ORIGINAL REDDIT POST

Trying to torque Bilstein top nut the “proper way” without impact, but having trouble

In the past, I’ve just torqued the top nut on Bilsteins with a few short impact bursts, but I bought new Bilstein B6s and trying to do it the proper way with a torque wrench. I originally tried to torque it before I put it on the car with the death sticks…

Original postr/MechanicAdvice

In the past, I’ve just torqued the top nut on Bilsteins with a few short impact bursts, but I bought new Bilstein B6s and trying to do it the proper way with a torque wrench. I originally tried to torque it before I put it on the car with the death sticks still attached, but eventually got to the point where it just wanted to spin. It’s weird because it’s not like it got progressively harder to tighten. It seemed to require the same amount of effort to tighten until it reach this “dead zone”. I thought it would be easier once I put in the car, but I can’t tighten it anymore than what I was able to before I put it on the car. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to hit it my purse? Is the handle on the wrench I’m using to stop shaft from spinning too short?

Collected discussion

6 comments

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u/mind_blowwerOP

I don’t think it is, but I’ve also never got it tested. It just seems like I’m doing something wrong. Like until I get to this point it’s not really getting progressively harder to tighten. Once I reach this point, I can’t turn anymore and the whole thing wants to spin…

u/godisintherain

Oh I see the rod spins inside the cylinder

u/godisintherain

Torque wrench broken or out of calibration?

u/Sophias_dad

Stick a small diameter pipe or deep socket(or closed end combination wrench) on that allen key and you'll be able to apply far more force holding the strut from turning.

u/Alpinab9

Deep offset wrench to hold/tighten the nut and whatever the strut is (hex or torx) to tighten or counter hold. Using a torque wrench on the stut shaft.