The dreaded pinch bolt replacement (stainless?)

**mrnice.** · 29-01-2013,10:02 AM

Hi,

I have read a lot about the dreaded top arm pinch bolt on the American forums and they seem to be using stainless long pinch bolts (bought from regular hardware stores) and lots of preventative corrosion products and claim that they can remove the pinch bolts with no hassle from then on.

I was wondering if anyone on this forum had tried similiar and what results they achieved? Anyone tried marine grade bolts?

Im no engineer and so dont understand the forces that this bolt will endure so was going to play it safe and get it from Audi but they seem to be a tad expensive for what is essentially a high tensile bolt.

Could anyone tell me if these would do the trick? : M10 x 100 mm A4 Stainless Steel Hexagon Head Bolt Hex Bolts Din 931 | eBay

If not could anyone point me in the right direction of some that will.

I look forward to your swift responses.

Thanks.

**mrnice** · 29-01-2013,10:21 AM

Watching with interest, I had a nightmare with the tre pinch bolts and encased the new ones
with a big layer of copper slip afterward.
dread to think what the upper control arm ones are like!

**Doctle Odd** · 29-01-2013,10:23 AM

I assume they're for the top suspension links? I find that every bolt bends a little I also think most of them are over tightened. When I replace them I tap them through from the inner wing side and put the nut on the outside. If and when it needs to come out again you can easily drive it out with a drift. These bolts are single use.

**zollaf** · 29-01-2013,10:41 AM

stainless to replace a high tensile bolt ???
stainless is fine for some applications but not where a lot of force and stress is involved.
buy new bolts from a dealer or febi etc..., ones actually designed for the job, clean out the holes they go in, fit the new bolts with some copper grease then once a year take 5 mins to remove the bolt , clean it and re fit with grease again. this is a guaranteed way to make them easy to remove in the future, and doesn't involve using a material thats not designed for the job.

**mrnice.** · 29-01-2013,06:17 PM

I did wonder hence asking before doing, Ive got some proper (febi) ones from an indy mechanic who I am friendly with but just wondered if anyone had any good preventative measures to sort Audis mistake out, I always prefer to use new nuts and bolts even when it says you can re use.

I was considering making it part of my 6 month/yearly service shedule as it appears to be an important bolt to unfasten to do a few of the front end repairs, would you recomend, removing it completely, re greasing/anti corrosion agent and then also covering the external knuckle with grease? Should you use a new bolt every time/after a certain time period eg: 5 years? (cheap and easy enough)

**mrnice** · 29-01-2013,09:22 PM

Some interesting stuff here in case the going gets tough removing the old ones:

PINCH BOLT REMOVAL made easy - pics

**Boat_face** · 29-01-2013,10:34 PM

That's a good guide. Cheers for posting. Mine must be due for taking out and replacing with some new heavily greased bolts as well. They've been in there since 2004.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

**vwcabriolet1971** · 29-01-2013,11:39 PM

Originally Posted by zollaf

stainless to replace a high tensile bolt ???
stainless is fine for some applications but not where a lot of force and stress is involved.
buy new bolts from a dealer or febi etc..., ones actually designed for the job, clean out the holes they go in, fit the new bolts with some copper grease then once a year take 5 mins to remove the bolt , clean it and re fit with grease again. this is a guaranteed way to make them easy to remove in the future, and doesn't involve using a material thats not designed for the job.

+1
Without knowing what steel grade the oem part is ,it's difficult to know if A2/A4 grade stainless is strong enough. Stainless parts will probably be not as strong as the original high tensile oem part and also the thread pitch might be difficult to replicate as it will be metric fine pitch series. If the OEM part is given a good coating of copper anti sieze ,the pinch bolt should outlast the life of the car . How many times do you remove a pinch bolt ? It's good practice to renew these in this kind of critical application rather than use the old ones. If you can clean up the holes with a 10mm dia. reamer before appyling the anti sieze so much the better.
I certainly would not gamble on my life or those of my passengers in this guessing game on bolt strengths.

**bootie3367** · 30-01-2013,04:11 AM

How difficult would it be to find out the OEM bolt/thread specs, would aforementioned Febi be able to supply that or would we need to go to Audi and would they even then supply the specs?

Jon

**vwcabriolet1971** · 30-01-2013,04:38 AM

Originally Posted by bootie3367

How difficult would it be to find out the OEM bolt/thread specs, would aforementioned Febi be able to supply that or would we need to go to Audi and would they even then supply the specs?

Jon

I doubt if VW would even respond to a private individual but you may get a response from FEBI.