I just got my Cattman FSTB--beautiful product! Solid, well made, and a nice semi-gloss black ceramic finish (on sale for $65 this month, if anyone is looking for a FSTB).

No instructions for installation included. It looks like a simple matter of taking off the existing strut bolt nuts, sliding the FSTB into place, and replacing the nuts. I've seen info that you should use a torque wrench. Is this really necessary? If I can closely immitate the tightness of the bolts currently in place, shouldn't that be enough?

I'd just like to avoid having to buy a torque wrench for one-time use, especially since one would cost almost as much as the FSTB I'm about to install.

 

If you buy a good one (Craftsman comes to mind) it will be around long after you are gone . If you never buy one, you'll never know whether or not those bolts you are tightening are to spec or not.

I know I jsut went over my car about 3 weeks ago, and found a LOT of bolts that weren't quite up to factory torque (mostly suspension stuff)....pretty scary.

Don

 

Try this link:

www.etoolsonline.com

I bought a great torque wrench from them for only $25. It may not be a craftman, but it is solidly constructed and works fine for the home mechanic. I would try to install the FSTB without a torque wrench. Undertorque, and it's dangerous for your front suspension, overtorque and you can break off the stud mounting bolts.

 

It would be very unwise to not use a torque wrench. Sure, there is a chance you could get the bolts to the proper torque spec range, but most likely not. It's not worth busting your front suspension and possibly wrecking you car as a result.

You can get an inexpensive (and admittedly not super quality) torque wrench for about $19 from Pep Boys or Auto Zone. It may not be perfectly accurate, but close enough to definitely be in the specified range for most applications.

 

I was under the impression these torque wrenches were more than $50. If you can get a decent one for half that, not so bad... And I guess there are other uses, like spark plugs, belt retainers, etc.

 

You should also use a torque wrench for tightening wheel nuts. We read plenty of posts in this forum about broken wheel studs and warped rotors. If everyone used a torque wrench on their wheel nuts these problems would not be so common.

 

I just received my 1/2" torque wrench from Harbor Freight. I got it for under $20 including shipping, thanks to D. Martin's post about the sale. It will be money worth spent and would pay for itself if you warp your rotors. Go to www.harborfreight.com and type in 239 for the part number. FYI, it's back up to $19.99 now, they put it on sale once in a while, keep checking.

 

Yeah, missed out on the sale. Ordered the 1/2" (per DM's rec) anyways and figure $20 ain't so bad ($30 locally). They also had a lot of other goodies that I need like a $9.99 spring compressor set, $10 flared nut set, that I priced locally at way above that. What kills me about Harbor freight is the egregious handling fee. Shipping was $6 and handling was $6 for my order. Still, overall, it is a good deal.

 

If you're using the torque wrench just to tighten up the FSTB, you can probably rent one from PepBoys/AutoZone/etc. Most auto parts stores usually have a rent-a-tool program. Put down a deposit, rent the tool, use it, return it, get your deposit back.

 

When I put my lug nuts on, I hand tighten all of them first, then use a cross lug wrench in a star pattern, tightening enough so that you get that metallic click but loose enough so that I don't need to use my foot on the lug wrench to get them off (these shops always seem to put them on too tight with those air compressor drills). That's always worked for me over the last 20 years, but might as well improve on this: If I were to use a torque wrench, was is the foot/lbs range the lugs should be tightened to?

Btw, Dan - why is your profile so spare? No general location, no mention of your car... just curious

Clee130 - thanks for the PepBoys tip. Think I'll do that first, then order the torque wrench!

 

I have a general backwoods shade tree answer for this. If it involves the safety of your vehicle or if the component is of great importance (main bearing caps/rods/cam/etc) then I always use one. Now if I,m replacing simple sheet like the valve cover plastic piece or intake duct work, things of that nature, no I don,t. If its pretty critical for the driving safety of your car, yes.

We have used torque wrenches at work (the same ones) for years with no problems at all. Grant you they are Snap-on or other high quality ones, but keep in mind that with aircraft, EVERYTHING is torqued. These wrenches work in ranges from 30 inch pounds all the way to 4400 inch pounds and some of these are used on a daily basis and they still work fine. Like Don said, you won,t ruin it.

 

It is because I am not a real person.

I am the lizard. I have seen the flatlands and I can take you there.
I fear and loathe women who jabber on the cell phone while driving SUVs.
I stay clean and sober, sometimes for five days in a row.
I have never fixed a broken Maxima. In fact, I have never even seen one.
I get severe headaches if I forget to take my medication.
I know how to ride a bicycle.
I am the eggman, I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob!

 

I guess I can,t trust you except for about 2 days.....hehe.....at least that is what my friend Carlos says!

 

You are... the man. Dan.



"Somebody spoke, and I went into a dream. Ahhhhhh..."