legacycentral bbs

The downloaded factory service manual I'm using doesn't say anything about replacing the head bolts (I'm replacing head gaskets on '97 ej25d) but when I was comparing part prices online, Napa's site says that replacing the bolts it recommended. I'm sure some of you guys have gone both routes, what's your recommedation?

Napa sells head bolts.......

Never replaced them, never had a problem....

you should always replace head bolts when you remove the heads / a head. Head bolts are designed to stretch when you tighten them down. They do this to make sure that you get a perfect seal. They retain this shape after this. So you need new ones so you can make sure you have a good seal. Now that said, it is not uncommon that people reuse them and a large percentage of those people have no problems because sometime they have a little bit more they can stretch. Now THAT said ... do you want to take the chance?

Xander_X wrote:you should always replace head bolts when you remove the heads / a head. Head bolts are designed to stretch when you tighten them down. They do this to make sure that you get a perfect seal. They retain this shape after this. So you need new ones so you can make sure you have a good seal. Now that said, it is not uncommon that people reuse them and a large percentage of those people have no problems because sometime they have a little bit more they can stretch. Now THAT said ... do you want to take the chance?

Not necessarily true , not at all. Some vehicles' head bolts are indeed "torque-to-yield" and must be replaced every time...but many, many vehicles (including EJ22s and ALL old-school V8s) use high-strength fasteners that do not appreciably stretch at all, and can be reused without any problems whatsoever, provided of course the threads are still good, hasn't corroded, etc.

X2 dont replace them.Our head bolts are good for like 10 rebuilds.

fair enough. I'm used to rebuilding Honda's and Toyota's. I'm still fairely new to the world of Subaru but definitely sold.

If Doug hasn't had a problem with the frequency he pulls heads, then anyone should be fine.

Thanks fellas.

I too was wondering this and at the price of new OEM headbolts or ARP I would certainly take that risk by reusing them vs paying out the ass for new ones every time.

Yeah I reused my head bolts as well. Talking with CCR engines, they reuse head bolts as well. However, do have a slightly different torquing procedure.

However, do have a slightly different torquing procedure.

You mean something different than the rediculous voodoo torque dance we all follow from the FSM?

gijonas wrote:

However, do have a slightly different torquing procedure.

You mean something different than the rediculous voodoo torque dance we all follow from the FSM?

Yes. I don't recall what it is though.