How to apply 200 ft lb torque w/ 150 ft lb max torq wrench?

[Corbett]

I'm putting new struts into my 93 Corolla and the Haynes manual specifies 203 ft lb of torque for the nuts that hold the strut to the steering knuckle. Problem is, the torque wrench I have only goes up to 150. That's also the max for the strongest torque wrench at my local store.

Would I be okay driving around with only 150 ft lb of torque on those nuts or should I go hunting around for a beefier torque wrench? I've already driven over 30 miles and my wheels haven't fallen off yet.

I also thought of spraying WD-40 on the bolt before tightening the nut on it. That would let me get the nut on deeper with 150 ft lbs of torque, but its still 150. Any experts out there know if the lubricant trick would make a difference?

[bondobondo]

150 lbs is pretty friggin tight

loosen the bolts then retorque to 150lbs, then do another 1/4 turn. that should be pretty tight.

[Corbett]

Okay, trueno. I'll do that.

BTW, being somewhat new at this, I learned a new lession (the hard way) today while applying well over 150 ft-lb of torque with a breaker bar.

I used a 1/2" breaker bar with a 1/2" to 3/8" adapter and a 3/8" extension to a 19mm 3/8" socket. As all you veterans have probably guessed by now, the 3/8" stub of the adapter broke off! :-?

I'll be off to the auto store tomorrow morning to get a 19mm 1/2" socket, 1/2" extension and a new 1/2" to 3/8" adapter. Eventually, I'll figure out how to pull the broken stub out of the 3/8" extension. :-? (I'm thinking super glue at this point.)

[bondobondo]

just stick a pipe at the end of the torque wrench.

[Corbett]

For the record, I removed the new strut I installed a few days ago to put in a dust seal that I didn't have at the time. (I bolted that strut to the steering ankle with only 150 ft-lb of torque, the maximum I could apply with my torque wrench, even though the spec required 203 ft-lbs.) To my chagrin, it took less than 140 ft-lb of torque to remove the nut, which seems to mean the nut loosened itself since the time I installed it.

Just goes to show that you shouldn't mess around with specs.

Funny thing is I talked to a guy at an auto store and asked how the guys at their shop applied 200 ft-lbs of torque. He said they don't use a torque wrench because they don't have one that goes that high. They just use a breaker bar, extend it a little and turn it as far as they can with brute force.

[Hemi3TC]

If you can not get the 250 ft-lb torque wrench, use a threadlocker such as Loctite 242 or 243 (hand tool removable) to ensure that the nuts stay put.

hemi3tc

Originally Posted by Corbett

I'm putting new struts into my 93 Corolla and the Haynes manual specifies 203 ft lb of torque for the nuts that hold the strut to the steering knuckle. Problem is, the torque wrench I have only goes up to 150. That's also the max for the strongest torque wrench at my local store.

Would I be okay driving around with only 150 ft lb of torque on those nuts or should I go hunting around for a beefier torque wrench? I've already driven over 30 miles and my wheels haven't fallen off yet.

[hopeful]

just go to a farther tool sore and get a torque wrench that goes up to 300 or rent it

[james902]

make sure thats lb not kg... hehe 'cause thats a lot!

anyhow... there's a bottle called anti-seize... i'd use that over wd40

[bdgood]

First torque it down to 50, then start again and go to 150. Easy. 50 + 150 = 200.




Just Kidding.

[Corbett]

I did manage to find a torque wrench to goes up to 250 ft-lb at Home Depot. Good wrench, actually. It was very smooth and failing to unset a torque setting doesn't throw off its calibration over time like the other torque wrench I have.

When I went back to tighten my strut bolts properly, I discovered again that the nuts I had tightened to a little over 150 ft-lbs took less than 140 ft-lbs to loosen. This time around, I was going to tighten them properly to 200 ft-lbs to ensure they don't come off!

Interestingly, it took less than 1/8 turn from 150 ft-lbs to get to 200 ft-lbs.

[88 LE]

Originally Posted by trueno92

just stick a pipe at the end of the torque wrench.

You'll be buying a new torque wrench after that.

You never put a cheater bar (pipe) on the end of a torque wrench or use it as a breaker bar.

[goodcookiedrift]

Originally Posted by 88 LE

You'll be buying a new torque wrench after that.

You never put a cheater bar (pipe) on the end of a torque wrench or use it as a breaker bar.

i think andrew was just being a joker....trust me...if anyone knows better, its andrew!

Nick