Torque spec help needed

[BhamMax]

Anyone willing to spend 15 minutes or so on the phone helping me decode and deconflict torque secs for front suspension parts between the FAQ Torque Spec sheet, Haynes, and the Shop Manual?

I'm a 2002 and wrenching newb, so learning both a new language and new skills here and just cannot seem to find a description that makes sense and convinces me that I'm getting these specs right.

A few minutes of someone's time would be greatly appreciated - just let me know when would work well for you.

Thanks,

Scott

(360) 303-5211

Bellingham

[gwb72tii]

scott, what kind of questions do you have?

if it were me i'd always defer to the bmw shop manual

george

[BhamMax]

Thanks, George. An example of my questions would be:

I'm trying to figure out the torque spec for the nut that connects the tie rod and the track rod/center control rod. I don't find anything in the torque spec section of any of the the three references I have (PDF version of Shop Manual off the FAQ, Haynes, and FAQ Torque Spec Sheet) that I can translate into describing this particular connection.

I was hoping that by spending a few minutes on the phone with someone who speaks 2002 and with both of us looking at one or the other of these references, we can run through the sections on the Steering and Suspension components - I'm replacing tie rods, track rod, control arms, ball joints, brakes, springs, struts - and they can set me straight on which connection each torque spec applies to.

Color me stupid, but the descriptions used in the torque spec sections just aren't making any sense to me and I just want to convince myself that I won't damage something by over-torquing it or end up having something fall off while I'm driving.

[pnwtii]

You could try looking up the general torque value for a nut/bolt of whatever size you're working with. I haven't tried it on cars, but on aircraft we have a book that will give you torque values for any piece of hardware in case it isn't listed in the specific book you're working with.

[gwb72tii]

Thanks, George. An example of my questions would be:

I'm trying to figure out the torque spec for the nut that connects the tie rod and the track rod/center control rod. I don't find anything in the torque spec section of any of the the three references I have (PDF version of Shop Manual off the FAQ, Haynes, and FAQ Torque Spec Sheet) that I can translate into describing this particular connection.

I was hoping that by spending a few minutes on the phone with someone who speaks 2002 and with both of us looking at one or the other of these references, we can run through the sections on the Steering and Suspension components - I'm replacing tie rods, track rod, control arms, ball joints, brakes, springs, struts - and they can set me straight on which connection each torque spec applies to.

Color me stupid, but the descriptions used in the torque spec sections just aren't making any sense to me and I just want to convince myself that I won't damage something by over-torquing it or end up having something fall off while I'm driving.

do you have the bmw blue book manual?

i would think this is one your looking for; Track rod castellated nut (center link/tie rods) 25 - 29 lb-ft

i will test you my phone number scott and i'd be happy to try and help

[roadhog0]

I'll admit, they're so big I just torque em down good with a big wrench since my torque wrench wont bit on em. Havent had a a problem yet, but if you want exact numbers I would definitely use the BMW shop manual like others have said.