Bolt torque

Proper bolt torque applied with a torque wrench for any given repair is the best way to assure that your completed auto repair will last.

When the do-it-yourselfer tackles an auto repair job, in most cases, they will have no choice but to tighten down the bolts to what they believe is tight enough.

Without a torque wrench, bolt torque chart and tightening pattern what else can you do.

An example of this is when you replace a water pump. The individual retaining bolts will more than likely have at least one torque spec, but maybe even multiple.

A water pump that bolts to a timing cover will have long and short bolts. The long bolts will have a different torque value than the short ones.

Over tightening the bolts can damage the timing cover, and the gaskets or seals. Also in some cases, achieving an even torque is just as important.

The cheapest place to instantly find professional bolt torque specs with tightening patterns and step by step instructions.

Torquing bolts on newer cars

If you replace your water pump and just crank down on the bolts as hard as you can, Chances are, you will see this vehicle developed a leak from the sealing area.

Lets use the water pump example applied to the 3.8 L GM engine. The water pump has 10 bolts, six long and 4 short. The long bolts are torque to 40 foot-pounds and the short bolts to 28 foot-pounds.

If you try to apply the same torque to the short bolts as to long ones, the smaller bolts will break. When this happens, you have just increased your repair time.

You are also faced with removing the water pump again along with the challenges of digging out this piece of broken bolt.

Proper bolt torque

The general motors 3.1-liter engine is having a common problem with coolant leaks from the intake manifold gaskets.

The gaskets themselves are made of plastic with sealing strips. The torque specification for the manifold bolts is very low (around 15 foot pounds)depending on the year and model.

This repair is very hard and time consuming. Doing it more than once can be very frustrating.

I have had to buy a new quarter inch drive torque wrench just for this repair.

The good news is that the cost of this essential tool has really come down in price over the last few years.

I started buying off brands like mountain and Sunex and have found them to be just as accurate and effective as my high priced snap on torque wrench.

Always torque lug nuts

When you over tighten the lug nuts or have a UN even torque you will start to warp the rotor.

This will result in a very annoying brake pulsation. You may have seen your mechanic using an air powered impact gun on your lug nuts.

If your auto mechanic knows what he is doing he will have a torque stick on the end of his half inch impact gun.

This tool is specifically designed to twist and give when the proper torque is reached. This is an idiot proof method of preventing over tightening of the lug nuts.

If your mechanic is not using this common tool you will want to re-torque the lugs yourself. Backing off each lug one at a time and using a click type torque wrench to re-tighten each lug does this.

This will increase the life of your brake rotors and improve drivability.

This will also be handy if you ever have a flat tire and need to change it on the side of the road. Auto mechanics are notorious for over tightening the wheel nuts!

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