Game Over for these Turbo Bolts

[WhiteCloud]

You have to love the man-machined threads on these turbo bolts! I should really open up my own machine shop run by me and friends :grinno: My exhaust gasket blew shortly after the turbo install, perhaps because the bolts didn't thread properly in the first place. Well, I tried to pull the 4 bolts (after soaking them in PB Blaster and easing them out gently). Here's what they look like:

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Then I realized that a few of them were no longer coming up Not good. I just tackled the project again today with some buddies because it was nice weather--we got all of the bolts out, but this is what three of them looked like!

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Could someone please tell me wtf I did wrong!? I soaked the bolts in PB Blaster, the engine was a little warm, I eased the bolts, breaking them loose in order and loosening them in a cross pattern.

Lol I think the only bolt that survived was the one we didn't reuse. The only thing holding my turbo on right now is the downpipe and lines Hopefully it will be alright until I can figure out what to do to solve this problem. I won't be driving it though.

Gotta love the machining on those 3 bolts, though...nice work eh?

So should I just pull the turbo, take off the exhaust housing and have it retapped? Should I pull the manifold to see if the threads survived? What's the next step...

 

[Burnett03]

You have to love the man-machined threads on these turbo bolts! I should really open up my own machine shop run by me and friends :grinno: My exhaust gasket blew shortly after the turbo install, perhaps because the bolts didn't thread properly in the first place. Well, I tried to pull the 4 bolts (after soaking them in PB Blaster and easing them out gently). Here's what they look like:

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

Then I realized that a few of them were no longer coming up Not good. I just tackled the project again today with some buddies because it was nice weather--we got all of the bolts out, but this is what three of them looked like!

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

Could someone please tell me wtf I did wrong!? I soaked the bolts in PB Blaster, the engine was a little warm, I eased the bolts, breaking them loose in order and loosening them in a cross pattern.

Lol I think the only bolt that survived was the one we didn't reuse. The only thing holding my turbo on right now is the downpipe and lines Hopefully it will be alright until I can figure out what to do to solve this problem. I won't be driving it though.

Gotta love the machining on those 3 bolts, though...nice work eh?

So should I just pull the turbo, take off the exhaust housing and have it retapped? Should I pull the manifold to see if the threads survived? What's the next step...

it happens. they get 1400+ degrees over and over, its bound to happen. Try to tap the threads or worse, helicoil it. I just had the same problem.

 

[WhiteCloud]

Thanks for the support...nice to know I'm not the only one who screwed this over. I just want my car back to good running shape again

The idea of studs with nuts on either side was suggested to me...but I'm a little wary of such an idea.

 

[sbiggi]

Isnt it fun ?

3 broke off in my 7cm housing...
Got a new pte 50 trim, 3 broke off in that housing. Had to get the drilled and helicoiled.

I was useing anti seize too, but just the regualr time. I've heard that there is a ceramic anti seize that is good for 1000+ deg, maybe see if you can find that stuff.

 

[NDgsx]

Yeah thread galling is normal. I have some super hi temp anti seize that I use and every once in a while I'll still run into problems.

 

[WhiteCloud]

Just wanted to report back after having solved the problem. The solution was buying new turbo to manifold bolts (I went with OEM, but I've heard that FFWDconnection.com has nice SS ones), getting the turbine housing resurfaced, and getting the bolt holes in the turbine housing helicoiled.

The labor for the resurfacing and helicoiling cost me $50 flat, and the turbo bolts were like $35 shipped.

Unfortunately, when putting the turbo back on, one of the bolt holes for the oil drain line began to strip! So, now that everything is back together, one side of my return line is not fully sealed and oil leaks out of it at higher rpm.

Moral to the story: be careful with bolts! If it doesn't feel like it is going in, stop and realign it! Thanks for all the help from people who gave me advice in this thread and elsewhere.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

Yup.

Every single time I take those bolts out they either come out looking like those pics, or break off in the housing.

Pretty ghey.

 

[DSMTurbos]

copper antisieze from autozone, advanced, napa etc. good for 2000 degrees, been using it for about 4 months now with pulling my turbo and manifold about 5 times since then for various things, never had a single problem since using it

 

[BoostedTalonTS]

copper antisieze from autozone, advanced, napa etc. good for 2000 degrees, been using it for about 4 months now with pulling my turbo and manifold about 5 times since then for various things, never had a single problem since using it

Yup, so far I had good luck with Permatex's Nickel antiseize and some of those SS ARP bolts from FFWD... Hopefully, I will never run into that problem again (knock on wood).

 

[wortdog]

I TIG-welded 4 studs into my turbine housing. No more annoying turbo bolts breaking everytime I looked at them funny.

 

[1fast97gsx]

I drilled out my exhaust side on the turbo and put bolts through and a nut on the other end. It works great and no leaks. I was a little scared to do it that way, but it was the cheapest solution and it has worked awesome so far. I just replace the nuts and bolts everytime I take them out.

 

[99gst_racer]

ARP makes some really nice bolts in that size (M10x1.25 80mm). I use them on my car. I've taken them on/off may times and they are holding up quite nice. I would definatily recommend them.

 

[kalla]

Antiseize, Antiseize, Antiseize. Used it during my motor rebuild and it was definitely worth it, took manifold-to-turbo bolts out with minimal effort and no damage to threads or turbine housing.

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

Good way to avoid this is to loosen the bolts up with the manifold/turbo nice and HOT. Hell, ever take your heat shield off after you put a turbo on and look at the turbo/manifold bolts. 1/2 the time they are so loose you can turn em with your fingers. Crank em down when they are hot, and loosen them when they are hot. Everything expands when hot, so it makes it a lot easier.

 

[leet]

Good way to avoid this is to loosen the bolts up with the manifold/turbo nice and HOT. Hell, ever take your heat shield off after you put a turbo on and look at the turbo/manifold bolts. 1/2 the time they are so loose you can turn em with your fingers. Crank em down when they are hot, and loosen them when they are hot. Everything expands when hot, so it makes it a lot easier.

I use this method as well. I've only munched 2 bolts (out of the 16 I've gone through), and that was due to stripping the heads.

We use a good silver-grade anti-seize during assembly, it makes the task much easier.

 

[bangineklips]

i hate those bolts.