Since so many people always ask "How tight do you tighten this?", I thought it would be a good idea to list all the torque settings for the most common things we do to our cars.

Suspension
Front strut top nuts 33 +/- 3 ft-lb
Front strut bottom nuts 123 +/- 7 ft-lb
Front sway bar 22 +/- 1.5mm(.87 +/- .06in) of thread showing

Rear shock top nuts 33 +/- 3 ft-lb
Rear shock bottom nuts 70 +/- 11 ft-lb
Stock rear sway bar end link nuts 6-8mm(.24-.31in) of thread showing
Sway bar perches 18 +/- 3 ft-lb
Sway bar bushing nuts 102 +/- 22 in-lb
Control link nuts 89 +/- 6 ft-lb (to install lower rear tie bars)

Wheel lug nuts 73 +/- 7 ft-lb

Shift levers, etc.
Shift lever small bolt 84 +/- 13 in-lb
Shift lever large bolt 120 +/- 22 in-lb
Shift lever base bushing nuts 102 +/- 22 in-lb

Intake/exhaust components
Throttle Body 14 +/- 2 ft-lb
Fuel rail 102 +/- 13 in-lb
Intake manifold 14 +/- 2 ft-lb
Intake manifold stay(bracket) 23 +/- 2 ft-lb
Exhaust manifold 10mm bolts 22 +/- 2 ft-lb
Exhaust manifold 8mm bolts 12 +/- 2 ft-lb
Down pipe to exhaust manifold 37 +/- 7 ft-lb
Down pipe to cat 37 +/- 7 ft-lb
Cat to cat-back 44 +/- 7 ft-lb
Muffler 34 +/- 3 ft-lb
Mass air flow sensor nuts 78 +/- 9 in-lb

General engine components
Oil pan 98 +/- 8 in-lb
Oil pan drain plug 29 +/- 3 ft-lb
Rocker(valve) cover 27 +/- 4 in-lb
Front engine mount bracket 50 +/- 5 ft-lb (insulator 33 +/- 7 ft-lb)
Rear engine mount 35 +/- 5 ft-lb
Upper and lower timing belt covers 89 +/- 17 in-lb

Drivetrain
Flywheel - 72 +/- 3 ft-lbs
Clutch - 14 +/- 2 ft-lbs

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Belt Tensions (check with tension guage)

Alternator belt: When Checked - 88-132 lbs
During Adjustment - 99-121 lbs
During Replacement - 143-187 lbs

Drive Belt: When Checked - 88-132 lbs
During Adjustment - 99-121 lbs
During Replacement - 143-187 lbs

Pivot Bolt (alternator): 33+/-7 ft lbs
Generator Tension bolt: 17+/-1 ft lb
Tension Jam-Bolt: 17+/-1 ft lb

 

i'm a noob so how can you tell if you tighten it the right way with just a wrench or other basic tools? just wondering because I heard mechanics follow torque specifications in vehicles >.>;

 

They make a wrench called a Torque Wrench. It has numbers on the side. You set it to the correct number and turn. When it hits that amount of tq, it stops tightening and clicks. You know you're done.

 

Every mechanic I watch never uses a torque wrench.

 

All depends where you work/what you work on...

I work for BMW and we use them on the engine, trans, etc...the only thing we don't torque that we should are wheels.

 

we need to update this with belt tensions and the bolts on the alternator now that the RRM pulley is on the market...some jacka$$ is going to crack the alternator housing within the next year cause they don't know how to use a wrench! heh. sorry....if i get a chance i'll post that info over holiday break.

 

pm the info to slovac so he can add it to the first post... or a mod

 

PM'd BLACK. he should be adding some of the info when he gets time.

 

there they are!

 

thanks this helps alot

 

any one has the torque specs on the bolts that go from the tranny to the block

also the starter?

 

Both look like 36 plus/minus 4 ft-lbs (so anywhere between 32 and 40 ft-lbs) if I'm reading the illustrations correctly.

 

thanks,.....where did u get that info...im looking for a repair book for the lancers but havent had any luck.

 

Info came from AllData, "the world's most comprehensive resource for automotive diagnostic and repair information." My job has a subscription to it.

 

this may be dump question but I need to know. so if you were to tighten up a bolt and the torque spec was
74 ± 7 ft-lb, would you set the torque wrench to 74 and either add or subtract 7?