how to ensure torque on a nut
- Thread starter 4getr34
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Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Torque wrench and flare nut crowfoot wrench.
Truth be told, you can do it by feel. If you're capable of replacing calipers correctly you should be ok tightening brake lines.
Truth be told, you can do it by feel. If you're capable of replacing calipers correctly you should be ok tightening brake lines.
wafrederick
Well-known member
I do it by feel too and there is another thing I do.I don't use the new washers with the new calipers,they don't seal and leak getting thrown in the garbage can.I reuse the old washers and no leaks.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Wow..
Talk about *** backwards. I always replace copper or aluminium washers, never had a new one leak. Once tried to reuse copper washers on a Mercedes-Benz fuel filter assembly and it pissed fuel like there was no tomorrow. And that's at a much lower pressure than a braking system. New set of 5 copper washers and it was fine.
I'm glad you don't work on cars within a 3,500-mile radius of me..
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Does the brake line have a banjo or threaded fitting on the caliper end?
Threaded on the left, banjo on the right.
Threaded on the left, banjo on the right.
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Freeborn John
Well-known member
I've annealed old copper washers and used them again if I've really been in a corner, never on brakes though. It worked OK, but it's a bodge.
wafrederick
Well-known member
I did reuse the copper washers on a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport trac,never leaked at all.Had to replace the right front brake caliper during a front brake job on this vehicle yesterday because the slides on the caliper bracket were froze up badly.A replacement caliper bracket does not come with new slides from the auto parts stores.The new washers don't seal very well at all.
stopdroplol
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
- 640
I've never replaced the banjo washers on my brakes and I've never had a problem. I keep track and put them on the same side they come off though.
Catalyze
Well-known member
I superivse the maintenance on our 21 vehicle fleet. New washers every time.
Craig
Craig
peter_x
Well-known member
If you use a torque wrench with a flare nut wrench, the angle between the wrenches will matter. They have to be perpendicular so the nut gets tightened to the same torque as indicated on the torque wrench.
mrbreezeet1
Banned
I have heard guys say to use the old washers, not the new ones.
I usually use the new ones, don't think I ever had a problem.
But I bet I am tightening more that ~13ft lb of torque.
Thanks,
Tony
I usually use the new ones, don't think I ever had a problem.
But I bet I am tightening more that ~13ft lb of torque.
Thanks,
Tony
treasureseeker
Well-known member
The first mom and pop garage I worked at had a lot of rules like that. I think reusing the copper washers came from problems with the cheap ones that came with aftermarket calipers. I have had some loose fitting copper washers that didn’t center in the relief and were held from seating properly but just needed a correction.
They also never changed inside the carburetor fuel filters with a tune up siting, past problems. I was young and didn’t know any better. I have reused copper washers without any problem. I just tighten them a little more than new ones.
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Torque wrench and flare nut crowfoot wrench.
Truth be told, you can do it by feel. If you're capable of replacing calipers correctly you should be ok tightening brake lines.
yeap thats right, i looked up some sites explaining the physics. hairy stuff!
nate379
Banned
I have reused the old ones when I didn't have new ones, sometimes ok, sometimes they leak, but if I have new ones I replace.
When I worked in a shop we would get in deep **** for not replacing them, even on oil pans.
GoBlue
Well-known member
Around me...most all of the shops refuse the new washers and use the old ones...its how i was taught...I have never had an old one leak but have had plenty of new ones leak when old ones couldnt be reused for whatever reason. As for my employees...i hire quality techs and tell each of them that the job is theirs and attached to their name. Do what they feel is best and deal with the consequences good or bad. I have not been let down often. A lot of good techs with a lot of experience have their own ways of doing things...as long as the job is done well and the customer is happy...im happy. Obvious problems are another story...but pros dont make obvious mistakes often.
Wow.
Just when I thought my opinion of you couldn't get any lower, you post **** like that.
New washers, torqued to spec (with a torque wrench, not by feel), and I haven't had a leak in over 10 years. I have re-annealed them on occasion, but along with re-using copper washers, it's not a habit I like to get into.
ajchien
Well-known member
Ok, Im a shadetree that needs to be schooled on this....
Does 13 ft lbs seems awfully loose to make sure a copper washer is sealing. Should it be higher like 25-35 ft lbs? I'm just extrapolating limited experience with oil drain bolt washers. Doesn't it take about 25-35 ft lbs to make a indentation into the washer to seal tightly?
Does 13 ft lbs seems awfully loose to make sure a copper washer is sealing. Should it be higher like 25-35 ft lbs? I'm just extrapolating limited experience with oil drain bolt washers. Doesn't it take about 25-35 ft lbs to make a indentation into the washer to seal tightly?
no, and personally i use an in-lb torque wrench for that set to 160.
GoodoleBoy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2008
- Messages
- 252
Ive reused, bought new, even flattened out used washers, never had a leak..I usually flatten out the used ones if they been reapplied more than once..But I prefer to buy new if I am at a parts store and remember to get some..If your working on a weekend or only have one car, reusing is about the only option if you dont have new ones already.
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Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I was about to ask if that was an E46, then i saw the little writing at the bottom of the pic..
I was about to ask if that was an E46, then i saw the little writing at the bottom of the pic..
u sir, have good eyes!
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Recognised the wishbone, i work on loads of E46s.
