23 replies to this topic

[longbridge4life]

Hi there,
I'm rebuilding my tie bar with new bushes and lower arm with bushes too. Is it set in stone to use torque wrenches on all nuts and bolts or is common sense good enough???

I did have a torque wrench until my garage got broken into rarrrrrr i may have to buy another but their so expensive.....fleabay have them at £20 and that's tempting....not snap on but do the job i guess

What say you mini addicts?

Edited by longbridge4life, 24 May 2012 - 10:32 AM.

[MIGLIACARS]

i would always use a torque wrench.

especially on wheel nuts.

once over tightened the metal stretches and weakens and will eventually fail.

[jaydee]

You dont need a torque wrench for the tie bars. The nuts need to be tightened fully till the end of the thread.
So before fitting, fit whasher and nut wound the nut on them till the end, now and count the number of the threads sticking out the nut to the end of the bar..now fit the bars and use new nylock nuts, torque them till you see the same amount of threads you counted before.
Hope this helps

[longbridge4life]

Ahh thanks for your replies.
I did'nt count the threads before i started and the tiebar bolts are two different types. One fully threaded and the other partially threaded. Think i'll buy a new bolt set up for the tiebars......ohh and the tiebar bolts were originally fitted with the bolts on top naughty naughty hehe that much i know is wrong! Looks like a new bolt kit and torque wrench needed :I

[longbridge4life]

It's surprising how expensive nuts and bolts are! I could do with finding a shop near chesterfield derbyshire that sells imperial nuts and bolts. I'ts £14 on fleabay for a tie bar nut kit

[Doz1971]

As an aside, I purchased a cheapo silverlilne torque wrench from a certain auction site, and put it on the calibrator we have at work, and it was almost spot on! Very pleased, £20 well spent.... looks like a copy of the old blue-point wrench of years gone by..

[dklawson]

I use torque wrenches on any safety related components or components subject to high loading. (Suspension bits, engine bits, etc). The specifications are published for a reason and best adhered to in most applications.

[Ethel]

Torque creates preload so the fastener is correctly (elastically) stretched, so it doesn't get permanently stretched (plastically), or fatigue from being too slack (allowing too much movement).

If you bear that in mind you can see where accurate torque is most critical:

Big end bolts - stretched every turn of engine, highly critical.

Wheel studs - regularly stretched by cornering, critical.

Manifold studs - mostly constant load, less critical.

Tie rod ends - the rubber bushes do the bulk of the stretching (at lower loads), less critical

Anything loaded in shear (across, instead of along the threads), like the wheel end of the tie rod, not directly effected by torque.

[Jake Didsbury]

i would always use a torque wrench.

especially on wheel nuts.

once over tightened the metal stretches and weakens and will eventually fail.

Weve been putting wheels on for years with just feel, you just know, and never ever had one fail, its pretty common sense on how tight they should be

its not set in stone, I changed my back subframe never touched a torque wrench, however its advisable to use one so you know its right, but failing that.. common sense :)

Regarding and engine work and wheel bearings, I would always use one, even though saying that my last wheel bearing change I just put it on by feel,
when you take your car for a service (if you do) I guarantee 90% of all garages wont torque the wheel nuts they dont have time to mess about its on with the buzz gun and away it goes, ive seen it all my life

Edited by Jake Didsbury, 31 May 2012 - 04:48 PM.

[TopCatCustom]

Spot on IMO, but you need to have grown up with common sense and a "feeling" for mechanical stuff like doing bolts up etc, sounds simple but I believe when it's in your blood you feel exactly whats right, even when I use a torque wrench on engine parts it usually clicks almost exactly where I'd go to, but still use one where it's critical.

As said though, if in any doubt definitely best to use one.

[bmcecosse]

I managed for many many years without a torque wrench. Just be sensible when doing up parts.

[Jake Didsbury]

Spot on IMO, but you need to have grown up with common sense and a "feeling" for mechanical stuff like doing bolts up etc, sounds simple but I believe when it's in your blood you feel exactly whats right, even when I use a torque wrench on engine parts it usually clicks almost exactly where I'd go to, but still use one where it's critical.

As said though, if in any doubt definitely best to use one.

Agreed 100%
Better safe than sorry every time, if your new or in doubt like you say, use one, and I suppose regardless of experience, those torque settings are there for a reason, gives that extra peace of mind too :)

[Ryang556]

I've been meaning to get a torque wrench for a while, I'll just borrow one if I really need one mind, too expensive to buy!

[R1minimagic]

Not like garages that use an impact gun for everything they touch and you can never get the wheel nuts off!! Really annoys me (monkeys!)

[minimissionary]

My uncle helped change my thermostat back when I was a little less experienced. He completely overtightened it, and it leaked like a bastard. I had to redo the job myself (knowing how easy it was), and once torqued, with a new gasket, it was fine.
I'd rather spend the extra time and money knowing it's right.

Edited by minimissionary, 01 June 2012 - 12:39 PM.