Stretch bolts

[DragonHawk]

I'm about to change the suspension on my car and as usual half the bolts are stretch bolts that should theoretically be replaced.

Has anyone ever sourced these from a bolt supplier rather than from Audi? ETKA shows all the sizes but I'm always worried that 3rd party bolts might not be the right grade etc...

 

[DragonHawk]

Anyone? Or do you folks just re-use the bolts?

 

[<tuffty/>]

I have reused bolts in the past depending on condition/circumstance but tbh I would just buy them from VAG..

<tuffty/>

 

[DragonHawk]

I've also re-used some but then I read horror stories about the damage a used stretch bolt does to an aluminium thread. Here in SA the 3rd party car part suppliers don't seem to stock bolts so the options are the dealers and bolt manufacturers. One dealer parts guy hints that their mechs go to the bolt manufacturers but he can't assure me that I'll get the right grade bolts that way. Dealer cost of all the bolts you need to replace when changing dampers and springs: about 50 GBP.