Strut Bar- What Do I do with this thing??

[Structureboy]

I just got a strut bar for a 93 camry, and just for precautioinary measures would like to ask those strut-bar, wearing camry owners a few questions.
I hope it doesn't sound too ignorant of a question.
What size are the three nuts on each tower. I hear 14mm is commonplace, but don't want to go to home depot and get the wrong size wrench :oops:

Also, I heard that to install the strut bar you first have to detach the mid-section bar from the two supports. first install the two supports to each tower, by removing the three bolts surrounding the tower (but don't touch the bolt inside the tower) and place the bar over the screws, and loosely tighten the nuts over them. So far- is that correct??

Then, to tighten the three bolts on each tower, take the whatever size wrench and tighten it- but not enough to strip the bolts?? I read from one source that you'r enot supposed to tighten it too hard- or else it might strip the bolts, when you drive your car too hard into a corner. <-- is that a myth??

Then finally, you're supposed to install the middle bar, after having tightened the supports to the towers.

Does that just about sum up a strut bar install?? again, just want to make sure I don't do anything stoopid and screw up my alignment.

My biggest fear is that when I remove the three bolts over each strut tower, that my car's alignment will be screwd over- but, there isn't any precautionary measure to take when removing the 3 bolts over each tower?
When I remove the 3 bolts, my car's suspension won't suddenly fall beneath the car??

Probably being paranoid 'bout that last part, but I guess I need to be reassured about that.
Any help is appreciated. thanks.

[Eye8Pussies]

don't worry about anything.....it's basically the easiest thing that you can install on your car....couldn't tell you the size of the nuts, but you should get a whole ratchet set anyway if you're planning on doing any more work on your car in the future....

and yeah, you've basically got the installation instructions right....get the support thingies in first, then place the bar on, tighten all the nuts to the car, and then tighten the bar, a voila! better handling!

have fun... 8)

[Structureboy]

[quote="Eye8Pussies"]you should get a whole ratchet set anyway if you're planning on doing any more work on your car in the future....

I might do that-but I can't foresee any future mods right now.
And school is tearing a hole in my wallet....if only money grew on trees

Thanks for the reply. I'll probably end up calling the dealer and asking them what size the shock tower bolts are. And letting out any other paranoia I have.

[Eye8Pussies]

hmmm.....I'll check for you once my sis gets back w/ my car....

[Luc]

Yes, the strut mount nuts are of size 14mm. It's also good to torque the nuts to proper specifications of 59 ft-lbs. You can pick a 3/8" one up and it does come in handy for the future. Also, get some washers and put them on the base of the strut base. This way, you don't dig into the brace, but rather use the washers as support for the nuts.

Luc

[Structureboy]

Luc- I'm not sure what you meant by torquing the nuts to 59ft-lbs. Can you please expand on that?

Again thanks guys for the help.

[Eye8Pussies]

Originally Posted by Luc

Yes, the strut mount nuts are of size 14mm. It's also good to torque the nuts to proper specifications of 59 ft-lbs. You can pick a 3/8" one up and it does come in handy for the future. Also, get some washers and put them on the base of the strut base. This way, you don't dig into the brace, but rather use the washers as support for the nuts.

Luc

what he said... :wink:

[Luc]

A torque wrench limits the amount of stress/tension the nuts/bolts are tied down. This is to prevent any of the parts from snapping or getting loose. Every mechanical parts, as far as I've seen, on a vehicle has its specification as to how tight it should be. A torque wrench can vary the amount of foot-pounds, ft-lbs (just a unit), or N-m (Newton-meter) depending on its size. I have 4 torque wrenches: a 1/2" with 25-250 ft-lbs range, another 1/2" from 15-150 ft-lbs, a 3/8" from 10-80 ft-lbs, and 3/8" from 20-160 in-lbs. I'm more cautious than the typical person, so I like to make sure it's done properly. Bottom line is that a torque wrench is just a rachet with an adjustable torque settings.

Luc

[Structureboy]

I didn't even know stuff like torque wrenches existed- makes my life a whole lot easier now :o
Home Depot is selling them for $54 for 3/8" Click Style Torque Wrench 10-100 lbs.

Still a little bit confused though. How do I tighten a 14mm nut (0.56 inches) with a 3/8" torque wrench?? Or does the torque wrench have an adjustable opening for various sized nuts? Sorry, don't know too much about tools.

Thanks again.

[soundlzrd]

it is a socket wrench.

[Luc]

If you take a look at the torque wrench, you will see that there is an adjustable handle with a locking ring or nut to set the correction tension. Take a look at this picture below, of the 4 rachets you see on the rag, the top one is a 1/2" 25-250 ft-lbs range, third and fourth ones are 3/8" 10-80 ft-lbs range (different brand). When you do get it, you will know how to use it. You use a 3/8" 14mm socket to tighten the nuts with the wrench. BTW, Home Depot is rather expensive, check some auto parts store like Pep Boys or Autozone, it's usually cheaper.



Luc

[Silver Streak]

Originally Posted by Luc

I have 4 torque wrenches: a 1/2" with 25-250 ft-lbs range, another 1/2" from 15-150 ft-lbs, a 3/8" from 10-80 ft-lbs, and 3/8" from 20-160 in-lbs. I'm more cautious than the typical person, so I like to make sure it's done properly. Luc

You're SUCH an Engineer....

[Structureboy]

Okay, just got back from home depot with a torque wrench and some socket sizes. I checked on autozone and pepboys websites, and it looks like they don't sell them.

So I'm looking at this torque wrench ( :-? ) And it looks simple enough how to use it. socket fits over driver. adjust the torque setting by adjusting the clip. And so, when you're tightening a nut with the wrench, the torque counter doesn't begin to decrease until it starts to feel resistance?? I guess, when does the torque counter begin to decrease after you begin to tighten the nut??
Also, I see how you tighten things with the torque wrench, but how do you set the wrench for reverse- to untighten things. I tried loosening a nut from an object, and all I'm getting is this clickety-click sound??

Thanks.

[Luc]

Once the proper torque is reached, you will hear a "click", which tells you to stop tightening. I wouldn't use the torque wrench in reverse, just use a regular rachet. This way, you can put more force into it without harming the torque wrench. I actually broke the gearing on my 3/8" while using it in reverse.

Luc

[Structureboy]

Allright!! tomorrow looks like a good day for strut-bar installation. Armed with the strut bar (of course), torque wrench, washers, and some random wrenches and ratchets-should be no problem. 8)

I really appreciate all the help and pointers I've received. I probably made the installation seem a lot harder for me than it should have been, but I definitely got a lot more pointers and plan on proceeding this installation more carefully than I initially would have.
Luc- thanks for going the extra mile to answer some of my tool-time questions. Got a richer mind , but a thinner wallet.: