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j.pickens
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Joined: December 03, 2002
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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?
Copy of page:
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campingbox 
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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
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j.pickens
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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.
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i wish more people would actually drive their vws rather than just talking about what they have in the garage. |
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easy e
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Clara
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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.
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EverettB
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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.
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Big Bill
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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
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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.
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i wish more people would actually drive their vws rather than just talking about what they have in the garage. |
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easy e
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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.
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j.pickens
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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.
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i wish more people would actually drive their vws rather than just talking about what they have in the garage. |
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easy e
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5657
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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.
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EverettB
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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.
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Harleyelf
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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
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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.
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5657
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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?
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