Brake rotor bolts
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
man, hardened bolts stretch too. reuse a head bolt, it comes loose you are on the side of the road pissed off. reuse a rotor bolt, they come loose you could die. I am not an engineer and no were near a mechanic. I do know I have pulled lots of "hardened bolts and seen them stretched.
But, hey if you want to reuse them, it is your life. I would just not advise someone else to.
I just got complete chrome hardware set front and rear, single front, with rotor bolts, all the washers, for less than $50. I am pretty sure you could get OEM bolts for less than half that.
But, hey if you want to reuse them, it is your life. I would just not advise someone else to.
I just got complete chrome hardware set front and rear, single front, with rotor bolts, all the washers, for less than $50. I am pretty sure you could get OEM bolts for less than half that.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
you know it is risk aversion, which makes you change the bolts. at what point do you feel the price is worth the risk?
If your life of "living on the edge" is worth less than $50 dollars, go for it. If you are worth more than $50 then replace them. Money I will gamble with, my life I will not. There is an inherent risk in riding a motorcycle versus driving a car. A reasonable person would not purposely add to the risk just to feel on the edge.
If your life of "living on the edge" is worth less than $50 dollars, go for it. If you are worth more than $50 then replace them. Money I will gamble with, my life I will not. There is an inherent risk in riding a motorcycle versus driving a car. A reasonable person would not purposely add to the risk just to feel on the edge.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee area
Where did you get the chrome set?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
your dealer sells them in sets or individual. it is cheaper to get them individual. some parts guys do not like to look them up and will just walk over and get you the set. If I am going to ask the guy to look up bolts, I go in during non busy hours.
Now for the complete answer: I ordered new wheels, chrome sprocket, floating rotors, chrome spacers, install kits, and all chrome hardware from Chicago HD, a couple of weeks ago.
Now for the complete answer: I ordered new wheels, chrome sprocket, floating rotors, chrome spacers, install kits, and all chrome hardware from Chicago HD, a couple of weeks ago.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 1
From: ,,
Also, you can find grade 8s other places then HD.
Just because you haven't had an issue doesn't mean that others wouldn't I wouldn't advise anyone to tempt fate on this one. Especially because people have reported issues and incidents with bolts snapping...
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 967
Likes: 3
From: Eastern Massachusetts
All bolts stretch, that's how they work. The thread surfaces pull against each other, the bolt stretches and acts like a spring keeping the parts together while friction over the thread surface area keeps the bolt from backing out. There are huge, dry, boring books that describe it in relentless, coma-inducing detail but the short version is that bolts stretch. Personally, I'd be concerned that a hardened bolt repeatedly torqued would get brittle. I'd risk it with the bolt that holds the turn signal on. Not worth the risk in a brake-realated application.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Some of you guys think WAAAY too much & end up WAAAY over engineering you motorcycles in your own mind.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
The point is, you do not have to think, the service manual says to replace them. How exactly are you suppose to reason something with first gathering the proper information. We just pointed out why the information he was given was wrong.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 577
Likes: 4
I think you summed this correctly......"a hardened bolt repeatedly torqued ".
Query. Do you replace the caliper bolts every time you change tires?
Axle bolts?
If a rotor starts to come loose, I will know it long long before ir comes off. The brakes will shake, shudder, pulse, etc. . Keep in mind, properly torqued, with locktite,I am confident my rotor bolts will not come loose...period.
OTOH, if you think you wouldn't know, or if you are concerned, then by all means you should replace them.
QUOTE=Splatter;4912163]All bolts stretch, that's how they work. The thread surfaces pull against each other, the bolt stretches and acts like a spring keeping the parts together while friction over the thread surface area keeps the bolt from backing out. There are huge, dry, boring books that describe it in relentless, coma-inducing detail but the short version is that bolts stretch. Personally, I'd be concerned that a hardened bolt repeatedly torqued would get brittle. I'd risk it with the bolt that holds the turn signal on. Not worth the risk in a brake-realated application.[/QUOTE]
Query. Do you replace the caliper bolts every time you change tires?
Axle bolts?
If a rotor starts to come loose, I will know it long long before ir comes off. The brakes will shake, shudder, pulse, etc. . Keep in mind, properly torqued, with locktite,I am confident my rotor bolts will not come loose...period.
OTOH, if you think you wouldn't know, or if you are concerned, then by all means you should replace them.
QUOTE=Splatter;4912163]All bolts stretch, that's how they work. The thread surfaces pull against each other, the bolt stretches and acts like a spring keeping the parts together while friction over the thread surface area keeps the bolt from backing out. There are huge, dry, boring books that describe it in relentless, coma-inducing detail but the short version is that bolts stretch. Personally, I'd be concerned that a hardened bolt repeatedly torqued would get brittle. I'd risk it with the bolt that holds the turn signal on. Not worth the risk in a brake-realated application.
[/QUOTE]