Torque Adapter

[catron44]

I just did the upper control arm and lower ball joints on my 07 Avalanche. I've got a problem getting my torque wrench onto the upper ball joint to torque it to spec. I've searched everywhere (I can get one tomorrow via Amazon) and I called my local Napa because a carlyle one is on their website. The guy who answered didn't know what a torque adapter was and his line was:

"I worked at a chevy dealer for 10 years, did a bunch of ball joints and never torqued a single upper ball joint, i just used a wrench and made it tight"

This sound irresponsible to me as I always prefer to torque to the spec in the service manual. Am I wrong?

Should I just take my 18mm box end wrench on it and tighten it up? or do I order the torque adapter?

If I go with the adapter, aside from the tool trucks, who makes them? The carlyle one would have to be sent in from Georgia (I'm in CT) and I can only find armstrong in metric open stock. I only need the 18mm.

Would love to know the thoughts from the forum on this.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I'm with yer parts guy,....

I've changed bazillions of ball joints, 'n never torque wrenched a single one,....

 

[L.Cheapo]

Millions of bolts are torqued improperly every day. Does it work? 99.9999% of the time, yes it does. However if I have a torque spec for a fastener, especially one in a critical location, I use it. Snap on will deliver an 18mm torque adapter to your door for $30. You might find one cheaper somewhere else, but whats your time worth?

 

[Tonyuk]

Depending on what bolt and car your talking most i've worked on are torqued to around 40nm, which is just a bit more than hand tight.

Some manufacturers (VW for example), spec an intitial torque than so many degrees of turn to tighten.

I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[md21722]

I don't torque ball joints. Good and tight. When you work on Jeeps that have cotter pins and have to tighten the nut until you can get the cotter pin in, you sort of realize that a torque wrench does not really matter if you thought about it in the first place.

 

[M_George]

I think they have to give torque settings to protect themselves from litigation.

 

[notlob]

I'm not sure that I would rely on its accuracy, but harbor freight carries one:

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-digital-torque-adapter-68283.html

 

[firworks]

I'm not sure that I would rely on its accuracy, but harbor freight carries one:

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-digital-torque-adapter-68283.html

I've found that thing to be fairly accurate compared to my PI torque wrench. Atleast in the lugnut torque range.

 

[Finky198]

I have that HF adapter as well it's a decent tool,
but I think he means more along the line of this style adapter.

Check used online...

 

[Bill C]

I just did the upper control arm and lower ball joints on my 07 Avalanche. I've got a problem getting my torque wrench onto the upper ball joint to torque it to spec. I've searched everywhere (I can get one tomorrow via Amazon) and I called my local Napa because a carlyle one is on their website. The guy who answered didn't know what a torque adapter was and his line was:

"I worked at a chevy dealer for 10 years, did a bunch of ball joints and never torqued a single upper ball joint, i just used a wrench and made it tight"

This sound irresponsible to me as I always prefer to torque to the spec in the service manual. Am I wrong?

Should I just take my 18mm box end wrench on it and tighten it up? or do I order the torque adapter?

If I go with the adapter, aside from the tool trucks, who makes them? The carlyle one would have to be sent in from Georgia (I'm in CT) and I can only find armstrong in metric open stock. I only need the 18mm.

Would love to know the thoughts from the forum on this.

Could you get by with a crows foot in 18mm? That would probably easier to track down locally?

 

[catron44]

Finky's pic is what I'm looking for. I ordered it from Amazon. Good point above about the cotter pin and castle nuts. I will go tight for today, get the alignment done and check the torque in the few days.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[Bill C]

Finky's pic is what I'm looking for. I ordered it from Amazon. Good point above about the cotter pin and castle nuts. I will go tight for today, get the alignment done and check the torque in the few days.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Still curious why a crows foot wouldn't accomplish the same thing.

 

[Finky198]

They might work but not always.

The extra length of the extender is what allows the ratchet head to be further from the confined space where it won't fit. It's the same principle of of a crow foot, but with more reach... I have a few of them in 1/4 drive. Ive used them for super tough to reach areas. Much more often then torquing.

 

[Waterh20]

Don't forget to adjust your torque setting based on the extra length added.

 

[cvairwerks]

Just remember to make the adjustment in torque value for using the adapter if you are not at 90 degrees. Here is a link to an online one: http://www.cncexpo.com/TorqueAdapter.aspx

 

[catron44]

Still curious why a crows foot wouldn't accomplish the same thing.

I don't think there is enough reach using a crow foot plus I can't get and individual 18 mm locally. I'd have to buy a whole set. Even HF has a set that doesn't include an 18mm.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[catron44]

Don't forget to adjust your torque setting based on the extra length added.

Just remember to make the adjustment in torque value for using the adapter if you are not at 90 degrees. Here is a link to an online one: http://www.cncexpo.com/TorqueAdapter.aspx

Thanks, I found the calculator on the forum from years ago.