Are the head bolts reusable?
 

Just wondering if the head bolts are reusable once taken off?

Thanks again...

They are reusable if you're in a pinch and can't wait or can't afford new ones. However it is best to get new hardware.

Best price I've seen on ARP fasteners was at miataroadster.com . They have head, main, and intake mani bolts.

Ben

Are the head bolts torque to yield bolts on the miata? (stretch to length). Those shouldn't be reused. I know the headbolts on my old mx6 LS were torque-to-yield bolts.

The FSM doesnt say anything about replacing the bolts. It does say to replace certain gaskets etc. I am pretty sure the bolts are not torque to yeild...

Mazda also says the bolts are reusable -for what it is worth....

Do you remember the pricing on the head bolts??

I have a brand new set of ARP headstuds for the 1.6L, NEW IN BOX. Brand new the cheapest I found them was $110.00 plus shipping. I'll sell you mine for $90.00 shipped to your door. PM me if interested.

I reused my head bolts and have not had any problems with compression or head gasket leaking whatsoever and I would guess I have been running 200hp or so for a few hundred miles and a few thousand and lower boost prior to that.

I re-used my head bolts and had serious side affects... ARP studs FTW.

Since Mazda makes no comment about replacing them in the workshop manuals, and the torque is not so high as I would expect the yield to be, I have reused them on many motors.

Beside the torque tightening pattern, special attention needs to be paid to the cleanliness of the bolts, threads in the head, and lubrication.

Once everything is totally clean, including the washer under the bolt head, all surfaces of the threads and washer need to be swimming in oil to get the correct torque.

Thanks for the help.

I'll just make sure that the bolts are cleaned up nice and use oil when installing the old bolts....

Bring out your dead....


The reason I didn't make my track day today is because when we fired my motor at 7pm last night, the head gasket started leaking coolant. I re-used the head bolts with a new HG. Torqued to 60ft.lbs with ARP lube on the threads. What gives?

1.6 and 1.8 head bolts are not torque-to-yield.

Good lord, talk about digging up a dead thread for the sake of not starting a new one. Good job (not sarcastic, seriously). I wish I could tell you why. I could be a pro on this topic if it weren't for the fact that all of my head gaskets and head work was actually stuck rings. Do you know which cylinders are leaking, or is it all of them?

bringing back a old post, anyone else reused there head bolts with good results?

Didnt you read? I have the head out of my car. Im ordering APR studs. There's no need to gamble with this.

I hate to agree with the dirty floater, but he's right. Try your best to budget in new "Key" hardware for the motor. It just makes sense.

I've used the same ARP studs in two different motors, no leaks. The one time I re-used stock bolts, it leaked. Coincidence maybe, but I sleep better at night without the $100 or so I paid for the studs poking me in the ass.

I've reused mine twice with no problems at all. The third time, the bolts just wouldn't hold tension anymore. It's hard to describe, but pretty much each time I reused them, when I was torquing the bolts the "snap" distances got bigger. I then got some ARP studs for $110 and couldn't be happier, except it's harder to remove the head now.

Honestly, the ARP studs are worth it just for the ease of head installation.

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