Ryanc

I have a bolt on the passenger side, upper control arm, on the axle bracket. I could not torque the damn thing to 125. The highest it would go is 121. I could feel it was not going to make it to 125ft lb. Is the bolt fatigued? It is really in there though. Should I just mark the bolt with some paint and see if it moves. Or should I yank the thing out of there and replace it?

ronjenx

Rear axle, I assume. The front ones are only 75 ft/lbs.
What do you mean you could tell it's not going to make it to 125? You can't keep turning the bolt?
Did it suddenly get easier to turn? Is there anything after-market involved here?
You must replace the bolt and nut if it continues to spin before it reaches 125.

Ryanc

Oops, started this thread in wrong section. It just seems at 121ftlbs the force to turn the bolt is not increasing. As I inch the bolt up every quarter turn past 90ft lb it would increase by 10 ftlb, then at 121 is just wouldnt torque anymore.

ronjenx

As long as it did not stretch or strip the threads, it's OK. (And you started with clean threads?)
Just keep turning the wrench until you see the proper torque. Sometimes they do stop turning just before the torque is reached. After torque is applied, make sure the assembly is tight using a regular wrench applied in both directions. Not enough to untorque it, but just enough to make sure the bolt does not move. When a too long bolt is installed, and the nut reaches the end of the bolt's threads, it will take the torque, yet the bolt will still be loose when checked with a wrench afterwards.

ronjenx

Re-reading your post, you are saying the bolt continues to turn? Maybe the bolt and nut will continue turning until the nut retainer grabs to stop the nut from turning.

Ryanc

At 121 it popped, then 122, it appeared to turn more than it should. I cant quit figure it out. It appears to be pretty tight in there. I threaded the bolt correctly. I am paranoid with torque wrenches, really do not want to break anything.

mkjeep

I'd replace that bolt if I were you. Did the torque wrench pop or click? If not you probably broke the bolt. It could still be being held in a bit by the threads and pressure. Defdinately take it out and inspect

Ryanc

Damn, I figured I was going to have to do this. Is this common for this to happen?

mkjeep

It happens. You weren't torquing the front uppers to 125, were you?

mkjeep

The bolt could have probably been over torqued from the factory stressing it. When you tried to re use it, no torquey right, pop= broke bolt.