Other than the obvious purchase of a 300 LB torque wrench how have any others in the group obtained the 295 foot lbs of torque necessary for the front spindle nuts for the 2004-2008 F150 2WD trucks?

I've checked with all of the normal tool spots around here and haven't located a 300 Lb wrench. I've got a 1/2" drive 250 lb wrench and remember once seeing a calculation for achieving higher torques by using a wrench or some kind of adapter off the end of the torque wrench. Any idea's?

 

pneumatic impact wrench. the nice ones come with torque settings

 

100 lbs of force on the end of a 36" breaker bar will get you close.

 

youll have to spend some coin

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools...e=snapon-store

 

I was wondering the same thing about the 351 ft. lb. torque spec on the lower strut bolt. I am going to be installing a 2.5" HBS leveling kit soon and the lower bolt connecting the front strut to the lower arm calls for the high torque. Unless someone tells you a better way, I was probably just going to take GatorB8's advice and use a breaker bar and just give it some good force.

 

295ftlbs for a spindle nut?!?! i`ve NEVER tighten those that much unless im thinking of sumthing else ur talking the nut that holds the whole hub assymbly on right?

 

My owners manual has a list of torque specifications in it and I can verify that it says 295 pounds.

I installed a frame mounted trailer hitch on my truck. Instructions called for 150 pounds of torque on the largest nuts. First, I used my 100 pound torque wrench to get that far, then I used a 24 inch power handle on my 1/2" drive socket. I put both feet on the frame and pulled with all my might. I was surprised to see how much more the nut moved. At any rate, I tried to break the damn thing off. Based on how much pressure the 100 lb effort took, I am comfortable the extra effort got me there.

However, I do not know about 295 pounds. If it were me, I would do two things: 1) I would talk to a very knowledgeable mechanic or machinist about the issue, and 2) I would get a piece of 5 foot long steel pipe to extend my power handle. I'd get my buddy to hold the socket in place and I would stand, then jump up and down on the end of the pipe. (years ago, I did this and broke my Craftsman socket which Sears replaced free of charge). I'll bet it took more than 295 pounds of torque to break that socket.

I do not profess to know if a pneumatic wrench will exceed the results of my weight and jumping on the extension, but I'd feel pretty good about those results. I figure a 200 pound man jumping on the end of a 5 foot extension pipe would be quite sufficient.

By the way, my manual states it is imperative that a new spindle nut be used every time the hub is removed. I suspect 295 pounds of torque would permanently distort the spindle nut threads.

 

only reason i question it is you WILL crush your bearing and burn bearings up in no time... on the 4wds i know you`ve gotta crank them down good due to the vacum lock hubs... but a spindle nut on 2wd(how i do it) is tighten till snugg spin wheell few times... back it off a hair spin a few more then snugg it up again then do about an 1/8 turn more. if hole doesnt line up for cotter pin go a hair more.....


then just to make sure its good... put the tire on tighten lug nutz... and grab top and bottom and shake it see if u have any play if u do snugg it a lil more...

 

thats the way you do it on old cars. different bearing/nut setup. our trucks, the 2wd spindle nut needs to be torqued to 295 ft/lbs

 

DMAG- Harbor Freight sells 2 different 3/4 in. torque wrenches. I think one is a 36 in. and then there is a 42 in. They may be the same price, I'm not sure. I know the 36 in. runs about $80. That's a whole lot better than $700. for a Snap-Off! They're a pretty nice looking TW. I haven't need one yet but when I do that's where I'm going to get it. Have the 3/4 sockets, just need the wrench.

Edit: Just checked and they don't seem to show the 42 in. any more. The one they do have is 33 1/2, not 36 and it is on sale now for $74.99. You can get 20% off coupons everywhere though. About every magazine you pick up any more has them.