'Encapsulated' bolts

[Peter J]

Something I read on another thread about having to use new 'encapsulated' bolts to fit a clutch got me thinking. Are there thread-locked bolts to replace like the VW clutch?

Is there anything special about these 'encapsulated' bolts, or is 'encapsulated' just another word for coated in thread locking compound?

I can see that with workshop time at £45? per hour, and a box of the correct bolts to hand, it may be more economic for a professional mechanic to simply replace the bolts, rather than spend time cleaning up the old ones and re covering (encapsulating?) them in thread locking compound. But for the rest of us it may be more practical to do that than try to obtain new 'encapsulated' bolts? Or am I missing something here?

[TLC]

:eek: I just the same bolts put back in.:o maybe i shouldnt have:worried: but they have done 8000 miles since and everything seems ok

[Peter J]

I've re-used the same bolts too, just using more thread locking compound if they looked as though they needed it. But I am not infallible :o

[E_T_V]

Encapsulated just means they already have threadlock compound applied. Nothing else fancy.

For what it is worth I don't think I've ever threadlocked a clutch bolt before!

[G Force]

Is there anything special about these 'encapsulated' bolts, or is 'encapsulated' just another word for coated in thread locking compound?



Thats exactly what they are.

The original advice was to clean the bolts and recoat them with thread lock & seal. It was later considered best practice to replace the bolts with new micro encapsulated ones.

I would not want anyone to lose any sleep over just replacing the same bolts with no lock n seal though.:D

[fatboy.01]

i worked for a skoda dealer the diesel octavia use's the same clutch set up as 1600 maestro never once used new bolts or thread lock

never had any come back and i done 100's

[mgdavid]

....... For what it is worth I don't think I've ever threadlocked a clutch bolt before!

FWIW - neither have I :-)

[BikerGran]

Sounds like all part of today's 'throwaway society'!

I remember when I belonged to a car club in the 1960's, we used to repair everything rather than throw away. You could get kits to put new seals on brake cylinders, if the starter dog got worn you replaced it (again and again and again if the starter ring was worn!), can't remember what else we used to repair but there were lots. Just as well as most of us didn't have 2 pence to rub together!
I particularly remember a water pump gasket for our Cortina being created at the roadside from a bit of cardboard and some gasket goo....

:violin:


"them was the days" mode now turned OFF! :)

[Peter J]

Many Thanks for all the replies. It shows how a forum like this can be far more useful than a workshop manual that simply tells you to fit new bolts, and would have you wasting time and money trying to obtain new parts when it isn't necessary.