HOW-TO: Swaybars & Tension Strut Install Info/Suspension Torque Specs - SRT Forums

thepowertowin · 08-15-2006, 07:49 AM

FRONT SUSPENSION FASTENER TORQUE
DESCRIPTION TORQUE

STRUT ASSEMBLY:
Tower Nuts 34 N·m (300 in. lbs.)
Steering Knuckle Nuts 54 N·m (40 ft. lbs.) + 90° Turn
Strut Shaft Nut 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)

STEERING KNUCKLE:
Ball Joint Stud Pinch Bolt Nut 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.)
Disc Brake Caliper Adapter Mounting Bolts - SRT-4 104 N·m (77 ft. lbs.)
Disc Brake Caliper Guide Bolts 22 N·m (192 in. lbs.)
Disc Brake Caliper Guide Bolts - SRT-4 35 N·m (26 ft. lbs.)

WHEEL BEARING AND HUB:
Bearing Retainer Plate Bolts 28 N·m (250 in. lbs.)
Driveshaft Hub Nut 244 N·m (180 ft. lbs.)
Wheel Mounting Nuts 135 N·m (100 ft. lbs.)

STEERING GEAR:
Crossmember Bolts 68 N·m (50 ft. lbs.)
Tie Rod Adjusting Jam Nut 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Tie Rod End Steering Knuckle Nut 54 N·m (40 ft. lbs.)

LOWER CONTROL ARM:
Front Pivot Bolt 163 N·m (120 ft. lbs.)
Rear Pivot Bolt 237 N·m (175 ft. lbs.)

STABILIZER BAR:
Cushion Retainer Bolts 28 N·m (250 in. lbs.)
Link Nut 31 N·m (275 in. lbs.)

REAR SUSPENSION FASTENER TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION TORQUE

STRUT ASSEMBLY:
Tower Attaching Nuts 34 N·m (300 in. lbs.)
Knuckle Attaching Bolts 88 N·m (65 ft. lbs.)
Strut Assembly Shaft Nut 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Brake Hose Bracket Mounting Bolt 31 N·m (275 in. lbs.)

KNUCKLE:
Brake Support Plate Mounting Bolts 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Disc Brake Adapter Mounting Bolts 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)

HUB AND BEARING:
To Knuckle Retaining Nut 217 N·m (160 ft. lbs.)
Wheel Mounting Nuts 109-150 N·m (80-110 ft. lbs.)

LATERAL ARM:
Nut At Crossmember 88 N·m (65 ft. lbs.)
Nut At Knuckle 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.)

TENSION STRUT:
Rear Nut 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.)
Frame Rail Bolts 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.)
Parking Brake Cable Nut 28 N·m (250 in. lbs.)

STABILIZER BAR:
Cushion Retainer Bolts 34 N·m (300 in. lbs.)
Link Bolt Nut 23 N·m (200 in. lbs.)

SWAY BAR REMOVAL/INSTALL

REMOVAL
NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT - WARNING).

Raise the vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCEDURE).
Remove both stabilizer bar links from the vehicle (Stabilizer Bar). Remove each link by holding the upper retainer/nut with a wrench and turning the link bolt.
Remove the stabilizer bar cushion retainer bolts and retainers (Stabilizer Bar), and remove the stabilizer bar with cushions attached from the vehicle.
To remove the cushions from the stabilizer bar, peel back each cushion at the slit and roll it off the bar.

INSTALLATION
NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT - WARNING).

NOTE: Before stabilizer bar installation, inspect the cushions and links for excessive wear, cracks, damage and distortion. Replace any pieces failing inspection.

If removed, install the stabilizer bar cushions on the stabilizer bar utilizing the slit in each cushion. Position the cushions at each end of the bar's straight beam, just before it begins to curve.
NOTE: Before installing the stabilizer bar, make sure the bar is not upside-down. The stabilizer bar must be installed with the curve on the outboard ends of the bar facing downward to clear the control arms once fully installed (Downward Curve).

First, place the stabilizer bar in position on the front suspension crossmember. The slits in each cushion must point toward the front of the vehicle and sit directly on top of the raised beads formed into the stamping on the crossmember. Next, install the cushion retainers, matching the raised beads formed into the cushion retainers to the grooves formed into the cushions. Install the cushion retainer bolts, but do not completely tighten them at this time.
Install both stabilizer bar links back on vehicle (Stabilizer Bar). Start each stabilizer bar link bolt with bushing from the bottom, through the stabilizer bar, inner link bushings, lower control arm, and into the upper retainer/nut and bushing (Front Suspension System). Do not fully tighten the link assemblies at this time.
Lower the vehicle.
NOTE: It may be necessary to put the vehicle on a platform hoist or alignment rack to gain access to the stabilizer bar mounting bolts with the vehicle at curb height.

