As the title says. It was difficult to get the bolts off without anything snapping but it worked. The bolts had rust but I soaked them in vinegar then cleaned them off with a wire wheel. My father is telling me to get new bolts but I’m thinking of just putting a good amount of antiseize on the bolts. Is it fine to reuse the old bolts?
Engine Reusing water pump bolts?
- Thread starter dqureshi06
- Start date
I say as long as they are still the same thickness all the way from top to.bottom then yes.
If the rust ate any metal off them then its time to replace .
I used thread sealant on them as they pass threw water .
I've replaced my water pump three times ,no four times in the last seventeen years.
If the rust ate any metal off them then its time to replace .
I used thread sealant on them as they pass threw water .
I've replaced my water pump three times ,no four times in the last seventeen years.
Do water pumps fail in 3-4 years? How come you have replaced them that often? Did you ever reuse the bolts?
85GTStangGuy
5 Year Member
In some cases, yes. In your case, no. Imo.
They've been compromised by the rust and the wire brushing. Whatever coating they did have on them, it's gone now. A new set of hardware is cheap insurance, versus the headache a broken (or even stuck/touchy-to-remove) bolt can be.
Dacromet coated DCR kit (water pump only)...
Black oxide coated ARP kit (water pump and timing cover)...
Cheap auto parts store water pumps , lifetime warranty.yes I have reused wp bolts,but I did replace a few rusted ones once
I popped for the ARP bolts on both cars. Heard too many horror stories on snapping them off in the block. Granted it was always bolts that the corrosion had worked over. Cheap insurance.
Yeah, I just went ahead and ordered the bolts from LMR, better than being cheap
Just did mine a few days ago...installed new bolts from LMR as well. Threw a little anti-seize on the threads.
I’m gonna do the same thing. I don’t mind spending the money on the extra insurance but what I really hate is waiting on the parts to come, I wanna get the mustang running and drive before putting it away since I live in the salt belt.
I figured you would get anti-seize all over you for just thinking about it let along typing it a lot.
That's why he hasn't answered. He's rubbing anti-seize all over himself. It's hard to get off of keyboards... Uh So, I've heard. 
^^^^^^yup, that's me right there!^^^^^^
Boy, you people would have a 'field day' if I left my first sentence in, 'you have to slather up the shaft of the bolt' y'all know how that would go
Boy, you people would have a 'field day' if I left my first sentence in, 'you have to slather up the shaft of the bolt' y'all know how that would go
I would use new ones, and install with antiseize. Both in the block and where they go through the timing cover. Had them come out easy, and had to remove some with $50 worth of dremel diamond bits.....
Having had these bolts break off in the past I will always get new ones if they are the least bit compromised. The real issue in my case was corrosion with only a little rust. New bolts is an easy choice.
I live near a bunch of auto supply stores and and the time it takes to clean up water corrosion on the bolts is not worth the effort unless you are a distance away from suppliers . Heck even Home Depot has grade 5/6 bolts . The anti sieze is the key ! But I reuse many bolts that have been pre stressed . My opinion only .
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