At 02:35 AM 10/22/2003, George Goff wrote:
>On this list, the subject of those damn shear head fasteners is a bunch of
>speculation which reappears according to some kind of hidden schedule.  I have
>yet to see any statement from VW engineering regarding the matter, so the
>debate and speculation continues.  I tend to favor David B.'s opinion that the
>bracketry supporting the steering column is just too deformable to support
>shearing those fasteners regardless of their composition.  While I can
>respect an

A cursory "search of the literature" i.e. google shows that there are many
references to shear bolts which are clearly designed to shear under impact;
but that references to bolts in the vicinity of ignition locks/steering
locks on autos and motorcycles often refer to "shear-head" bolts and never
make reference to any further shearing once the bolt is installed.  At
least two references call them out specifically as anti-tamper and/or
anti-theft devices.

cheers,
david

--
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"