When changing a head gasket, do i need new pieces?

ive read all the steps to change the head gasket. it says i need new head bolts, and a new timing belt. can i just use the old bolts and old belt? what is the worst that can happen? Thanks for the help. Really looking for a mechanics advise only on this one.|||No


If it calls for new bolts that means that they are torque to yield bolts witch means that they stretch when torqued.





As far as they timing belt goes. on some engines if the belt brakes you will bend valves so don%26#039;t cut cost here.





just do it by the book and save your self the trouble!!|||Yes, you should get new head bolts, especially if the car is higher mileage. The torque on the bolts, along with the new gasket, is what%26#039;s going to make that tight seal and if the bolts are weak, slightly bent or slightly stretched, you could end up with another leak. Don%26#039;t skimp, just get a new set of bolts when you pick up the gasket.





As for the timing belt, you don%26#039;t have to replace it, just that since you%26#039;re going to likely have it exposed and be that far into a top-end assembly tear down, you might as well replace it. They should be changed about every 60K miles, so there%26#039;s no better time than during your head gasket job! Why go through the tear down twice?





About %26quot;torque to yield%26quot; bolts mentioned by an above poster...don%26#039;t reuse, REPLACE! When bolts stretch, they won%26#039;t handle the same torque load they would before. The risk of breakage goes up. Best insurance is new bolts.|||What don%26#039;t you understand about the answers above. The bolts could break during assembly. Other than that they all told you what could happen if you reuse them. ( gasket could leak again, etc. ) Torque to yield bolts stretch when they are torqued down. Once they are removed they are scrap metal!


The same goes for the belt. While you are there change it simple. Most newer engines are not interference, so bent vales, smashed pistons if the belt breaks is unlikely. But do you want to do half the job again next week or next month? Just change it. it has to come off to pull the head anyway. The water pump suggestion is a good one as well. especially if it is driven by the timing belt. I would include a new thermostat, coolant hoses, %26amp; accessory drive belts in the list of parts as well!|||While you are there then I would replace the belt. Also, as above mentioned, your bolts are made to only have been torqued once. As far as your belt, you would hate to have to go back in there in a few thousand miles just to change a belt, and you may to damage to your valves if it breaks.|||Definitely use a new gasket, a new belt, you could reuse the bolts if you had to, but its recommended to replace them because of the stress and temperatures they have endured, better to do it rite the first time because the second time takes twice as long and cost twice as much.|||Read on man. I would get used bolts and a used gasket. I would also get as drunk as possible before you start.|||yeah... there aint nothing wrong with useing them as long as there is nothing wrong with them... when you take it apart make sure there aint alot of slack in your timming chain.... if there is a little thats normal for a stock motor.. but if there alot of slack i woulg change in... the worst thing that could happend if it wasnt changed an it needed to be it could jump timming causein it to run like s * * the bolts should be fine as long as there not wore or brokw that sort of thing if you do decide to replace the bolts buy the arp blts they make them pacific for that make a model insurin a good fit...|||u might as well replace it all


i would do the water pump too