You have the reason right for installing new bolts, Nice.

Edit to add tq specs

Recommended flywheel bolt torques are:
• 75 N-m (55 ft. lbs.) for gas engine flywheels
• 137 N-m (101 ft. lbs.) for diesel flywheels

 

I believe re-using the bolts will be just fine. If it were me, that's what I would do. I would just be sure to add Loctite to them during re-installation. I believe buying new bolts is overkill and a money-wasting affair. 18mm x 1.00 bolts are pretty large - hard to imagine a failure using those...

 

The adige goes if you can't do it right don't do it at all, if you can't afford the cost of new bolts maybe the truck should be sold. So are you a metallurgist can you tell just by looking at the bolt if it structural strength has been compromised.

 

It is possible that the bolts installed at the factory are only intended to be single use.... replacing them with some quality bolts (ARP?).. wouldn't be a bad idea. THOSE would be reusable.

But then, where do you stop? What about the pressure plate to flywheel bolts? They see a fair bit of abuse as well, should those be replaced??

 

It's something to note that the FSM actually states use "new" bolts.

OP is correct regarding the type of loading these bolts see. This is supported by the fact of the torque specs set for them. Meaning they are not just "man tight".

OP it would be great if you could take some good pics of all your bolts for general consumption. Upload to a free photo source (not directly to this site like you did) like photobucket or imageshack etc.

If you choose to re-use, then AtomicDog should offer to purchase the next set and any labor charges.

I'm not only a Ram owner, but I'm also a metallurgist and work as a structural engineer on rockets and stupid stuff. I calculate torque specs up into the 10,000s of ft-lbs.

I mean what would be the damage caused if subject bolt(s) let loose....?

 

Pressure plate uses dowel pins to help deal with tq load, it is not just put on the pressure plate bolts.

 

Nuk, you are a funny guy! Folks, keep in mind that if this were my truck, this is what I'd do - I'd reuse the bolts. There are times that I believe in no guts, no glory and that sometimes I feel the FSM may imbellish a bit to keep the economy moving, so to speak.

I also like the idea of posting some pics of these 'special' flywheel bolts to give us all a better perspective of what you're working with..

 

It's all good AD. In good fun was my intention.

[OT]
At this stage of the economy, we could all be in support of moving it along....
[/OT]