about 3 days ago, i went over to my friend's house to install the hotchkis sway bars. we had a 85 ft. lbs of torqe wrench ready (i think it was 85) and then we read the installation guide and it said we needed about 146 . then we went over his neighbor's house to borrow his torque wrench which can handle 160. it was huge compared to the other torque wrench. Even with a 160 ft. lbs of torqe, we still couldnt take out the bolts because they were hella torqued in. . Anyone know where i can get this installation for a good price? I dont want to go to the dealer because they overcharge.

 

You shouldn't need a torque wrench to remove the bolts... just to put the new ones on.

 

I feel ya... I had the same problem. Those steering cradle bolts are tight as hell!

I bought an electric impact wrench at Wall Mart and it still wasn't strong enough. What I did was find a close local shop. I paid the guy a ten spot and he lifted the car and used his air impact wrench to just 'loosen' then retighten the 4 bolts enough to hold but allow me to untighten with a good wrench at home.

I had to drive for two days before I had a day off to work on the car, after it had a whole night to cool down. I will warn you, that during those two days I did notice that the steering wheel had a bit more 'play' and I was not comfortable driving it.

I helps a lot to leave the car overnight at the spot you will be installing your bars at. All that metal gets hot hot!

Good Luck, is well worth the mod.

 

you shouldnt use a torque wrench to remove the bolts if u do u will damage the torque wrench. what u need is a breaker bar that will help u "break" the bolts so that u can losen them with a ratchet

 

Well said. And breaker bars don't cost that much. I can't say how many times it's come in handy with me.

 

agreed on the break bar part. are you in socal? i can get you a shop to do it if you are

 

yes im in socal

 

Torque wrenches are for measuring torque when you tighten bolts... not for taking off bolts. I used a Pneumatic Impact wrench, and a good ol' breaker bar.

 

If you must you can slip a pipe over the end of the breaker bar. You might break parts, you might seriously injure yourself, or it might work just fine. But results are guaranteed! (I just can't say if it will be the results you want...)

 

Alright!, that's how we do things at Scionlife :D Just give it hell, and if it doesn't work keep extending it for more leverage.

 

Thats funny..I installed the bar after we lowered it and we lowered it by hand...no power tools

 

ya, installed coilovers by hand...breaker bars and spring compressors. My Craftsman jack has a removable handle which doubles as a breaker bar.

 

Pfft breaker bar....I just use my guns.

 

so where is the shop at?

 

damn a breaker bar will do but you still need the gunz to finish the job.

 

you got PM(s)

 

i checked my inbox and no pm's sent.

 

hmm i sent it to someone else who asked the same thing. check again. =)

 

thanks dude, ill let you know asap when im about to get the install.

 

Two Words, IMPACT WRENCH. It will remove almost any bolt. My sway was cake work took like 1/2 hour for the rear.