Land Rover Defender: Screw Threads

• Damaged nuts, bolts and screws must always be discarded. Attempting to recut or repair damaged threads with a tap or die impairs the strength and fit of the threads and is not recommended.
• Unless stated otherwise, self-locking nuts once removed must be discarded and new nuts of the same type strength grade installed.

NOTE: During certain repair operations, it may be necessary to remove traces of thread locking agents using a tap.

Where this is necessary, the instruction to do so will appear in the relevant operation and it is essential that a tap of the correct size and thread is used.

• Some bolts are coated with a thread locking agent and unless stated otherwise, they must not be re-used. New bolts having the same part number as the original must always be installed. When nuts or bolts are to be discarded, the repair operation and relevant torque chart will include an instruction to that effect. Do not use proprietary thread locking agents as they may not meet the specification required. See also Encapsulated ('Patched') Bolts and Screws.
• Always make sure that replacement nuts and bolts are at least equal in strength to those that they are replacing.

  Castellated nuts must not be loosened to accept a split pin except in recommended cases when this forms part of an adjustment.

• Do not allow oil or grease to enter blind holes, the hydraulic action resulting from tightening the bolt or stud can split the housing and also give a false torque reading.
• Always tighten a nut, bolt or screw to the specified torque figure, damaged or corroded threads can give a false torque reading.
• Nut and bolt loosening and tightening sequences, where given, must ALWAYS be followed. Distortion of components or faulty sealing of joints will result if the sequences are not followed. Where an instruction is given to tighten in stages, these stages must be adhered to; do not attempt to combine stages particularly where certain stages involve tightening by degrees.
• To check or re-tighten a fixing to a specified torque, first loosen a quarter of a turn, then retighten to the specified torque figure.
• Unless instructed otherwise, do not lubricate bolt or nut threads prior to installation.

Where it is stated that bolts and screws may be re-used, the following procedures must be carried out:

• Check that threads are undamaged.
• Remove all traces of locking agent from the threads.

CAUTION: DO NOT use a wire brush; take care that threads are not damaged.

• make sure that threads are clean and free from oil or grease.
• Apply the specified locking agent to the bolt threads.

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