Re-use Driveshaft bolts?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 114
From: Lawrenceburg, KY
Re-use Driveshaft bolts?
Somewhere I think I read that it's advisable to not re-use the 12 driveshaft bolts on a C5 torque tube rebuild. Is this true?
I'm going to be rebuilding my torque tube in my 2004 manual coupe and am collecting all of the parts together. I've got the 3 bearings, the rubber couplers and the "slinger", but need to know if I should order new bolts as well.
I'm going to be rebuilding my torque tube in my 2004 manual coupe and am collecting all of the parts together. I've got the 3 bearings, the rubber couplers and the "slinger", but need to know if I should order new bolts as well.
Uneducated autodidact
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 252
From: West of the Sabine, Texas
I rebuilt mine, and I reused them. I used heat to melt the thread locker when I removed them, so no real stress on the bolts. I have heard the same thing about replacing them but they're not one time use (torque to yield) so I didn't.
What couplers did you buy?
What couplers did you buy?
Last edited by frodo84; Oct 17, 2019 at 08:44 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 302
From: CSRA, SC
There's no reason not to reuse them. I reused mine just fine as well. I did have a problem that I foolishly relied on what was left of the original thread locking nylon compound (which of course was beaten up from being fastened and unfastened) and my bolts walked out and started beating on the front bearing while i was 200 miles from home and I didn't know what was truly wrong until I got it apart again. I disassembled the entire driveshaft, cleaned the bolts thoroughly with degreaser and wire wheel and reassembled with thread locker. No issues! Learn from my mistake. 
EDIT: side note: do yourself a favor and buy an expensive USA made torx bit for those bolts. You WILL destroy ANY and ALL china made POS tools trying to get them out. Once you twist the head on a cheap tool you'll damage the head of the bolt and it will be even harder to get out. Those MFers are STUCK in there with that blue nylon thread locking compound. Learn from my mistake!!
EDIT: side note: do yourself a favor and buy an expensive USA made torx bit for those bolts. You WILL destroy ANY and ALL china made POS tools trying to get them out. Once you twist the head on a cheap tool you'll damage the head of the bolt and it will be even harder to get out. Those MFers are STUCK in there with that blue nylon thread locking compound. Learn from my mistake!!
Last edited by oharal; Oct 23, 2019 at 08:43 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
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From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
Agreed on the good torx bit and thanks for the warning on the thread locker.
I have reused the bolts without problems. However, It wouldn't be a bad idea to replace them especially if they experience abuse such as very worn bearing/couplers or big HP hard launches.
I have reused the bolts without problems. However, It wouldn't be a bad idea to replace them especially if they experience abuse such as very worn bearing/couplers or big HP hard launches.
