[Paul Horne]

I recently dropped the front crossmember on my 2011 SF, and as I am reinstalling it, I noticed that the Subaru Service Manual says that the 4 bolts that attach the crossmember to the body are supposed to be replaced if they are removed. Any idea why this is? The only one-time-use bolts I have heard of are the torque-to-yield (T2Y) head bolts, but I don’t think these are T2Y bolts because no stretching sequence is given in the manual. Anyone have input or experience with reusing these bolts?

 

[aaronarf]

The real question is, why wouldn't you do it if it calls for it?

 

[Nuke8401]

Might be a stupid question but did you inspect them for any type of locking features?
Like a hole with a nylon insert? Or a marred thread?
Was there any running torque while removing them?
A "one use" locking feature would be the only other reason I can think of besides T2Y.

 

[Nuke8401]

I just read about some vehicle designs rely on the cross member bolts to shear in an accident as part of the vehicle safety/crumple design. Could be the case here also. I guess that would mean they are intentionally "weak" and just removing and reinstalling them could make them fail or not work as designed?

 

[Bimmer74]

I'm facing the same problem... I want to install a thicker/stiffer front sway bar, which means removing that crossmember.

Why not replace the bolts? It's an extra trip to the dealer that I don't want to make and a couple bucks I don't want to pay, and I can't fathom why it's necessary...