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Subject Topic: Sheared Bolt Post Reply Post New Topic
Personnellymcl
via mobile 10/8/2020 at 11:23pm
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hi all. Unfortunately I have sheared a bolt on my Audi A6 Westfalia towbar as it was creaking a little when towing and I thought I should tighten the bolts. Obviously I was wrong I should be able to get the stud out no issues.
Looking at the instructions they are M10 x 35mm long and grade 10.9 . Can I just buy these anywhere or should I get them from PF Jones where I got the towbar and fitting?


Personmarg6
11/8/2020 at 8:17am
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worrying that you managed to shear it! what are you 30 stone with a 12 foot bar on it? i would speak to pf jones and inform them of it, they may want you to take th car in and get it checked, the creaking when towing was more likely to have been from the tow hitch and not anything to do with the actual towbar! and just needed some emery cloth and brake cleaner on the ball and inside the tow hitch


Personiank01
11/8/2020 at 9:03am
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Maybe fortunately as it could have sheared off while towing?


Personbirdman101
via mobile 11/8/2020 at 11:57am
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You should find the size and grade on Ebay suppliers

-------------
2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.


PersonAncient Uncle
11/8/2020 at 10:39pm
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and tighten it using a torque wrench set to the correct value. You would need to check for the correct torque. Overtightening any thread causes unnecessary stress and will lead to failure of the thread.


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PersonGraham T
12/8/2020 at 6:40pm
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Having fitted towbars as part of my job the correct torque for tow hitch bolts is usually 240Nm


PersonPhishing
12/8/2020 at 8:24pm
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240Nm is for M16 10.9 grade.
The OP has M10 x 35mm long which makes me ask what it was actually fixing because it should not be the towball flange but probably one of the towbar fixing to body.

For the OP, you can get them from any seller as long as you get the 10.9 grade. Dont be tempted to use stainless or harder grades as these both have issues for towbar fixing. Be aware that the M10 bolt has two common threads, coarse and fine pitch, make sure you get the right one.


Personnellymcl
via mobile 20/8/2020 at 10:48pm
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Hi all. Thanks for your help. It is the bolts to the body so managed to get M10 x 35mm hex head set screws 10.9 BZP from Westfield fasteners. Now replaced and tightened to 55Nm as per Westfalia towbar fitting instructions.


PersonWspalmer13
via mobile 04/10/2021 at 8:36pm
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Hi, did this resolve your creaking. I've got an A6 and same towbar and creaking driving me mad. Defo not the hitch as my Dad tows my van and it's fine. I tow my Dad's van and get the same creaking.


Persontango55
04/10/2021 at 8:59pm
 Location: Lichfield
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Quote: Originally posted by Wspalmer13 on 04/10/2021
Hi, did this resolve your creaking. I've got an A6 and same towbar and creaking driving me mad. Defo not the hitch as my Dad tows my van and it's fine. I tow my Dad's van and get the same creaking.


The reason is that you haven't cleaned your towball sufficiently as minor particles of dust will create creaking or groaning between the ball and the hitch socket. I always use a washing up scouring pad to clean the towball then spray with some brake & clutch cleaner. I used to get the same problem when I started caravanning but the above procedure eliminated the problem for good.


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Person664DaveS
via mobile 05/10/2021 at 10:50am
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I always give the ball a wipe before towing. If I haven't towed for a while any surface rust is gently removed with scotchbrite and brake cleaning fluid.
I spray some on a peice of kitchen roll and wipe inside the coupling as well.

-------------
DS-There's more to life than football!!!


PersonWspalmer13
via mobile 05/10/2021 at 1:28pm
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Thanks for the last 2 posts. I sometimes get a grinding / groan which I know from experience is resolved by cleaning the towball and replacing or cleaning the alco pads as you've suggested and I do this every so often. It is a distinct sound which I recognise.The consistant issue however I can't resolve is the creaking which is coming from the car (I've hooked the van up with fully loaded boot and whilst stationary, bounced on the lip of the boot and it's 100% coming from the car, not the hitch or towball). I'd love to know from nellymcl if replacing the bolts worked?


Personmarg6
05/10/2021 at 1:52pm
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have you had someone lay under the car to listen for the noise location?


PersonWspalmer13
via mobile 05/10/2021 at 3:53pm
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Funnily enough yes... I got my Dad under there the other day when I was bouncing on it as described above. He thinks it's coming from suspension area. I've put spring savers in which seemed to help a little but not resolved completely. Next job is remove bump stops as I've read on another forum residue can build up inside causing noise. If that fails I might try replacing towbar bolts.



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