I JUST GOT A FRONT STRUT BAR FOR THE MAX AND IT SAYS TO TIGHTEN IT TO 30 FT LBS WITH A TORQUE WRENCH. ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW APPROXIMATELY HOW FAR TO TIGHTEN THESE BOLTS WITHOUT A TORQUE WRENCH?

 

I get them good and tight, then about a half turn more.

 

so basically, it's pretty tight, not loose at all? they say you want some give to the bolts...

 

tighten it till your ***** tingles.. thats 30ft lbs.. when your viens hurt thats 60 ft lbs.. when your eyes buldge out.. thats 120 ft lbs

 

that's the human torque scale, huh?

 

Just go rent a torque wrench, it's free.

 

from like autozone or where?

 

Yes, like Autozone. Give them a call.

 

ok, thanks a lot!

 

30 ft. lbs. isn't a lot really, i tightend the nuts on the wheels with as much force as i could get on it so i could reach the 80ft.lbs. requirement.

Later on i double checked it with a torque wrench and i got it on right, probably too tight even.

 

yes

 

An exact torque setting on the strut tower nuts isn't really required. Just getting them "tight enough" will do just fine.

I would invest in a torque wrench though. If you're going to work on your car you really need one.

 

Sounds good. I was told by a mechanic that torque wrenches were extremely expensive????

 

If you consider $25 extremely expensive ... then yes, they are.

 

Got mine for a very expensive price of $14 from Autozone. Man, Clee you're rich

 

man, that's expensive! lol. that mechanic was full of it.

 

Yes a good accurate torque wrench can cost a bit.But any real mechanic will tell you if you buy a cheap tq wrench you might as well torque by feel.

 

1/2"-drive torque wrench'll cost you about $25-30 for the typical autozone type (Craftsmen might cost $70-80)
Don't overtighten those strut tower nuts, you can break the strut plate studs off easily... definitely buy a torque wrench if you're in any doubt...

 

ok, i just tightened the bolts until snug, then a 1/4 turn after that...i should be safe until i get the torque wrench, but good god, that makes a world of difference on the highway curves!!!!!!!! SOLID!

 

You'll be fine. I don't use a torque wrench on most of the stuff on the car.

 

awesome. thanks!

 

Only here on .org can it take 2 pages to explain how to torque some FSTB nuts to 30ftlbs. Holy crapola.

 

lol

 

I'm still on the first page!

 

 

30 lb/ft is not very tight at all. i would say if youre using a regular size ratchet, you get to 30 lb ft before you start really struggling with it. its basically the minute you feel any real resistance, just stop. at least thats what my $10 dollar torque wrench tells me

 

I like to spoil myself from time to time.