Upper Ball Joint Bolt Torque @ 45lb-ft???
 

The factory manual calls out for 45lb-ft bolt torque for the 4 upper ball joint securing bolts on a '70 Chevy C-10. I can snap a 5-16/18 grade 8 bolt before I get even close to that number. Does anyone have any suggestions?

That is almost double what a 5/16th should be torqued to!Here is a chart that calls for 24-27 ft#,....http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-in...ed-Torque.aspx

Yeah, I saw similar torque values elsewhere on the web. The upper ball joints were the original (riveted) variety, and I had to grind off the heads of the rivets and punch them oout. The replacement ball joints (from LMC Truck) came with 8mm ungraded bolts, which I stripped out at about 20 lb-ft. I then brought some 5/16-18 grade 8 bolts home from work, which I snapped at less than 35 lb-ft. I miked the ID of the factory holes and they are punched to an ID of 0.360", so I decided to drill the ball joints and control arms out to 0.375" and use 3/8-16 grade 8 bolts, which torque to about 44 lb-ft. Better not to have so much play in the bolt holes (over 0.040") anyway, I'm thinkin'...and maybe that's what the factory intended.

Thanks for your help!