Tighten each stabilizer bar link by holding the upper retainer/nut with a wrench and turning the link bolt. Tighten each link bolt to a torque of 31 N·m (275 in. lbs.).
Tighten the stabilizer bar cushion retainer bolts to a torque of 28 N·m (250 in. lbs.).

TENSION STRUT REMOVAL/INSTALL

REMOVAL
NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/REAR - WARNING).

Raise the vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCEDURE)
Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle. (Refer to 22 - TIRES/WHEELS - REMOVAL)
Disconnect the tension strut from the knuckle. To do this, first hold the tension strut from turning by using a wrench on the flat on the tension strut and then remove the nut from the rear of the tension strut (Tension Strut Nut Removal/Installation). Next, remove the tension strut retainer, then the rear tension strut bayonet bushing from the tension strut.
Remove the nuts attaching the parking brake cable bracket to the studs on the tension strut mounting bolt at the frame. Remove the parking brake cable from the studs.
Remove the two mounting bolts holding the tension bolts to the frame, then remove the tension strut from the vehicle.
Remove the forward bayonet bushing and retainer from the tension strut.

INSTALLATION
NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/REAR - WARNING).

Install the forward retainer and a bayonet bushing on the tension strut trailing end. Be sure the stepped area of the bushing is installed to face the knuckle.
To install the knuckle on the tension, first stick the trailing end through the hole in the lower end of the knuckle, seating the bayonet bushing squarely against the hole. Next, raise the end of the tension strut with the spool bushing into its mounting position on the frame. Install the mounting bolts securing the tension strut to the frame.
Tighten the two mounting bolts at the frame to a torque of 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.).
Place the parking brake cable routing bracket on the studs of the tension strut mounting bolts and install the nuts securing it in place. Tighten the nuts to a torque of 28 N·m (250 in. lbs.).
Install the rear bayonet bushing on the tension strut. Be sure the stepped area of the bushing is squarely seated into the hole in the knuckle.
Install the rear tension strut retainer, then the nut. To completely install the nut, place a wrench on the flat formed into the tension strut and tighten the nut (Tension Strut Nut Removal/Installation). Tighten the nut to a torque of 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.).
Install the tire and wheel assembly (Refer to 22 - TIRES/WHEELS - INSTALLATION). Tighten the wheel mounting nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Repeat the tightening sequence, this time, to full specified torque of 135 N·m (100 ft. lbs.).
Lower the vehicle to ground level.
Set the rear toe on the vehicle to specification as necessary. (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/WHEEL ALIGNMENT - STANDARD PROCEDURE)

REAR SWAY BAR

REMOVAL
NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/REAR - WARNING).

Raise the vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCEDURE)
Remove both rear wheel and tire assemblies from the vehicle (Refer to 22 - TIRES/WHEELS - REMOVAL).
Remove the nut from the end of each rear stabilizer bar link bolt (Stabilizer Bar Link). Pull the bolt out through the top of the link and remove the link from each end of the stabilizer bar.
Remove the two bolts securing each of the two cushion retainers to the frame rails (Rear Suspension System), then remove the cushion retainers, cushions and stabilizer bar from the vehicle as an assembly.
Pull the cushion retainers off the cushions.
The cushions can be removed from the bar by utilizing the pre-formed slit in each cushion and peeling it off the bar.

INSTALLATION
NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/REAR - WARNING).

Install the cushions on the stabilizer bar by opening the slit in the cushion and wrapping the cushion around the bar. When installed properly, the slit in the cushion should face in the same direction as the ends of the stabilizer bar, or toward the front of the car once the bar is installed. The flat side of each cushion should face upward.
Install the retainers on the cushions, matching the contour of each retainer with its cushion.
Install the stabilizer bar, cushions and retainers on the car as an assembly. The dipped area in the center of the bar must face down to clear the well in the luggage compartment.
Install two bolts in each cushion retainer and secure the stabilizer bar to the frame of the vehicle (Rear Suspension System). Do not completely install the bolts at this time.
Reinstall each stabilizer bar link (Rear Suspension System):
Place the link center sleeve and bushings between the eye in the end of the stabilizer bar and the link mounting bracket on the strut.
Start the stabilizer bar link bolt with bushing from the top, down through the stabilizer bar, inner link bushings and sleeve, and strut link mounting bracket.
Install a lower bushing, then the nut. Do not tighten the nut at this time.
Install both tire and wheel assemblies on the vehicle (Refer to 22 - TIRES/WHEELS - INSTALLATION). Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Repeat the tightening sequence, this time, to full specified torque of 135 N·m (100 ft. lbs.).
Lower the vehicle to ground level or curb height.
Tighten the rear stabilizer bar cushion retainer bolts to a torque of 34 N·m (300 in. lbs.).
Tighten the stabilizer bar link nuts to a torque of 23 N·m (200 in. lbs.).
Set the rear toe on the vehicle to specification if necessary. (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/WHEEL ALIGNMENT - STANDARD PROCEDURE).