[Sixle]

or those of you that have done the install..I've browsed all the DIY's I can find and everything I see shows the proper torque spec from the arms to the knuckle/hub at 122ft-lbs.

What I seem to not understand is how to get a t40 socket to torque to 122 ft-lbs? Any T40 i've used hasn't lasted to near that force before its stripped or snapped. How did you guys that have done this get around that?

Does anyone have the info from the e90 Bentley Manual?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[CALWATERBOY]

Originally Posted by Sixle

or those of you that have done the install..I've browsed all the DIY's I can find and everything I see shows the proper torque spec from the arms to the knuckle/hub at 122ft-lbs.

What I seem to not understand is how to get a t40 socket to torque to 122 ft-lbs? Any T40 i've used hasn't lasted to near that force before its stripped or snapped. How did you guys that have done this get around that?

Does anyone have the info from the e90 Bentley Manual?

Dang, so long ago I don't remember how I did it. Try torx for impact wrench.

No hex to turn? Seem to remember nothing but....

[Sixle]

There is a 21mm nut you turn while using a t40 torx bit to hold the ball joint from turning, either way the torque spec will still fall on the torzx bit by the time the nut is tightened..using the t40 is the only way to ensure proper torque spec from what I can tell.

[Casca]

Buy a better T40 torx socket or maybe try an "L" trox wrench?

For my work, you never torq. using the bolt head, you torq using the nut. I realize the bently manual says "M14 10.9 BOLT(replace with new) 165 Nm (122 ft-lbs).

Maybe they mean for you to actually torq. on the T40 head while holding the nut stationary or maybe it's an oversight or something they you should already know. For the tension strut, they don't specify what you torq, just "tension strut to steering knuckle" and that is the same situation.

Me personally, I will hold the T40 stationary with a socket or L wrench and torque the nut with a 21mm crows foot.

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-G...1mm+crows+foot

[raceyBMW]

You do not need to torque it using the T40. The ball joint pin is tapered, so that as you torque it down with the nut, it gets sucked up into the steering plate and will stop spinning when you turn the nut. So start turning the nut with an open wrench, with the T40 holding the ball joint pin stationary. After you get some tension on the bolt and the pin stops spinning, you can take the T40 off and continue to torque down the bolt to 122 ft-lb.

Hey, just be happy the control arms even have that T40 head, on my E34 they don't and it makes installing control arms into the steering plates a huge hassle (have to use a pry bar between the nut and plate to get the ball joint into tension and not turn).

Also remember, do not tighten the bolt/nut at the bushing end for either control arm until you load up the suspension. You can tighten the 122ft-lb nut at the steering plate/ball joint whenever you want, do not need the suspension loaded up for that one. If you are reusing bolts/nuts (probably ok at the bushing, the control arms always come with new nuts for the ball joint) then hit the threads with some red loc-tite to keep them from backing off.