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j.pickens Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2002 Posts: 9790 Location: Exit 7, New Jersey
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Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:14 pm Post subject: Shock Absorber Bolt Torque |
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In the Without Guesswork torque specifications, it shows 21 to 25 ft. lbs. tightening torque for the front shock bolts.
When I reassembled my bus, I used that torque, but it seemed low, it felt like I could have applied more oomph in tightening.
I went with it, but now, several thousand miles later, my top passenger side shock bolt rattled out, making for some scary banging sounds until I could pull over and see WTF was causing it.
Anyway, am I reading the specs. correctly?
What torque are you using?
Opinions?
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BeaterBarndoor wrote: |
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campingbox Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2000 Posts: 10196 Location: Petaluma, CA
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Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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That does sound really low.
I usually just make the pretty tight - can't recall torqueing them before.
I checked the '55 workshop manual, '59 workshop manual, and the '63 workshop manual. All three did not call for a torque spec. |
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easy e Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2008 Posts: 3931 Location: 1 hr north of Santa Barbara
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j.pickens Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2002 Posts: 9790 Location: Exit 7, New Jersey
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Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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campingbox wrote: |
That does sound really low.
I usually just make the pretty tight - can't recall torqueing them before.
I checked the '55 workshop manual, '59 workshop manual, and the '63 workshop manual. All three did not call for a torque spec. |
Yeah, I couldn't find a torque in the workshop manuals, so I used the one listed in the photo.Even there, its the beetle torque listed, not a bus spec.
And I can't use a nylok nut on the top because the early beam uses the beetle style special bolt with the large shaft and small thread.
I'm gonna re tighten all the shock bolts to 40 ft. lbs. and call it done. _________________ Founder and Chairman Emeritus, ECMSAS
BBX BBXII and BBXXI Long Distance Award Winner
BeaterBarndoor wrote: |
i wish more people would actually drive their vws rather than just talking about what they have in the garage. |
Red Fau Veh wrote: |
If you've seen one sunroof swivel seat kombi, you've seen them all! |
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easy e Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2008 Posts: 3931 Location: 1 hr north of Santa Barbara
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Clara Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2003 Posts: 12400
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Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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Did you use the correct washer? It's the one with the serrated edges. _________________ The Obsolete Air-Cooled Documentation Project http://oacdp.org/ |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69820 Location: Phoenix Metro
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Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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Clara wrote: |
Did you use the correct washer? It's the one with the serrated edges. |
I was thinking this too - they have "lock" washers.
I can't recall torquing the tops to spec but I know I retorqued the bottoms and installed new washers as they were missing on my '63 when one was loose. They have not come loose again. _________________ How to Post Photos
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Big Bill Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2005 Posts: 1782 Location: Santa Rosa, Ca
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Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 7:15 am Post subject: |
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I also lost a top shock bolt not too long ago, after changing the shocks. I remember thinking the same on the low torque setting, and I didnt use the serrated washers. I always use Anti-seize goop on most bolts so that cant help at that low setting. It is getting hard to find that top bolt I dug around in the local VW repair shops bolt buckets for over an hour before finding a few. I will recheck them NOW and get some serrated washers. |
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j.pickens Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2002 Posts: 9790 Location: Exit 7, New Jersey
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Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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I did use the serrated washers. They came with the shocks, though they seemed flimsy compared to original ones. I like the sound of the bay window torque spec. _________________ Founder and Chairman Emeritus, ECMSAS
BBX BBXII and BBXXI Long Distance Award Winner
BeaterBarndoor wrote: |
i wish more people would actually drive their vws rather than just talking about what they have in the garage. |
Red Fau Veh wrote: |
If you've seen one sunroof swivel seat kombi, you've seen them all! |
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easy e Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2008 Posts: 3931 Location: 1 hr north of Santa Barbara
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Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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But, if it's a bigger bolt... it's inappropriate for a smaller one.
