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

Old 04-10-08, 01:34 PM
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SUPRAboy80
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Default 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
Old 04-10-08, 01:37 PM
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GSteg
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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.
Old 04-10-08, 06:16 PM
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Default Exact RCA's

Originally Posted by GSteg
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.
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..

Old 04-10-08, 07:44 PM
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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.
Old 04-10-08, 07:52 PM
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thanks.... will do...
Old 04-10-08, 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted by GSteg
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.
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.
Old 04-10-08, 08:43 PM
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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.
Old 04-10-08, 08:47 PM
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Originally Posted by GSteg
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.
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.
Old 04-11-08, 11:27 AM
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Originally Posted by RMMGS4
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.

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?
Old 04-11-08, 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by SUPRAboy80
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?
You originally stated
Originally Posted by SUPRAboy80
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... ":
I chipped in and responded what I thought and why. Which part was off topic????

Exact installed my RCAs, so their torque spec.

Last edited by RMMGS4; 04-11-08 at 11:57 AM.
Old 04-11-08, 12:44 PM
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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.
Old 04-11-08, 07:36 PM
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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...
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