drop links

[thebeach2008]

hi
I have just changed my os drop link and anti roll bar bush, Haynes states that you need to torque the links to 74 lb, however as I have the links with the hex key there is no way I can use a socket and torque wrench, am I missing something, they don't seem to be on a taper so don't pull in and hold themselves, I also had the car on a jack , so to replace the link I needed to put another jack under the wishbone to get the suspension to the right lengh,, the knocking seems worse  any advise would be good many thanks gary

[insanitybeard]

You could use the hex key on the stud and a spanner on the nut just to nip up the drop link nut enough to stop the stud turning and just do the last little bit with a torque wrench? If this doesn't work, you could either get a hex key socket to use on the torque wrench directly and hold the nut with a spanner whilst you torque the stud itself (you'll have to be turning the stud anticlockwise for this to work) if it's man enough to take the torque you need to tighten it up to.

[bigdave982]

Dont they have the flats under the rubber boot to hold with a spanner whilst tightening?
If they dont be sure to stuff the hex socket on end of shaft with grease when done or you wont get them off agian cos of corrosion

[thebeach2008]

thanks for your replies , it turns out im stupid, looking at the new one for the other side it does have a flat under the rubber, so I have re done the o/s and torqued it up, and just finished the n/s, drives like new now no knocks on these terrible devon roads thanks again for your quick replies , now need to sort out the water level light that comes on when it feels like it even with the correct water lever am I looking at the sender on the bottle again