Getting Torque Wrench on diff Bolts?

[eacmen]

I've got CMP subframe bushings and managed to torque those bolts recently. Used a CDI 3/8" torque wrench and some random etorx socket that I cut down with an angle grinder. For the angle, I paint marked the bolts and then eyeballed it.

I also tried cutting an e-torx socket but after i cut it the socket would slip off the bolt way too easy.

[George Hill]

With the CMP bushings things are much tougher. I 'm not sure there is a socket and torque wrench that will do it. Let us know if it works out for you cubie

I've done it before with CMP bushings and plates with that combo.

[Cubieman]

You probably didn't see my reply, but this is no plates and original bushings. But I have used this socket and torque wrench or (my Matco ratchet) exclusively for a decade+ and never had one I couldn't torque.

Nice

[oceansize]

I've done it before with CMP bushings and plates with that combo.

Thanks George. I'll guess I'll force myself to buy yet another tool

[George Hill]

Nice

I love my matco flex head ratchet, have that one and a back-up and also a fixed head in 3/8 drive.

I had the same digital torque wrench forever (maybe since '04 as I can't recall not having it) but I got a good deal on the tech angle and retired the non angle torque. I should have kept it as a back up lol.

Thanks George. I'll guess I'll force myself to buy yet another tool

Good deals can be had on eBay, it's where I buy my replacement sockets and such.

[D-O]

My e-torx socket was too tall as well. I used a short snap-on 7/16" six point socket (been a while - might have been 3/8") on my TechAngle and it just fit.

[bavarian3]

Ok good callout George Hill . I didn't think to try my torque wrenches initially. Turns out the in.lb fits fine with the e torx socket. This will be perfect for setting the initial torque.

However, this only gets me halfway there, as I won't be able to get an angle gauge in there.


Here is my cdi 3/8 in.lb torque wrench. The cdi 3/8 5-75ftlb would not fit.






and my 3/8 breaker bar. this had no room for turning without chipping away at the floor though.






So I'm thinking the only way to do this "by the book" is to get the smallest form torque wrench with angle, and a shallow or ground down appropriate socket.

[George Hill]

Honestly if I was you since you already have the initial torque then I would buy a nice ratchet. If you do much wrenching then it will be much more appreciated in daily use rather than a very expensive torque wrench. It seems silly but a really nice ratchet is really makes a difference, at least IMO.

My Matcos are BFR128LFTM, but looks like that pn# is discontinued and is now BFR128LFM. This is the green version of mine: https://www.ebay.com/itm/364634867977

[PSUEng]

Honestly if I was you since you already have the initial torque then I would buy a nice ratchet. If you do much wrenching then it will be much more appreciated in daily use rather than a very expensive torque wrench. It seems silly but a really nice ratchet is really makes a difference, at least IMO.

My Matcos are BFR128LFTM, but looks like that pn# is discontinued and is now BFR128LFM. This is the green version of mine: https://www.ebay.com/itm/364634867977

I also have this same ratchet and the first time I used it, doing power steering hoses, I was like wow, this is a pro-tool. I own CDI torque wrenches--I'm not a pro, but realize good tools make a difference. So I'll echo George Hill here, and if you can get yourself a nice ratchet you'll really get use out of it, maybe more so than a really expensive torque wrench.

[bavarian3]

Honestly if I was you since you already have the initial torque then I would buy a nice ratchet. If you do much wrenching then it will be much more appreciated in daily use rather than a very expensive torque wrench. It seems silly but a really nice ratchet is really makes a difference, at least IMO.

My Matcos are BFR128LFTM, but looks like that pn# is discontinued and is now BFR128LFM. This is the green version of mine: https://www.ebay.com/itm/364634867977

So I was going to go grab a Quinn/Harbor Freight torque wrench with angle. For 130(with coupon) bucks it's hard to go wrong, and the reviews seem good, but then I realized I wouldn't use it on my upcoming rod bearing job... so not sure what use I would get from it otherwise. I walked out with a couple ratchets instead.

These are no Matco's, but these should fit the bill for now till I can comprehensively update my tool collection. These had the lowest profile from what I saw, actually slightly lower profile than the one's they actually label "low profile".

I'll update on fitment later.

[sapote]

Ok good callout George Hill . This will be perfect for setting the initial torque.

However, this only gets me halfway there, as I won't be able to get an angle gauge in there.

Assuming the initial torque had been set 15 ft-lbs, then just pull the wrench 90 deg more to the red highlighted. Why need angle wrench? If you worry it will click and lose track of the angle, then tape the socket to the wrench to avoid clicking.

[heinzboehmer]

Not exactly great practice to keep torquing a fastener after the torque wrench has clicked.

Just swap out to a regular ratchet, paint mark the fastener and eye ball the 90 deg based on the paint mark.

[bavarian3]

heinzboehmer Correct my in.lb cdi only does up to 20ftlbs or so. Wouldn't want abuse them.

The diff is finally all torqued up. That was just, ridiculous.

about that socket cap idea... 😂 these wrenches plus a pipe for leverage =





I got the job done with an e-torx and the new HF ratchet. It fit just barely. Required chipping some paint on the flooring to get it in there. I had loctite curing and needed to get the thing done so I carried forward.

In summary I would either grind/cut an e-torx down, or find the lowest profile one out there. Not sure how anyone used a 6pt without rounding the bolts.

Glad that's over. I paint marked the bolts and will keep an eye on things especially that front bolt..