DavidMTroyer
Veteran Member
Is that snow under your hood? 
HELP: front strut issue
- Thread starter rbptdi
- Start date
rbptdi
Veteran Member
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- Jul 14, 2006
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- Cape Cod, MA
- TDI
- 2001 Golf TDi 2-door - no mods unless you count missing parts and a leaking sunroof
Mos def. First of the season.
jokila
Vendor
I know you have everything put back together, but to answer your question (for the benefit of others reading this thread) about the torque look at the first pic on the fixmyvw link. It shows the metalnerd tool for just this situation.Correct. PO had shoulder nut on top.
Back together. Much better. Note 2" lift spacer.
Bearing sits like a washer on top of the strut shaft shoulder.
How are you supposed to torque these things to 44lbs? Can't hold the 7mm hex still with any kind of torque wrench on either nut...
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slevang
Well-known member
Alternatively, if you use a spark-plug socket on the nut, you can make use of a crows foot to get the torque wrench on.
Blacktree
Veteran Member
My thoughts exactly. Spark plug sockets have a hex head on one end, so you can put a wrench (or a crow's foot) on it.
UhOh
Top Post Dawg
Sigh, I've done all this but still pretty much impossible to get a full torque on KONI struts. Wanting to say that Koni uses a smaller allen size. I've done three sets and have ended up just torquing as high as I can: first job I'd busted my allen wrench, in which case I went to the max that the tools would go (then learned that I cannot push too far).
rbptdi
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2006
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- Cape Cod, MA
- TDI
- 2001 Golf TDi 2-door - no mods unless you count missing parts and a leaking sunroof
I had 7mm hex on top. Think they were Bilstiens.
With the spark plug socket, my 3" hex driver socket was too short to reach - would need at least a 4".
But even if I were counter-holding the hex through the top of a spark plug socket, best I could do would be a large open end on the top of the socket, right? Don't have a crow's foot adapter for my TW, but even if I did, wouldn't that throw off the torque reading?
With the spark plug socket, my 3" hex driver socket was too short to reach - would need at least a 4".
But even if I were counter-holding the hex through the top of a spark plug socket, best I could do would be a large open end on the top of the socket, right? Don't have a crow's foot adapter for my TW, but even if I did, wouldn't that throw off the torque reading?
jokila
Vendor
Yes. and depends
https://www.finishing.com/118/94_crows_foot_torque.shtml
This one may be better.
http://www.fordservicecontent.com/renderers/torquewrench/wrench_formula_main_en.asp
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wonneber
Top Post Dawg
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Yes, slightly depending on how much longer it was.
For the strut I don't think I would be that concerned.
How many times have we tightened things w/o a torque wrench?
I'm sure we've all done it on things.
DavidMTroyer
Veteran Member
My understanding is that if the crow's foot is at a 90 degree angle from the torque wrench it won't affect torque spec. Pretty sure that's how you're supposed to use the metalnerd tool, as well.
wonneber
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2011
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- Monroe, NY, USA
- TDI
- 2014 Jetta Sportwagon,2003 Jetta 261K Sold but not forgotten
Come on now, you never used a 1/2 inch ratchet as a hammer?
rbptdi
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2006
- Location
- Cape Cod, MA
- TDI
- 2001 Golf TDi 2-door - no mods unless you count missing parts and a leaking sunroof
Or a hammer as a 1/2" ratchet?
Genesis
Top Post Dawg
Correct. Crows foot goes at a 90 degree angle. If you put it "inline" it will be MATERIALLY off. Don't do that.
rbptdi
Veteran Member
- Joined
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- Cape Cod, MA
- TDI
- 2001 Golf TDi 2-door - no mods unless you count missing parts and a leaking sunroof
Understood. What's the top of a 13/16" spark plug socket? 7/8"?
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BobnOH
not-a-mechanic
The end on mine is 13/16.
Don't overthink the torque thing, it's a simple lever and force thing, foot pounds, if you add length to the lever the calculation is adjusted, a crows foot is only like an inch, so you would reduce the force by 1/12.
Don't overthink the torque thing, it's a simple lever and force thing, foot pounds, if you add length to the lever the calculation is adjusted, a crows foot is only like an inch, so you would reduce the force by 1/12.