I put an uprated rear ARB (Neuspeed) on the VRS TDI estate today. Easy job until I put the 4 spline bolts for the ARB brackets back in. The manual says torque to 20nm then turn another 90o. I thought something was odd as I couldnt feel the bolts tightening. I stuck on the torque wrench (set to 20nm) and continued - well bugger me the bolt snapped in half before 20nm was even reached! Took out the 3 others which were waiting for the torque wrench - all had stretched hugely and were useless. Luckily I had some new high tensile bolts to replace them with.

But why use these darn things in the first - 20nm is nothing. They obviously expect you to replace them every time they are undone (Pity Neuspeed didnt think to include them with the kit then) and charge you for the pleasure. Trouble is, this sort of thing makes a simple job hugely cumbersome as no doubt I would have to order then as dealers keep bog all in stock these days. So a job that takes 45 mins takes 4-5 days - just great isnt it.

Another thing: I wanted to replace the copper washers at the brake caliper/hose banjo joint on the fabia VRS as we uprated the brakes to 312mm. Went to buy some washers from the VAG dealer after Megaspares had proved that they werent mega at all, but you cant, they are captive and you have to buy the whole new brake hose with the 2 washers.

I wanted a brake bleed nipple as well - have had to order that too.

When I was a student I could get on my bike and cycle down to the car parts place in Harbourne and come back 30 mins later with a steering rack, brake caliper and everything I needed to get my mini through its MOT one more time. How times have changed.

Old Git mode OFF

OK Ive bored you all to death already, so back to my main point. I understand why stretch bolts are used in high tensile applications where torque control is important (eg cylinder heads) but why use such a thing (they have to be made out of "soft " stuff) for such a low torque application (ie ARB brackets). It just doesnt make sense to me.

For more info on bolt design try this :

Bolt Science Web Site

Out of tune torque wrench maybe?

Did you put them in dry or did you grease them ?