akmon
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Hello from Europe.
I´ve ordered a GT Strut tower brace for my Mustang 5.0. as you know, none of European Mustangs have it, at least it brings the Cowl Brace and the accesory bracket in the middle. But I wanted that stetic touch for the engine. I´m about to install it, but reading some threads, now I have doubts about the torque.
Yes, I know the direct answer: Ford says that the torque for the 4 nuts of an OEM strut tower brace is 41 lb-ft. But I´ve found many therads with studs broken or sheared using that value. And in that case, fixing it is a real PITA. You have to unmount tower brace and cowl brace, drill, with accuracy, finding a bolt, welding it etc. Hard job.
Examples:
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/broke-bolt-while-installing-strut-tower-brace.90478/
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/im-an-idiot-i-snapped-the-stb-stud.53749/
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/information-needed-k-brace-bolt-sheared-thread.81846/
Even I have found some research of a member quite interesting about max torque of a bolt depending of the quality:
"
I was digging around looking at recommended torque values for metric fasteners. The strut tower studs are 10M x 1.50 (10 mm dia x 1.50 mm pitch). What I'm finding is that Ford's recommended torque value of 41 ft-lbs seems to be higher than the general information out there.
It looks like based on Ford's torque spec that the studs are most likely Grade 8.8 (120K PSI) which is equivalent to a Grade 5 in US sizes. But Ford is recommending 41 ft-lbs where as most chart show it more like 35~37 ft-lbs.
http://www.xrfchassis.com/images/PDF/Torque_Reference_Chart.pdf
This reference shows 10M x 1.50 Grade 8.8 at 44 N-m, which is 33 ft-lbs.
http://www.boltmasters.com.au/webfi...ters_Pty_Ltd_Recommended_Assembly_Torques.pdf
After looking at this, I wouldn't torque the strut tower nuts over 33 ft-lbs ... probably shoot for 30 ft-lbs with clean dry threads. "
So this is the question.
Do you think I have to torque to 41 lb-ft or maybe to to a conservative 30 lb-ft but risking of loosening them for not to be so tight.
Thank you very much for your advice.
I´ve ordered a GT Strut tower brace for my Mustang 5.0. as you know, none of European Mustangs have it, at least it brings the Cowl Brace and the accesory bracket in the middle. But I wanted that stetic touch for the engine. I´m about to install it, but reading some threads, now I have doubts about the torque.
Yes, I know the direct answer: Ford says that the torque for the 4 nuts of an OEM strut tower brace is 41 lb-ft. But I´ve found many therads with studs broken or sheared using that value. And in that case, fixing it is a real PITA. You have to unmount tower brace and cowl brace, drill, with accuracy, finding a bolt, welding it etc. Hard job.
Examples:
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/broke-bolt-while-installing-strut-tower-brace.90478/
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/im-an-idiot-i-snapped-the-stb-stud.53749/
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/information-needed-k-brace-bolt-sheared-thread.81846/
Even I have found some research of a member quite interesting about max torque of a bolt depending of the quality:
"
I was digging around looking at recommended torque values for metric fasteners. The strut tower studs are 10M x 1.50 (10 mm dia x 1.50 mm pitch). What I'm finding is that Ford's recommended torque value of 41 ft-lbs seems to be higher than the general information out there.
It looks like based on Ford's torque spec that the studs are most likely Grade 8.8 (120K PSI) which is equivalent to a Grade 5 in US sizes. But Ford is recommending 41 ft-lbs where as most chart show it more like 35~37 ft-lbs.
http://www.xrfchassis.com/images/PDF/Torque_Reference_Chart.pdf
This reference shows 10M x 1.50 Grade 8.8 at 44 N-m, which is 33 ft-lbs.
http://www.boltmasters.com.au/webfi...ters_Pty_Ltd_Recommended_Assembly_Torques.pdf
After looking at this, I wouldn't torque the strut tower nuts over 33 ft-lbs ... probably shoot for 30 ft-lbs with clean dry threads. "
So this is the question.
Do you think I have to torque to 41 lb-ft or maybe to to a conservative 30 lb-ft but risking of loosening them for not to be so tight.
Thank you very much for your advice.
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