The bolts should be grade 12.9, this grade will be stamped on the head.
Proper torque is 32 ft/lbs. I prefer the 12 point style but these are
very hard to get except in the boot kits.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Damon Campbell
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 7:24 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: cv joint bolts?

Howdy, Bill,

I'm pretty conscious about dirt filling up heads of
bolts and sharp allen wrenches.  My buddy and i both
looked at those bolts and came to the same shallow
head conclusion (not the original bolts, though - ones
that a sketchy shop in whitehorse, yukon, canada, used
when my tranny was replaced 20k ago...).  I even
ground down a couple allen wrenches to get a super
sharp bite to them and no dice.  Clean and shallow.

This was my first work on CV joints (except for some
12-points on a karmann ghia), so i wasn't sure if this
was standard for them.

Repeating an earlier question, is there a preferred
bolt for CV joints, or will any ol' allen head do?

Thanks,
-damon

--- Bill Marshall <Willolyn99@AOL.COM> wrote:
> Hey Damon,
>
> First question is:  did you clean out the bolt heads
> before you removed them?
>
> The first time I took mine off, the allen wrench
> spun around on the edge of
> the head and I ended up using vice grips, etc.  When
> I looked at the bolts more
> closely, I discovered they were full of grime,
> grease, and dirt -- packed in
> hard and mostly filling the head.  They prevented
> the allen wrench from fully
> seating in the head.
>
> If you spray some solvent or WD-40 into the head and
> then clean them out with
> a nail or small screwdriver, you will be able to
> seat your allen wrench
> fully.  I also give the allen wrench a few taps to
> make sure.  No need to swap
> bolts, just keep them clean!
>
> Lastly, make sure your allen wrench (I use a
> socket-type with a ratchet) is
> in good condition, too.  You may have damaged it
> along with the bolts, take a
> look at it.
>
> Best of luck,
>
> Bill Marshall
> 85 GL Tiico "Pandora's Box"
> Aurora, IL

=====
'84 Westy (Sparky)
'65 Kharma Ghia (Dharma)

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