Paint to mark bolt heads?

[Danny_Ocean]

I just installed new CV joints/bolts and would like to mark the bolt-heads to determine their status. Do you use one of those paint-marker pens that engine builders use or is there something different available

[Mahler9th]

I usually use guards red touch up paint. Alternatively I will use a product I bought from Pegasus that is formukated for this application:


Pegasus - (HAO) Torque Seal Inspector's Lacquer, Orange, 1/2 oz. Tube

[sc_rufctr]

Just about any solvent based paint will do.

Recently I used orange nail polish that my daughters didn't want any more. It even had glitter in it.

[Cory M]

I just use a thin tipped paint pen in a contrasting color so it's easy to see.

[cgarr]

This is what we use. You can get them in just about any color.

[Matt Monson]

Yep, I use a paint pen.

Or in absence of that, a Sharpie will work nicely to mark your pattern as well.

[Canada Kev]

I just used one of those paint pens on an axle nut that had loosened itself.

[RWebb]

do you cohabitat with anyone who uses nail polish?

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by RWebb

do you cohabitat with anyone who uses nail polish?

Yeah, but he's a little weird. Not sure I want to ask...

Found these today at Fastenal for $4.50...works great.

[silver911rdb]

DYKEM Brand paint marker works great for me. That was the blue one in the photo above.

[RoninLB]

CV bolts suck

i safety wire them

[D911SC]

I feel like I am about to expose my ignorance here, but what is the reason for marking the nuts/bolts?

I saw some on various bolts in my car and wondered exactly what it was for.

Here's one example. Both axle nut and one wheel bolt painted:

[RSTarga]

Basically to mark that the it has been torqued to spec.

[D911SC]

Thanks RSTarga

[75-911S]

Mark after torquing so you can check later to see if bolt/nut moved and needs re-torquing.

[Jdub]

I use model paint in white - easy to see if the bolt/nut has moved.

The paint on your axle stud however is a different identifier. Someone help me here - I believe it is meant to align with the valve stem? Sorry not to be of more help.

[KTL]

Originally Posted by D911SC

I feel like I am about to expose my ignorance here, but what is the reason for marking the nuts/bolts?

I saw some on various bolts in my car and wondered exactly what it was for.

Here's one example. Both axle nut and one wheel bolt painted:

The axle castle nut is marked to say it's been tightened to spec. The singular wheel stud is supposedly marked in red for balance purposes. I was told, and I don't know if this is hearsay, that you should place the locking wheel nut on this redheaded stud. Not sure how true that is....

From my experience, marking the wheel studs is silly. Anyone who tracks their car knows that it's crazy to paint your wheel stud heads every time you take the wheels off & on....... Checking lug nut torque happens so often that you shouldn't need to paint the studs. That said, loose wheels still do happen on occasion. People get in a hurry to get on grid, and whoops, what's that massive vibration?!

[Canada Kev]

This is exactly what I did on my axle nut, but that one looks like it's a castle nut. Aren't those supposed to have a pin in them to stop loosening?

[cgarr]

If you balance your wheels (spin them up) on the car the old fashioned way as we do you balance the wheel, tire, axle and brake rotor all in one then you want the wheel to be put back on in the same position so you mark them.

[Wil Ferch]

The story on the painted wheel-stud is this.....

For the pr-89 cars, the heavier, keyed-locking nut is placed on the painted stud, and both of these were to line up with the valve stem...as delivered by Porsche. Helps you put things back together again "as delivered". If you still have the original-fitment tires and balance.

After 89.....it was just the opposite....painted stud pointed away from the locking nut.

It's all for naught anyway once you buy your first set of replacement tires and get them rebalanced.