Torque is specific to achieve a certain amount of thread deformation in the elastic region...without taking the steel into the plastic region. Go there & you're going backwards, in terms of strength & reliability. You can't tell by looks or feel.
If the washer was flimsy, try a better one and/or nylock nut. _________________ aka: Evan
Spreadsheet for Bus RPM, based on gearing & tire size (Excel format)
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j.pickens Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2002 Posts: 9790 Location: Exit 7, New Jersey
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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easy e wrote: |
But, if it's a bigger bolt... it's inappropriate for a smaller one.
Torque is specific to achieve a certain amount of thread deformation in the elastic region...without taking the steel into the plastic region. Go there & you're going backwards, in terms of strength & reliability. You can't tell by looks or feel.
If the washer was flimsy, try a better one and/or nylock nut. |
Can't use a nylok nut, the "nut" is the threaded socket of the front beam shock towers. _________________ Founder and Chairman Emeritus, ECMSAS
BBX BBXII and BBXXI Long Distance Award Winner
BeaterBarndoor wrote: |
i wish more people would actually drive their vws rather than just talking about what they have in the garage. |
Red Fau Veh wrote: |
If you've seen one sunroof swivel seat kombi, you've seen them all! |
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easy e Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2008 Posts: 3931 Location: 1 hr north of Santa Barbara
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5657 Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 170 Location: North Okanagan, BC CANADA
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: Shock Absorber Bolt Torque |
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John Muir's book says:
Shock absorber nut
Socket size 13mm 14-22 ft/lbs
Shock absorber bolt
Socket size 17mm 22-25 ft/lbs
I thought the split bus rear shocks used a bolt and nut arrangement top and bottom.
Values were given in the thread of 14 ft/lbs for 10mm and 25ft/lbs for 12mm
but as far as I can tell, there are only 12mm bolts back there. VW parts book shows the rear shock nut as M12x1.5.
Suggestions in the thread for torque range from 14 to 40 ft/lbs and others say they don't torque these bolts at all.
Nothing in the Progressive Refinements or the Bentley manual.
Did I not read the thread correctly or is there actually no answer to this question? Any clarification will be appreciated as I am in the process of installing new rear shocks. Thanks. _________________ 1956 Type 2 Ambulance
1957 Type 1 Deluxe
1975 914 2.0 litre
2017 Jetta TSI |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69820 Location: Phoenix Metro
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: Shock Absorber Bolt Torque |
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Quote: |
I thought the split bus rear shocks used a bolt and nut arrangement top and bottom. |
Yes, they do
'71 version of Without Guesswork
If the Split Bus bolts are M12 I would use that torque rating (43 lbs)
I can't remember every torquing the the rears either, I just make them pretty tight. _________________ How to Post Photos
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Harleyelf Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2009 Posts: 1572 Location: Appleton, WI
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Shock Absorber Bolt Torque |
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If you buy good grade 8 or better bolts at Fastenall, you can exceed the factory specs. Bolt steel was softer 50 years ago. I torque mine to 35. |
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mandraks Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2004 Posts: 7050 Location: Lawrenceville, Ga
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: Shock Absorber Bolt Torque |
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not sure i agree, a DIN 8.8 bolt is a DIN 8.8 bolt.
a used old bolt vs a new bolt of the same spec is a different conversation, but spec is spec. _________________ regards
Uli
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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel |
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5657 Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2010 Posts: 170 Location: North Okanagan, BC CANADA
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 1:47 pm Post subject: Re: Shock Absorber Bolt Torque |
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The 1969 Without Guesswork says 43 ft/lbs also. Only problem is that the bay windows were around in 1969 and 1971. With respect to the rear shock bolts, Without Guesswork doesn't distinguish between bay windows and the earlier split window buses. If the numbers given apply to all buses, why didn't VW publish the spec prior to 1969?
Also, what is the quality of the new shock bolts in the kits being currently sold by commercial vendors? _________________ 1956 Type 2 Ambulance
1957 Type 1 Deluxe
1975 914 2.0 litre
2017 Jetta TSI |
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