Turbo-Mani Bolts Loose

[SHDOW90Talon]

OK so, my turbo-Manifold Bolts are constantly coming loose, and it's only the first 2 closest to the head. I'll tighten them down then after a drive to where I have to go, they are loose again. I've tried threadlock (obviously won't hold too hot) and tightening them when hot and when cold. Somebody mentioned "safety wire" or a type of locking bolt. I'm almost ready to weld them so that they can't turn. I'm just wondering if anybody else has dealt with this before and was able to stop it. Thanks

 

[ADrewzki]

Sounds like you don't have them torqued down enough.

 

[SHDOW90Talon]

Is 30 ft/lbs the correct torque?

 

[project_tsi]

My bolts do the exact same thing. I'm going to buy some OEM turbo to manifold bolts and use them w/ double washers. I currenly only use grade 8 bolts, and I think thats my problem. I haven't went too tight on them either, b/c Ive had so much problems w/ bolts breaking lately thats I would rather just re-tighten them then over tighten them.

Are you using OEM bolts?

 

[jasoncitrano]

I had the same problem, what i ended up doing was removing those two bolts and using a bolt and a washer, and really crank them down. I never used a torque wrench on those, i just got em until they were pretty damn tight and they never came loose again.

 

[Jason84]

you guys actually torque them down? i havent ever done mine... i just put them as tight as i can get them... i use 1 washer and the regular bolt.

 

[SHDOW90Talon]

Yeah OEM....I'd rather deal with breaking them off later on only because after tightening they are loose after the first drive and everytime I get on it obvioulsy after that, the car slows down drastically from sputtering and the ill effect from this gap.

 

[SHDOW90Talon]

Can't say I really torqued them, but I haven't used a 8 ft. breaker bar to tighten them, just a basic 3/8" ratchet with lees then a ft. length handled....approx. for me.

 

[project_tsi]

Yeah OEM....I'd rather deal with breaking them off later on only because after tightening they are loose after the first drive and everytime I get on it obvioulsy after that, the car slows down drastically from sputtering and the ill effect from this gap.

No, breaking them off sucks major ass. I know. I know how you feel though. I recently found out that mine were comming loose. I was at the track, and I couldn't get my times any better. I thought I felt like I was getting slower spool, turns out my bolts backed out and was causing massive leaks and giving me super slow spool.

I don't torque mine down either. I'm afraid too. 30 ft. lbs, is not mutch at all, and I easily go more than that everytime I go hand tight for me. So thats what I do. I just keep a socket in the car w/ me, so I can keep tightening them up. I may try removing 1 of the washers and seeing if that helps.

 

[SHDOW90Talon]

SO I just tightened the HELL out of them just before and went out for a run and a couple of pulls.....so far so good. Got my hand on a breaker bar, for some reason I was thinking the TH was made of aluminum and I was too scared to go too tight. But I'll see what happens in the next day or so. Thanks for all of your replies!!!

 

[jasoncitrano]

HAH that manifold is CAST IRON. Trust me you will snap the bolts before you break the manifold. TRUST ME i've done it many a time.

 

[SHDOW90Talon]

Yeah I realize that now

 

[jastermerrel]

1st tighten them down while the engine is cold.
2nd tighten them down after the motoris really hot (i.e. go do a couple of runs)
3rd (but maybe not necessary) tighten when it cools off again.

I was having the same problem as you guys and this worked for me.

 

[DROOPY209]

How about you put 2 lock washers( the ones with the split down one side) between the washers and the bolt?

i had the same exact problem and i was tightening the bolts every day.

i did this and it worked great.

i recommend you do this with the engine cold and throw some pb blaster the night before right on the bolts really good. make sure the engine is cold before you throw pb blaster on the bolts.

 

[SHDOW90Talon]

Just want to update....after tightening the bolts like I said I did, the bolts have never come loose since. I was going to use the lock washers next, I don't see why they aren't there in the first place. But, it's all good now. Again Thanks everybody!

 

[unlmtdndeavor]

for anyone else having this problem, when you buy the turbo bolt kit from slowboy you can get a set of their cone washers which will hold them closed