Need help with front suspension
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: Antioch, CA
Need help with front suspension
Just lowered the front end yesterday (cut off one piece of the bushing on the adjuster). When putting everything back together, I had some concerns about tightening the big 21mm nut on the lower control arm ball joint. The shop manual says that the tightening procedure is done in 3 passes.
1. Tighten to 15 lb ft
2. 210 degrees
3. Tighten to 52 lb ft
What is the 210 degrees for? Can't I just crank them down to 52 lb ft. If someone could clarify this and prevent me from having a serious suspension failure at speed, I would greatly appreciate it!!!
1. Tighten to 15 lb ft
2. 210 degrees
3. Tighten to 52 lb ft
What is the 210 degrees for? Can't I just crank them down to 52 lb ft. If someone could clarify this and prevent me from having a serious suspension failure at speed, I would greatly appreciate it!!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: Antioch, CA
Re: Need help with front suspension (daveydc5)
With all of the people that have lowered their cars here....
....Nobody knows how to do this? Please don't make me call Mr. Goodwrench!!! :D
....Nobody knows how to do this? Please don't make me call Mr. Goodwrench!!! :D
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Redwood City CA
Re: Need help with front suspension (daveydc5)
Its just a guess, inferred from another post, but I think it is the angle at which you are torqing the nut, or maybe the distance the travelled as you turn the nut. But more likely the first. For example, straight up is 0 degrees, then you would place the handle of the torque wrench at 210 or maybe about 7:30 on a clock. NOt sure if that is where you wouls start the torque or take the reading at. Even though it seems like an insignificant factor, I could see it making a difference in suspension components.
Of course I did not even pay attention to that reading when I lowered mine. But maybe that is why I am getting groans and clunks and I have torqued, lubbed and torgued again. It is going in for an alignment anyway, so I will get a pro to fix it for me.
Can someone confirm if I am even close?
[Modified by jayleone, 10:11 PM 6/24/2002]
Of course I did not even pay attention to that reading when I lowered mine. But maybe that is why I am getting groans and clunks and I have torqued, lubbed and torgued again. It is going in for an alignment anyway, so I will get a pro to fix it for me.
Can someone confirm if I am even close?
[Modified by jayleone, 10:11 PM 6/24/2002]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: Antioch, CA
Potential Front Suspension Failure (was Re: Need help with front suspension (jayleone)
I think I figured it out. The 15 lb is to initially seat the ball joint. The 270 deg. is to let the ball joint spin freely in the socket to ensure it is seated properly before you do the final torque to 52 lb ft. nIf it isn't seated all the way in, the final torque value will be false and the nut on the end of the stud can come loose. The result would be complete front suspension failure. This happened to someone last month:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=188163
Anyone that has lowered the car by separating the lower ball joint should go recheck the torque on the ball joint stud nut and use the proper tightening method. Why GM didn't use a cotter pin on these blows my mind! :crazy:
[Modified by daveydc5, 1:09 PM 6/25/2002]
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=188163
Anyone that has lowered the car by separating the lower ball joint should go recheck the torque on the ball joint stud nut and use the proper tightening method. Why GM didn't use a cotter pin on these blows my mind! :crazy:
[Modified by daveydc5, 1:09 PM 6/25/2002]
