about everything. Coz I know I will be checking it again and I may need to get the fugger off in the future... but just a light dab on the wheel studs.. but only use 100ftlbs to torque them up.. never had a stud break or nut come undone..

Re: Bolts: To grease or not to grease?

Posted: 09 Sep 2013, 19:50
by ..lee..
i`m with alex on this. been copper slipping fixings for years including wheel nut despite knowing you`re supposed to fit nuts dry. never had a problem, the same cant be said with cars that come in new to us.