Just changed rod bearings

[Slideways]

Torque spec for the M11s is 5nm, 30nm, 70 degrees. If you torqued them anywhere near what you stated, they would be way overtorqued.

[eacmen]

Was there elevated lead oil analysis before doing the rod bearings?

[Obioban]

I wish I knew because I’m quite meticulous about my car and torque specs. Especially because I take it to the track. Always better to be safe then sorry. Anyways. I really won’t know how I f#%{ed up until I get in there which will take a couple weekends. But I dove into my photo bank and have these. I used the regular torque sequence on the car since the car is a “2002” but was produced in 07 of 01. So don’t quote me on this because I did the job a year or two ago but it’s like 80 ft lbs plus 90 degrees. So in doing so, the 90 degree part is the ONLY place I think I could of messed up. I used an angle finder attached to the torque wrench. Maybe I went 1 degree off on one of the bearings and that’s what I’m seeing as it eats itself alive. Also I used a ton of bearing lube, forgot which one but it’s the one everyone recommends, the photos shows how I applied it. And I paint marked them up so I wouldn’t mix up the bolts

That rod looks as though perhaps a bearing has spun in it before… has it?

If so, the rod and/or crank may be damaged, in which case you’ll keep burning through bearings.

[Icecream]

That rod looks as though perhaps a bearing has spun in it before… has it?

If so, the rod and/or crank may be damaged, in which case you’ll keep burning through bearings.

Was thinking the same but the bearings don’t look bad enough to have spun - unless a different set spun before.

[heinzboehmer]

I used an angle finder attached to the torque wrench.

Applying torque past the "click" of the wrench shouldn't do any damage to the tool, but next time I would use a breaker bar attached to the angle finder. If the torque wrench clicks when sweeping to the desired angle (say you bumped the handle and upped the set torque accidentally), the finder will display an angle that's no longer meaningful.

This is how I torqued the bolts when I did mine:

1. Thread in both bolts completely by hand
2. Torque both to 5 nm
3. Torque both to 30 nm
4. Grab desired angle measuring device and turn both 70 deg

[dl.m3]

80 ftlb and then 90° sounds like way too much.

I borrowed my friend's snap on torque wrench for my M11 bolts. Did the 30Nm + 70° and the digital wrench showed the final torque being 120-125Nm IIRC. If you did 80+90° that would put you in the ~200Nm final torque range...

Even the 70° was a struggle for me lying on the floor lol

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[Jersey_M3]

Appreciate all the input but I was more trying to show that I used the simple torque technique not the one that was tighten, then loosen, then tighten again. Those numbers were just a shot in the dark after two years of doing the work.

[Jersey_M3]

80 ftlb and then 90° sounds like way too much.

I borrowed my friend's snap on torque wrench for my M11 bolts. Did the 30Nm + 70° and the digital wrench showed the final torque being 120-125Nm IIRC. If you did 80+90° that would put you in the ~200Nm final torque range...

Even the 70° was a struggle for me lying on the floor lol

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Hey this is helpful since I will have this torque wrench for when I do this again.

I would agree. The angle from the floor was not the easiest to achieve. Had to find something to support my feet so I can pull it hard enough

[Jersey_M3]

Was thinking the same but the bearings don’t look bad enough to have spun - unless a different set spun before.

To my knowledge, these are the original bearings and there has never been a spin of a bearing. All the rods looked like that when I popped the bearing out. I’ll be sure to take way more photos next time

[michaeljchn]

Wait so you tightened it to 80 ft-lbs?

The specs call for like 22 ft lbs though ..

[jet_dogg]

It's pointless trying to guess, just redo it properly and be done with it.

I'm glad I have a shop well versed in these repairs.

[eacmen]

Popped into my feed today. Seemed appropriate given the discussion around accuracy of torque wrenches.

tl;dr most are close to spec from the factory but if you want consistency in how accurate they are that is where you need to spend ~$100+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP4uECoH8cc

[bigjae46]

Buy a used Snap on Techangle and get it calibrated. Chase down a snap on truck. They should have a tester on the truck.

It makes the job soooo much easier than using an angle finder or angle gauge.


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[Arinb12]

Sorry to hijack. But for the pre 2003 cars with M11 bolts, how many times can they be reused?

What are the options after, say 3 or 4 rod bearing changes? Move to ARP M11s? Or are they still good, providing the right torque processes were always used?

[michaeljchn]

Sorry to hijack. But for the pre 2003 cars with M11 bolts, how many times can they be reused?

What are the options after, say 3 or 4 rod bearing changes? Move to ARP M11s? Or are they still good, providing the right torque processes were always used?

Thats a good question actually...I'd like to assume they're good if the correct torques were always used? But knowing me - i'd probably change them after the 2nd or 3rd service. But if you're changing your rod bearings 4 times that might be concerning in a different way lol