Upper Ball Joint Bolt Torque @ 45lb-ft??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Stepsides 4Ever · 06-09-2005, 04:06 PM

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?

smokekiki · 06-09-2005, 04:55 PM

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

Stepsides 4Ever · 06-10-2005, 02:29 AM

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!

06-09-2005, 04:06 PM	#1
Stepsides 4Ever Stepsides Are Bedder Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Norco, CA Posts: 238	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?

06-09-2005, 04:55 PM	#2
smokekiki Mike Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: west chester pa Posts: 2,474	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 __________________ 70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires

06-10-2005, 02:29 AM	#3
Stepsides 4Ever Stepsides Are Bedder Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Norco, CA Posts: 238	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!



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