installing strut brace… a few questions

[Vanne]

So.. my strut brace arrived in the post yay!!!

but as my car has its pins pulled, the suspension is not stock, no dramas, the brace is adjustable (as any good brace should be), but while trying to install i was wondering if the brace should be installed and set under compression or tension?

i have no idea, sorry if this has been covered before…

Hmm, M8 nuts on the top should be tightened to 25'/lbs? is that correct? the bmw tis calls for 35nm so thats about 25 foot pounds..

any hints guys?


<edit>well thats kinda shit… 25 foot pounds and i am holding the stud and nut in my hand.. bloody hell..

[RADRACR]

Originally Posted by Vanne

well thats kinda shit… 25 foot pounds and i am holding the stud and nut in my hand.. bloody hell..

[StickMon]

What the deuce?
Just checked my notes, and when I did shocks about a year ago I torqued them to 26ft*lbs = 35 Nm.
You did it right. Bad torque wrench maybe?

[Finnegan]

Sometimes they let go if over torqued in the past. Wrench might be spot on.

[Pheonix]

It doesn't matter if it is in tension or compression. The Mcoupe is one of the stiffest car out there so the Strut Brace is just for bling bling. You should just try to install it as neutral as possible.

[Vanne]

Really, nuetral? Yeah will have to get this sorted.. still can't believe I snapped that bolt

[Beedub]

seen this happen alot the studs aren't the best sadly... i Tq mine to 35 but really gentle with the way the Tq is applied, smooth, very smooth.

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Vanne

Really, nuetral? Yeah will have to get this sorted.. still can't believe I snapped that bolt

As Finnegan mentioned it must have been stressed previously.
Lately I've gone back to using a beam type Tq wrench on the small stuff.

I would install the bar with feet planted, but I agree that it's not a big deal either way.

[Vanne]

Thx guys, yeah maybe it was pre stressed.. eitherway ill have to pull the strut and an alignment was due anyways.. hopefully something good will come out of it.. lol

[Pheonix]

Originally Posted by Vanne

Really, nuetral? Yeah will have to get this sorted.. still can't believe I snapped that bolt

Yes, by "neutral" I meant park your car on stable, level surface. Since your strut brace is adjustable, adjust it so that it doesn't put any load on the struts then tighten everything.
Man, I can't believe the bolt snapped!

[Vanne]

Thx Pheonix, ill do just that, after i get my strut back together.. ;-)

[Vanne]

well spent a few hours spattering on the car yesterday (i say a few hours, but it was actually more like 5, a few sounds better to my ego

and the strut is now sporting a new hat and all is sorted.. well all besides a alignment…

… was going to stick on the strut brace, but might as well wait with that until my new air intake comes along in the post… (fingers crossed it actually turns up here .. so alls good.. I didn't actually tork any of the bolts, as i didn't want to snap another bolt.. on the main strut i used blue locktite. and i had to get a replacement for the nylon nut on the spring hat.. how tight did i do the main strut? well it was done up bloody tight, so i put it back /bloody/ tight

I guess thats the aussie version of a Torque wrench.

pretty easy job actually, as long as you have spring compressors.. that and a bloody skinny 19mm open ended spanner.. (for the nut that holds on the sway bar)

[StickMon]

Originally Posted by Vanne

... how tight did i do the main strut? well it was done up bloody tight, so i put it back /bloody/ tight

47 ft*lbs, I think.
A.K.A. bloody tight.

[Vanne]

Originally Posted by StickMon

47 ft*lbs, I think.
A.K.A. bloody tight.