S13 ball joint nut torque

[andrave]

Ok I got some of the pdm racing control arms with ball joints, and they come with a new nut with slots for the cotter pin.
problem is, if I tighten it down to where I think its tight, the cotter pin is above the nut.
how tight should I tighten the nut down? its on the ball joint bolt that passes through the spindle.
I don't have a torque wrench either...
can someone help?

[Dousan_PG]

well you definately need a torque wrench....
spec..i want to say a nubmer but i wont because im not 100% sure on it and my FSM is in my car outside..

[andrave]

need is an equation... one that invovles dollar signs.

I'm sure it'll be fine I just wanna know if I should crank it down or not.

[Dousan_PG]

harbor frieght

20 dollar torque wrench!!!

it does the job!

they DO have a website too!

[planb]

its really hard to get a torque wrench on that nut, its in a tight spot. I usually just hand tighten it with a wrench.

[andrave]

ok well I fly out of the country in six days. I don't have time to buy a torque wrench even if I had 30 bucks to sacrifice for its cause. I just wanna know if it will hurt anything if I go ahead and crank it down for a drive down to my garage and back, I'm trying to do my rear suspension today so I can finish before I leave.
but I'm assuming the answer is yes, so I'm going outside as soon as I click post, putting my calipers back on, torquing that nut down, and getting the hell out of here so I actually get done on time.

[Dousan_PG]

if you have no choice, then tighten it down and get the pin in....

[uiuc240]

That's what the pin is for. It's not supposed to be all the way tight. Get it so there are about 3 threads PAST The top of the nut, and then pop the cotter pin in there.

Eric

[andrave]

I snugged it down with a wrench and put the pin in, I'm guessing it will be fine like that.

[silvia2011]

yea man im having the same problem. Got mine from PDM racing and this is what those dumb asses said, (2. Lubricate the control arm ball joint with anti-sieze and thread the nut on by hand. Torque down nut with 22mm socket). what do we torque it to? no one can seem to come up with a torque spec. instead they just give you useless info. Im just gunna go with tightening it 3 threads past the nut and put the cotter pin.

[di-devol]

Rear is 52-64 ft-lbs. Front is unmarked in the fsm.

I believe on castle nuts, you are supposed to tighten to spec, then if you can't get the pin in, tighten it untill you can.

...and this thread was old as dirt.