front control arms and torque

[jrb]

I posted this same Q on another forum and got little help. Replaced the FCA's recently and found it impossible to get a torque wrench on the center mounting bolt which is 21mm and bolts to the engine mount. My indy shop says he approches from above with a looong extension and even with that I don't see how he gets clearence to place the socket on the nut esp on the drivers side from other engine components.
When I put mine on, I decided to wrench it on with a new nylon nut and blue lock tight. Has anyone had the same problem and have you had any come loose? Any way around this except taking to the indy shop?
thanks
john b
Athens GA

[Balthazarr]

How did you get the old one off?
A nylock nut with red loctite would be better.
That's a tough nut to get at and needs 62 ft-lbs.
BTW, it bolts to the subframe not the engine mount.

You might need to use a swivel extension or even a u-joint with the wrench.
Have you removed all the intake parts?
You could remove the mani brace to get more clearance as well.

[jayhudson]

Crows foot.

[mmark.]

If you use a new unused lock nut, a 22mm box wrench with a second box wrench locked over the open end of the first you be able to match/exceed published torque values.
You can only achieve accurate torque values with either the engine out or he subframe/front suspension separate.

As long as the fasteners are virgin, you'll be fine.

m

[jrb]

Crows foot.

I'll check into this. Good info.

jb

[jrb]

If you use a new unused lock nut, a 22mm box wrench with a second box wrench locked over the open end of the first you be able to match/exceed published torque values.
You can only achieve accurate torque values with either the engine out or he subframe/front suspension separate.

As long as the fasteners are virgin, you'll be fine.

m

thanks this does make me feel better. I did use new nylock nuts and lock tight. I was able to put good amount of torque on the closed end wrench I was using. but i did not want to over tighten either.

thanks
jb

[jrb]

How did you get the old one off?
pickle fork, it was not hard.
A nylock nut with red loctite would be better.
yep, used that except i used blue.
That's a tough nut to get at and needs 62 ft-lbs.
tell me about it.
BTW, it bolts to the subframe not the engine mount.
sorry 3am when I posted. Your right, subframe.

You might need to use a swivel extension or even a u-joint with the wrench.
Have you removed all the intake parts?
You could remove the mani brace to get more clearance as well.

thanks
jb

[sirius600]

Sometimes i wonder if the people here have ever done this, luckily at least one person that posted seems to have.

If you cant get a 21mm crowsfoot, you can use a 13/16" one instead. On the drivers side, unbolt the PS reservoir and with a U-joint its is a straight shot down. The problem with the passenger side is the engine support. You may be able to get in there with a 3/8" drive 21mm socket, or just use the crowsfoot again, but here the angle will be even more weird as your trying to torque it.

[jrb]

Sometimes i wonder if the people here have ever done this, luckily at least one person that posted seems to have.

If you cant get a 21mm crowsfoot, you can use a 13/16" one instead. On the drivers side, unbolt the PS reservoir and with a U-joint its is a straight shot down. The problem with the passenger side is the engine support. You may be able to get in there with a 3/8" drive 21mm socket, or just use the crowsfoot again, but here the angle will be even more weird as your trying to torque it.

interesting, again thanks I may try this.

jb

[Balthazarr]

You might want to use a small fjack under the inner joint to keep it from spinning when tightening.

[m3beemer16]

You might want to use a small fjack under the inner joint to keep it from spinning when tightening.

I did mine last week. I had a snapon wrench that pivots which helped big time! Also using a small jack worked. I was confused when I kept tightening it and it wouldn't lock down... It was dark out...

[jrb]

I did mine last week. I had a snapon wrench that pivots which helped big time! Also using a small jack worked. I was confused when I kept tightening it and it wouldn't lock down... It was dark out...

yep, used the jack. the only way to get these to tighten.

jb