Installing RCA's... need torque specs!!!
 

Hey all,

I am installing my RCA's today and I have been told by Exact to torque the two bolts that connect the lower ball joints to the steering knuckle to 120 ft-lbs!!!! I thought that was high so I called my Lexus dealer and a guy there told me 83 ft-lbs...? So I am not sure what to torque them to? Anyone have these installed?

Or does anyone have a manual so that I can verify the torque specs?

My bucket is a 98 GS400!!

Thanks,
Marcus

OEM spec is 83ftlbs.

Unless the bolts exact gives you is even stronger than OEM grade, then just keep it at 83ftlbs, or go ~95. 120 does sound high..that's even higher than the 19mm nut for the balljoint itself.

Exact RCA's
 

They seem to be pretty stout bolts... Like maybe a really hardened something...Also they are hex key bolts not regular ones... tell me what you think...

here they are..
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rtsRCAs003.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rtsRCAs001.jpg

Ugh..I hate those hex bolt. Very inconvenient to torque unless you have the hex adapter. I prefer a regular flanged bolt myself (same as OEM, but longer).

If exact says to torque it to 120, then I guess you should torque it to that spec. I dont know how they came up with the number. Perhaps you can PM RMMGS4. He's running the same RCAs.

thanks.... will do...

If I recall correctly, I think Exact told me that they're using Grade 12 bolts as opposed to the standard Grade 8 bolts.

So longer and stronger than OEM is what they were shooting for.

The background on these RCAs was there were 5+ of us using these in NorCal on a Long Term basis to test, before Exact offered these to the public.

No problems from the original 5 users and nothing I've heard from the many other locals that have installed them since.

I believe Jawnthen has the most mileage on these RCAs. His car is at 170k right now, but I'll have to ask him what his mileage was when he installed them.

OEM grade is 10.9 I would definitely not trust Grade 8 on my car, specially since the bolts matter way more than the spacer itself. Kind of wished they went with regular flange bolts though. :sad:

Hmmm, Ok so they bumped it from 10.9 to Grade 12 then.

It was too loong ago since they told me and I'm not up on my bolt Grade specs.:)

Got a little off topic here guys... So RMMGS4... what torque specs did you torque yours down to regardless of how strong the bolts are?:confused:

You originally stated I chipped in and responded what I thought and why. Which part was off topic????:)

Exact installed my RCAs, so their torque spec.

I just used the stock torque specs. Hope that's enough. Those stupid hex bolts were a pain. I had to buy an adapter at Autozone.

thanks chrispy... Stock is 83 ft-lbs... that's what I have them to now... may be I'll bring them up to 100;) ft lbs since that is in the middle.. Exact said 120 ft-lbs and Lexus said 83 ft-lbs...