Torque Specs Ends of Upper Control Arms

[rsw81]

Hey guys,
I’m finally getting my front upper control arms on. First off, would have been way easier to have done this before the F panels as now there isn’t a ton of room to get the rear nut onto a wrench.

There are some loose nuts on each end of the control arm closest to the chassis that aren’t mentioned in the manual. Anyone know the torque specs for these or are they meant to be kept loose until a later date? Pictured for reference.

Thanks
Rob

[Traveller]

Hi Rob.

No big torque. Just tighten up to remove end play and make them snug. Too tight and it will restrict the pivot of the UCAs.

Edit: Just found it in my manual - top of page 37:


Pivot endplay
Adjust the locknuts on the ends of the pivot shaft so that there is minimal endplay but so the pivots can
still rotate easily on the shaft.
The pivots may be a little stiff at first but once on the car they will loosen slightly.

[Garage Guy]

I was just typing a reply saying the same thing but you type quicker than I do

[rsw81]

Thanks. I suppose it would help if I read the manual more carefully. But was doing this with my 4 year old and spent 80% of my attention span working with him and teaching him!

[rsw81]

On a similar note, how does one get to those rear nuts after the F panels was installed? A socket doesn’t fit due to the chassis being so tight against the nut and the F panels prevent me from getting a wrench solidly on there.

[Garage Guy]

I was able to get an open-end wrench on the front one I believe and then on the back one I jammed a big regular screwdriver between the frame and the side of the nut and torqued it from the front if I remember correctly

[Traveller]

I was able to get an open-end wrench on the front one I believe and then on the back one I jammed a big regular screwdriver between the frame and the side of the nut and torqued it from the front if I remember correctly

Exactly what I did as well.

[rsw81]

I was able to get an open-end wrench on the front one I believe and then on the back one I jammed a big regular screwdriver between the frame and the side of the nut and torqued it from the front if I remember correctly


Exactly what I did as well.

Much thanks guys. Thank g-d for this forum. How did people do this before these forums?!

[CraigS]

You might want to grease the pivots before you tighten the nuts. The nuts are deformed metal lock nuts so they will stay in any position you leave them. You are judging when to stop turning by how the pivots move. They will be excessively hard to move w/o grease.