Reuse Strut/Spindle Bolts??

[Drew2000]

I'm changing the front springs/struts on my 2011 Mustang. Ford says that the bolts and nuts that attach the strut to the spindle (2-per side- #2&3 in the picture) are one time use. I've read that others re-use them w/Loctite.

Discount price is close to $45 w/shipping for four nuts and bolts! I can see changing them on a high-milage car, but my Mustang only has 4000 miles. FWIW, They get torqued to 160ft/lbs

Front Suspension Picture

 

[IndyIan]

I reused them on my Neon twice so far, but the service manual doesn't say not to reuse them. I had one slip once at an autocross with sticky R compounds but it just throws off your toe and camber, and slightly if you don't have slotted strut holes. I drove it home and torqued it properly with no problems since.

I can't imagine even 160 ftlbs is actually stressing the bolts that much, they are huge grade 8's or better I think. Some head bolts are single use as they torque to yeild but I don't think they fool around with stuff like that with suspension...

 

[Trav]

I see a lot of this over the last few years.I get the feeling that in most cases it has to be something about liability or just drumming up dealer parts business.
I did a stabilizer bar on a car last week and even though the rear of the subframe only had to be lowered 1 inch the manual says "support the rear of the subframe,remove and discard the bolts".
These were 14mm thread 10.8 bolts that are torqued to 70ftlbs,not even torque to yield bolts.They had no rust or damage so i put them right back in.
Dealer wants $12 each.

Going back a few years it was very rare that manufacturers dictated throwing perfectly good bolts in the trash.

 

[JasonC]

Ive had them off twice on my 2007 Mustang GT and have reused them with no issues whatsoever.

 

[bdcardinal]

Its one of those things thats probably fine to reuse, but like at my work we would never dare reuse them due to liability.

 

[Drew2000]

Thanks guys....I'm thinking along the same lines. I do know that Ford went to a fine-thread bolt and upped the torque for better clamping. Considering that some folks use much thinner (much less torque ability) "camber bolts", the beefy OEM ones should be fine.

Reading the factory manual, it seems that almost every suspension fastener is "one time use". $$$

 

[lairdwd]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Its one of those things thats probably fine to reuse, but like at my work we would never dare reuse them due to liability.



Hope you don't put new bolts from China on in their place. Would rather have the rusted higher grade bolts on than the [censored] low grade Chinese bolts.

 

[The Critic]

Obviously the choice is yours, but on VWs, the one-time TTY fasteners are no joke. Every so often, you will hear about someone experiencing serious damage after a person reuses a TTY engine mount bolt.