Rocker Arm Bolt Thread Sealant

**J7319M** · 04-03-2017

I'm assuming that old dried and hard thread sealant should come off before reinstalling the bolts. I tried threading a 5/16-18 nut onto the rocker arm bolt and the nut hits a brick wall when it gets to the thread sealant. A hand wire brush does not put a dent in it. Should I try soaking the bolts in M.E.K. ?

**GTPpower** · 04-03-2017

I've never cleaned it off when reusing them. Never had a problem. Most likely the nut won't go on because the bolt is stretched.

**J7319M** · 04-03-2017

GTPpower - The nut goes on, but it stops at the sealant. I'm assuming the sealant is more soft and pliable when it's new. I'm afraid to use the bolts the way they are for fear of damaging the threads in the rocker arm boss. I was just going to remove the sealant and use blue Loctite.

**GTPpower** · 04-03-2017

You know that gm considers the bolts as torque to yield? One time use only.

I've reused tons of them, but it's not something I would recommend when you are having problems threading a nut on.

**J7319M** · 04-03-2017

GTPpower - Are you saying the rocker arm bolts can only be used one time ? I thought that applied to the cylinder head bolts.

**Scottydoggs** · 04-03-2017

they are tty, but have been reused by many people. ive got reusable bolts. work fine.

**GTPpower** · 04-03-2017

They are not a true torque to yield. They can be reused, but you have to be able to measure the stretch. Since we can't do that, gm recommends them to only be used once.

Take a real close look at the threads. You might be able to see a stretch.

**J7319M** · 04-03-2017

I just don't need the things breaking off into the cylinder head. I wouldn't question replacing them if ZZPerformance didn't have such high prices and insane shipping costs. It's hard to stomach spending $40 for a set of bolts that you can only use one time.

**GTPpower** · 04-03-2017

It's about $9 shipping for me. But you're farther away. If you can bundle it with some other parts, you can save some money.

**GTPpower** · 04-03-2017

The price is about the same through gm parts direct.

**HighOctaneRacing** · 04-04-2017

Dealer has good prices. Only cost me $21 and they came in sets of 5 so I got 3 bags. They are TTY and yes some people have reused them before but I wouldn't recommend it cause if one of them did back out, you're gonna have more of a headache.

When I was working in an engine shop, we had a set of heads come in that had TTY bolts that backed out cause they were reused. Had 1 broken rocker arm and some of them were just messed up. The owner claimed some of the push rods were kinda mushroomed but we didn't see them.

I would just get a new set of factory bolts or like Scotty suggested, get some reusable bolts from ZZP or Intense.

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