All of my brand new bolts stretched

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Higgins909, Jul 8, 2026 at 12:02 AM.

  1. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2018
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    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Well, my new cam assembly bolts came in. I'm pretty sure every single one but maybe 3 stretched.

    I made sure I was reading my torque wrench right this time and didn't have any problems with the timing cover bolts.

    It's the 17 "gold bolts" for the cam assembly. 90105-08455 is what I bought as a replacement. Turns out it's 16 of those and 1 is a short bolt. It's 20ft lbs, right? I don't understand what I'm doing wrong.

    I worked them snug, because there is the valve springs pushing the assembly up. Then I did the bolt pattern to 10#, I noticed it was a bit off. I assumed it was the RTV squshing. Then I worked in 20#, same thing. It would click and I'd go to click it again and it would turn 1/8-1/4 turn more before clicking. I couldn't get a solid stiff click from the majority of the bolts. One started to keep going without clicking, so I took it out.

    Picture, left to right. Old good bolt, old stretched bolt, new stretched bolt. The other picture shows the stretched to the brand new. From under the bolt head, they measured, 2.750", 2.853", 2.806".

    I don't understand what I'm doing wrong.

    2010 Gen3, 223k miles.

    gWGPZB4T.jpg CrV1_BED.jpg
     
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
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    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    My guess is your torque wrench is not calibrated anymore. Do you reset it to zero before storing it?

    Not sure I would worry about on the cam assembly. However the head bolts are another story.
     

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  3. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2018
    286
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    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I always zero it out. I had no problem doing the timing cover bolts/water pump afterwards. Nice firm, repeatable clicks at the torque. 19#, 38#. I also redid the exhaust manifold nuts. 15# iirc.