Installing new struts on our 2015 Toyota Avalon XLE with 114,000 miles on the car. Looking up torque specs for the two large bolts on the bottom of the struts. 214 foot lbs! My torque wrench is 150 foot lbs. Time to come up with a new wrench.
Strut replacement
- Thread starter oldcodger
- Start date
Nah, just added some thread locker and a 1/4 turn more, they won't come out. Don't remember ever torquing a strut/shock ever and never had one budge before.
Now if an excuse for the wife, yes need a tool dear! ;-)
Now if an excuse for the wife, yes need a tool dear! ;-)
This is what i have.
https://a.co/d/0gXsw5Kh
https://a.co/d/0gXsw5Kh
I can't say i've used a torque wrench on strut bolts. Usually a breaker bar to get it good,n,tight.
I've never used a torque wrench on them. I use a breaker bar and tighten them good and never had an issue. Torque to 150 then use a breaker bar and give it some more. Are you compressing and reusing the springs. if not don't be upset the ride becomes harsher if not awful. The factory springs are nice riding. The ones that come in the assembly have always been harsh riding I no longer buy them just the strut and change them over. Unless they're very rusted or have collapsed and ride low I'd always reuse them.
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- Feb 6, 2025
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I would be using my 18 inch long flex head ratchet and getting them as tight as I can.
But I don't mean to stop you from buying a high quality USA made torque wrench.
But I don't mean to stop you from buying a high quality USA made torque wrench.
The wheel bolts on our large tractors call for 450 ft-lbs, makes torquing the wheels a tiring process at 20 bolts per! 40 each if it's a unit with duals and hub extensions.
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- Nov 23, 2020
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Are you using a torque limiting extension and impact driver? I would hate to do that by hand.
Nope, they get run down tight with a Milwaukee 3/4 and torqued by hand with a long extension (if necessary) and a big ol' 3/4 torque wrench.
When we just did the front end of an '03 Astro AWD he kept asking me, "Does that have a torque spec?"
I kept telling him I'm sure it does, but I don't care what it is (he trusts my judgment). Even on tie rods -- at least in steel knuckles -- it's Gutentight plus more until the cotter aligns. The two things I always torque are axle nuts and lugnuts.
I kept telling him I'm sure it does, but I don't care what it is (he trusts my judgment). Even on tie rods -- at least in steel knuckles -- it's Gutentight plus more until the cotter aligns. The two things I always torque are axle nuts and lugnuts.
I'll say that strut-to-knuckle bolts are not highly sensitive fasteners unless there is a camber bolt involved. However, if they do see a lot of rust/corrosion so if you tighten them using your favorite high-power 1/2" gun and give it the full beans, they might be extremely hard to remove next time once corrosion is factored in.
218 lb ft huh? I know I am only 140lb so if I have a 3 ft breaker bar and a bathroom scale, I can stand on it with one foot and the other step on the breaker bar tightening to the right weight.
218/3 = 72.66lb. 140lb - 73lb = 67 lb. So I need to watch my bathroom scale go from 140lb to 67lb slowly.
Same for those 380 lb ft bolt, 380/3 = 126lb. 140lb - 126 = 14lb. So I need to watch my bathroom scale go from 140lb to 14lb.
218/3 = 72.66lb. 140lb - 73lb = 67 lb. So I need to watch my bathroom scale go from 140lb to 67lb slowly.
Same for those 380 lb ft bolt, 380/3 = 126lb. 140lb - 126 = 14lb. So I need to watch my bathroom scale go from 140lb to 14lb.
Amazon has some that go to 250. I got one on Prime Day. They are also good for axle nuts that also have high torque values over 150 lb ft.
But for those strut bolts, you can just tighten that as much as you want, or if you have an impact gun, zip them in
But for those strut bolts, you can just tighten that as much as you want, or if you have an impact gun, zip them in
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