Rear Sway Bar question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,928
Likes: 55
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Rear Sway Bar question
Hi 2002 A4 Z-51
When l swapped out my stock exhaust for a Ti exhaust l went to a top
performance shop to have it done right the first time.
Anyway after l drove it home l just put it away and one week later l took it out with my wife for a nice ride.
Bottom line we started hearing all kind of noises from underneath my car but couldn't figure it out so l drove it home and jumped under the car.
What l saw was in order to swap out the Ti exhaust the mechanic loosened the rear sway bar or removed it. But after putting on the Ti exhaust he never tightned the 4 nuts holding the sway bar and causing one to come off completely.
When l called the performance shop this morning and explained what happened he said he was sorry and that l should bring it over and he will fix it.
My question being that l saw the loose nuts, l decided to make them tighter, is this ok l do not own a torque wrench.
And being that one nut is missing whould l be better off picking one up at a dealer? I want it to look like it came from the factory if possible.
Thanks
Alan
When l swapped out my stock exhaust for a Ti exhaust l went to a top
performance shop to have it done right the first time.
Anyway after l drove it home l just put it away and one week later l took it out with my wife for a nice ride.
Bottom line we started hearing all kind of noises from underneath my car but couldn't figure it out so l drove it home and jumped under the car.
What l saw was in order to swap out the Ti exhaust the mechanic loosened the rear sway bar or removed it. But after putting on the Ti exhaust he never tightned the 4 nuts holding the sway bar and causing one to come off completely.
When l called the performance shop this morning and explained what happened he said he was sorry and that l should bring it over and he will fix it.
My question being that l saw the loose nuts, l decided to make them tighter, is this ok l do not own a torque wrench.
And being that one nut is missing whould l be better off picking one up at a dealer? I want it to look like it came from the factory if possible.
Thanks
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
There are 2 bolts threaded into the crossmember and 2 through bolts with nuts. The through bolts with nuts just happen to hold the rear lower A-arm bushings in place. I don't see it's being very safe to drive the car with no nut on one of those bolts.
Tighening them so they are snug with a hand wrench should not be a problem. Don't throw all your weight into them though.
Peter
Tighening them so they are snug with a hand wrench should not be a problem. Don't throw all your weight into them though.
Peter
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,928
Likes: 55
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Hi
This is something that l expect from a dealership but not a premium vette shop!!!!!!!!!!!
While it will take me approx 4 hrs between going and coming and putting it up on a lift is this something that has to be torqued??
Thanks
This is something that l expect from a dealership but not a premium vette shop!!!!!!!!!!!
While it will take me approx 4 hrs between going and coming and putting it up on a lift is this something that has to be torqued??
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
Torque rates are usually so you don't overtighten and break the bolts. Depending on the length of wrench/rachet you are using, you can easily put over 100lbs on a 15" breaker bar. Using an open end wrench, crank them wrist tight (don't put your arms into it) If you could tighten them up 'snug' using just your wrist, you will have them tight enough to get you down the street and ask any local tire/repair shop to check the torque for you, or buy a torque wrench from any local auto parts store/sears etc. Cheaper ones are $40, you'll have it and it will work good enough- cheaper than gas/time driving 4 hours.
