Ok, Ive installed my front SR strut tower bar. After doing a search on the subject, I have read that the bolts connecting the brace to the bar should be torqued to 29-36 ft lbs. How do I measure this?? I just want to make sure I'm doing it right to get maximum performance.

 

You measure it with a torque wrench. If you don't have a torque wrench, it's kinda hard.

Get a craftsman from sears. Lifetime guarantee. Just make sure it is in Pound FEET not Pound INCHES. BIG difference between the 2.

 

I just got a CraftsMAN Digitork Wrench for X-mas. Very nice (argh argh argh), however, it came with a disclaimer: because of the relatively fragile nature of the tool it does NOT fall into the normal lifetime guarantee category. I was kinda bummed about that, but no big deal. It's still a craftsman and should still hold up pretty dang well. I would never buy anything else!

 

just to make double sure- the blue brackets on the end of the bar should not be floppy at all right? The brackets do not rotate at all when I tighten the nut at each end of the bar. Or... should the 29-36 ft-lb be applied to the 2 nuts that attach each bracket to its respective strut tower?

 

hey, can you torque the bolts too tight? I tightened the hell out of mine after they loosened the first time. i think they would've stripped if i went any tighter. anyways, is there any problem with that? just checkin. later~

 

Entrop-E You should tighen the blue ends down to 29-36 Ft Lbs. Then You should move the bar all the way left or right, and tighten down the 2 bolts holding the bar to about 30-40 ft lbs.

RX-Bandit, yes, you can cause damage by overtighenting. You can stretch the bolts, which fatuiges them and makes them weaker and more prone to break. You also stress the metal around the mount point too much by over tighening. I do reccomend that you loosen them back up and tighen it down to the proper torque.

MarkHazzard- I have 2 Craftsman, one in pound feet and one in pound inches, and both have a lifetime guarantee. Is your "digitork" actually digial? Maybe that is why they don't have the lifetime guarantee on it.

 

As always Random, thanks!! I assume the same tightening with the rear strut bar as well?

 

The rear strut bar is more of a PITA, becuase of the all the crap you need to remove to GET to the strut towers, but after that it is fairly Easy.

The Torque changes on the rears, The rears are 14-22 Ft lbs.

[ December 31, 2001: Message edited by: Random ]

 

Is the required ft lbs the same for the rear strut bar as the front or is it different?

 

LOL smile.gif read Random's post right above yours... rolleyes.gif