Suspension, Chassis, and Brakes Shocks, springs, cages, brakes, sub-frame connectors, etc.

Another suspension question...How important is it to torque nuts and bolts to spec?

Old May 6, 2007 | 08:29 PM
  #1  
KillerTA's Avatar
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Another suspension question...How important is it to torque nuts and bolts to spec?

I installed four shocks and springs and LCA relocation brackets and tried my best to torque everything but 1) the torque wrench I have is a piece of crap and 2)I couldn't reach all of the bolts with it.

The two things I'm most concerned about are

-the LCAs and relocation brackets which I wrenched on with all my might.

-and the top of the rear shocks which I couldn't torque down. I didn't wrench on those too much at all because they call for 18ft lbs.

So how important is using a torque wrench on this stuff?
Old May 6, 2007 | 11:02 PM
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Too tight, they could weaken/break or deform mounting areas. Too loose, they might come off.
Isn't a new torque wrench worth the cost of knowing you have properly tightened the fasteners of assemblies that hold your car together while going down the road?
Old May 7, 2007 | 10:16 AM
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Bud M's Avatar
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Wrenched down with all my might means different things depending on what you used (how much leverage you had)
Top of the shocks I wouldn't worry too much about as long as you compressed the bushings some
A new beam type 1/2" drive torque wrench shouldn't cost you much and they work fine for that kind of stuff
Old May 16, 2007 | 12:41 PM
  #4  
9T7 Trans Am's Avatar
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If you are going to do work yourself you should be following the OEM specs by the manuals. I spent $50 bucks on the F-Body manual, and probably $125 on my 2 torque wrenches, my favorite tools, those manuals are life savers.
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