I have a hard time getting to 166 lb-ft torque on the strut to spindle bolts. I am using the new fine thread bolts. The flange on the nut just bends and pushes around before reaching 166, I got there on 1 bolt, 2 bent, I didn't bother with the last, have to order more.
Anyone else have this problem? What am I doing wrong, do I need a box end wrench on the nut as well as the flange, my torque wrench not accurate?
Thanks for your replies.

 

My torque wrench only goes up to 150 lb-ft, and I've been torquing mine to 145 lb-ft and haven't had any issues. I've swapped out the front struts 3 or 4 times, autocrossed on the car numerous times, all on the original lower strut bolts/nuts (although I did substitute some camber bolts in for a pair of them for a year or so), never had any issues. IMHO back down to 145-150 lb-ft, wouldn't be a bad idea to check your torque wrench as well.

 

That "flange" as you put it is what makes those things "flag nuts" in the Ford service literature.

The flags aren't anywhere near strong enough to withstand installation torque, so it is probably a common occurrence to bend them if you don't also restrain the hex part of the nuts. I started to bend mine at around 125 ft-lbs when I installed my Konis, so I just straightened the flags and got out another wrench. Remember, it's the clamping load - think in terms of the tension in the bolt that clamps the other parts together - that matters. Not what the flag looks like. Installation torque is the easy way of determining that you've got it set properly and that the joint is being clamped together tightly enough.

Don't back down on the setting, because it is what it is for a pretty good reason. Just use a second wrench.


Norm

 

Thanks guys for your replies, I got it to stick with a box end on the other side.