Front suspension check

[Buzzsaw]

Hello all, sorry to ask for this popular check. I tried to search past answers but didn’t get any results I also looked through 10 pages of post but didn’t find any examples I was looking for.
Please review the picture and tell me if my assembly looks correct.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=192314&d=1699998867

Also I used Mr. Jeff Kliner’s picture he has shared several time for upper control arm set up. Is this correct

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=192315&d=1699998867
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=192313&d=1699998867

I feel something might be wrong with my setup since I can’t get a torque wrench and socket on the top or bottom castle nuts to set torque. I used the spacer on the lower control arm that I found with the castle nuts in the box with the lower control arm. I am not sure it is correct. The manual doesn’t give any dimensions for the spacer,
Any help will be very much appreciated!
Ross

[scrubs]

I feel something might be wrong with my setup since I can’t get a torque wrench and socket on the top or bottom castle nuts to set torque.
Ross

I couldn't get a torque wrench in there either. They make break over and low profile, open-ended torque wrenches, but I went with "gudentite." 600 miles, no viztorque distortion.

[rthomas98]

Get a crows foot wrench set no issues torqueing with this. It is how I did it.

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=crows%20foot%20wrench%20set

[Buzzsaw]

Thanks Scrubs, good and tight was my thought too.

[Buzzsaw]

Get a crows foot wrench set no issues torqueing with this. It is how I did it.

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=crows%20foot%20wrench%20set
I didn’t think about crows foot wrench I haven a set that have never been used. Yard sale find
Thanks

[edwardb]

The dimensions you're showing are just to get you in the ballpark. They will get set exactly during final front end alignment. So don't get too excited about them. Do you have power steering? You may need to cut down the rear spacers to get the recommended power steering caster. Lots of thread mentions about that. Don't forget if you use a crows foot with a torque wrench, it has to be placed at a 90 degree angle or the torque value changes. There are formulas to calculate for other angles. Examples here: https://www.tekton.com/blog/how-to-accurately-use-a-torque-wrench-with-a-crowfoot-wrench. But for those castle nuts, likely even with the exact torque you'll be moving them a little to line up for the cotter pins. Put me in the good and tight camp also.

[CraigS]

I tighten the nut as tight as I can pull on a box end wrench. I may hit it w/ a hammer to get a little more rotation so the cotter pin holes lines up. If you ever need to take one of those ball joints apart, you will appreciate why an accurate TQ isn't needed.

[Buzzsaw]

The dimensions you're showing are just to get you in the ballpark. They will get set exactly during final front end alignment. So don't get too excited about them. Do you have power steering? You may need to cut down the rear spacers to get the recommended power steering caster. Lots of thread mentions about that. Don't forget if you use a crows foot with a torque wrench, it has to be placed at a 90 degree angle or the torque value changes. There are formulas to calculate for other angles. Examples here: https://www.tekton.com/blog/how-to-accurately-use-a-torque-wrench-with-a-crowfoot-wrench. But for those castle nuts, likely even with the exact torque you'll be moving them a little to line up for the cotter pins. Put me in the good and tight camp also.

Thank you. I have never used a crows foot wrench before, I appreciate your advise. Sounds like just getting the nut as tight as possible to be able to get the cotter pin in is good enough.

[Buzzsaw]

I tighten the nut as tight as I can pull on a box end wrench. I may hit it w/ a hammer to get a little more rotation so the cotter pin holes lines up. If you ever need to take one of those ball joints apart, you will appreciate why an accurate TQ isn't needed.

Dang, and last night I ordered a cheap set of metric crows foot wrenches. 14” Cresent wrench and hammer it is!
Thanks for your help!

[Hoooper]

Dang, and last night I ordered a cheap set of metric crows foot wrenches. 14” Cresent wrench and hammer it is!
Thanks for your help!

Youll need it again at some point. Crows foot wrenches are one of those tools that you dont use very often but when you really need them they save you hours of time compared to the struggle you would have to put up with without them.

[scrubs]

I don't think I have ever been upset that I have all the tools I desired for a job, not a stress issue. Worst case, maybe my kids will appreciate them when I am gone.

My old man was a mechanic, old school (I am >50yrs). We did all the work on our cars in the front yard. I never saw a torque wrench...and never saw any repersussions from it. Maybe my dad's hands were pretty close to a torque wrench, just sayin'.

[eljessup65]

Hello all, sorry to ask for this popular check. I tried to search past answers but didn’t get any results I also looked through 10 pages of post but didn’t find any examples I was looking for.
Please review the picture and tell me if my assembly looks correct.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=192314&d=1699998867

Also I used Mr. Jeff Kliner’s picture he has shared several time for upper control arm set up. Is this correct

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=192315&d=1699998867
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=192313&d=1699998867

I feel something might be wrong with my setup since I can’t get a torque wrench and socket on the top or bottom castle nuts to set torque. I used the spacer on the lower control arm that I found with the castle nuts in the box with the lower control arm. I am not sure it is correct. The manual doesn’t give any dimensions for the spacer,
Any help will be very much appreciated!
Ross

Buzzsaw, Just went through this myself last weekend. You can Torque the lower balljoint with wrench and socket with the top ball joint not installed. The spacer goes on the lower ball joint with the tapered hole toward the ball joint. Make sure to line up castle nut with cotter pin hole before moving to the upper. As mentioned, use a crows foot to torque the upper ball joint. This is tricky as to not let the crows foot slip off the nut, but possible. Good luck!
Lee

[Jeff Kleiner]

Also I used Mr. Jeff Kliner’s picture he has shared several time for upper control arm set up. Is this correct



Yep, that will get you in the neighborhood of 7-8 degrees of positive caster and .5 to .75 degrees negative camber.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=189078&d=1666032431

Center the steering wheel and rack then dial in 3/32"-1/8" of toe in and you'll be good to go initially until you can get or do a full alignment.

Carry on!

Jeff

[gbranham]

Looks good to me. Check out my build thread for several similar pics, if you want to compare. I had the group eyeball mine, too, and things looked right. I have a few good pics of the shaved rear adjuster sleeve, as well.

Greg