Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All

I need to start to thinking about work on the brakes an rear suspension, my question is . Whats best to use for replacing the bolts on the swing arms and other suspension components. Are just plain old bolts from a engineering suppliers ok as I can get these through work , or do they need to be a certain grade due to the stress's involved in suspension components.

any help will be gratefully received


James

good question,have wondered about that myself as could get some from work if they are ok

Are the old ones damaged?

No

not yet but I dont hold much hope of getting the old ones out in one piece

James

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ailing+arm

personally I'd get them from VW if I could, sure they aren't cheap but they are the correct ones fit first time. Beware that if you are removing the rear trailing arms you will probably have to cut the outer bolts (1mm cutting disc or similar) and then replace the bush as the bolt and the inner sleeve of the bush are likely to have corroded together, often the same on the lower control arm inner bolts at the front. Unless you need to strip and replace , or intend to to fit new bushes ,I'd leave well alone, tin of worms stuff sometimes.

fidget wrote:Can you still get new bolts from VW I was lead to believe that most parts were obsolete now.

You would be surprised at how much you can still get. Either from the UK or classic in germany

Thinking about it now our my local dealer isnt that clever when it comes to there parts department.

James

they are not clever without part numbers..

N 010 1675
hexagonal head bolt
M12X1,5X105 /

481 501543 X 2 of these
washer

N 101 05507
hexagonal nut
M12X1,5 /

251 501 577
cover cap

and if you wanted a bush 251 501 131A
but the brickwerks one is better

but the brickwerks one is better

er brickwerks one is different, polybush, firmer, easier to fit, but not necessarily better ,depends what you want

hi all,

As an marine / gas turbine engineer I'm using high tensile nuts and bolts all the time and I have just replaced all the nuts and bolts in my steering system and suspension. Firstly having just changed my rear swing arm bolts I can confirm most people owning these aged vans will have to cut the bolt and renew the bush as they corrode solid inside the bush I spent ages trying to free my bolts and ended up cutting them. the correct grade for all suspension bolts and steering bolts (I managed to get all my steering bolts / nuts from VW) are High Tensile Grade 10.9 do not use 8.8 as they are not strong enough. Remember if you use a 10.9 grade bolt its for a reason usually safety and the torque required to secure the swing arm Bolts are also 10.9, beware there are 2 parts to a fastening the bolt and the nut, usually if the bolt is 10.9 then the grade of nut will be grade 10 or higher, using a lower grade nut will reduce the strength of the fastening arrangement.
The usual grade of nut / bolt most people get their hands on are course thread metric grade 8.8 bolts with grade 8 nuts do not use these where your life depends on them! most hight tensile bolts used in safety areas (have a look at your safety belt securing points) have a fine thread and are at least grade 10.9 with a nut to suit. For those the do not know the grade can be found stamped on the end of the bolt usually on the head and on one of the flat faces of the nut. If you can not find it or are using an unknown bolt from your come in handy stock do not use if you do not know what it is.
Using bolts again is fine in most areas but again do you know that they have not been over torqued by the previous owner? and most nuts will have a locking arrangement that should not be reused. its up to you!

Lastly do not replace carbon steel bolts with stainless bolts they might not corrode but they are not graded in the same way and will not be up to the job.

Hope this is helpful

Hi Bert2

thats a great help , im able to source 10.9 and 12.9 bolts and cap head screws through work with a heathy discount so thats one problem solved

James