The reason HD wants you to use new bolts is because they come with Loctite pre-applied. You can reuse your old bolts and put on new Loctite and have no issues. My stock bolts were in and out 2-3 times before I went with chrome ones.

 

Chrome replacement bolts are $6 a set. Makes sense on part that could be your life.

 

Bolts "stretch" when torqued. Critical fasteners should never be reused because of this.
Too much stretch can eventually end up breaking.

 

Exactly why HD says to use new bolts. Pretty cheap insurance against breaking.

 

Well im different I cleaned my bolts up and used blue locktite and its been fine.. A little tip on the bolts.. After you sand and polish your rotors. I started with 80 grit on my d/a sander then 150 then 320 then I wet sanded them with 400 1000 and 2000.. Then I used regular 3m rubbing compound to bring up the shine.. For the bolts I chucked them up im my cordless drill and used some wenol on a rag and placed the bolt head in the wenol and fired the drill up and it polished them right up and they look great.

 

I've reused my rotor bolts without issues on more than one occasion. Funny that they only recommend replacing the front ones, but say it's okay to reuse the rear ones.......

 

Just swapped my rotors on my 05 RKC and replaced all three sets & applied a dab of blue lock-tight. I was going to re-use the originals, but after reading the manual and inputs of others from several forums, it was a no brainer--repace them. Seems the threads lose their strenth when they're torqued down which makes them weaker and vulnerable to snapping off or backing out. Of course the red lock-tight well keep them in, but try getting them off with ease when that time comes around.

Believe me, I'm a cheap bastard when it comes to saving $ where possible, but this is one area that safety & peace of mind is worth paying for. Front rotor bolts were about $12 each seat X2 = $26, Rear (larger diameter bolt) was about $13 a set. This is for a nice HD Chrome set that matched the rotors, I'm sure the non-chrome stock set would be a lot cheaper.

 

excellent information. i will get the chrome bolts, get an inexpensive d/a sander and save some $$. 6" sander or 4" ?

any other tips on polishing?

thx again! tin

 

Hello,

I have a 2008 Ultra classic and am looking to buy a right front rotor part #4108-08 ?
If anyone has one laying around that they would like to sell, please let me know. I can pay with PayPal + 3%.....thank you

roadkingc05@aol.com

 

I had mine off last year and decided to paint the centers black, while they were off, I took all the hardware (I reused the old bolts with new locktite) to the polishing wheel and boy did it all shine up nice!! Even the axle spacers turned out nice, took me about 30 mins with some red rouge on the buffing wheel....