how tight to crank down on sway bar end links?

[spunger]

I just installed my rear sway bar today and WOW, made a huge difference. I hear some noise though in the back a little bit and had a ?.

How tight should those back bolts be? I have a torque wrench but it is like 45 ft.lbs and above. I think I need an in. pound torque wrench.

Please let me know how tight I should have these. For the front and backs?

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

I think like 18ft/lbs or close to it. I have mine at 200ft/lbs. I'll loosen then up when I get a chance. Loud as **** right now. Oh well, got to live with poly.

[North Cali Autocrosser]

Tighten them up til the bushings start flatting out, some urethane bushings are more spongy than others so it's good to make sure that they give as little as possible.

[CamaroMan]

Man, I think some water squeezed out when I put my endlinks on, they are REALLY tight! Only problem is the noisy bushings(not the endlink bushings), I just need to put some silicone on them

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

They are supposed to be loose FYI. I just ****** up and got them on tight. Yes they are noisy as living ****.

[V6Bob]

The torque specs for the rear fasteners are 16 ft lbs for the endlinks and 18 ft-lbs for the mounting bushings. Given the fact they tend to rust solid, I'd coat them with antiseize and use a little less torque.

I don't see how you could possibly have tightened them to 200 ft lbs., they'd strip long before that????

[North Cali Autocrosser]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dom:
[QB]They are supposed to be loose FYI.[QB]<hr></blockquote>

Why would you want them loose? They work much better tight as hell. The car handles way better because it's stiffer, the less movement the better, that's the idea isn't it?

[MustangEater8251]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by North Cali Autocrosser:


Why would you want them loose? They work much better tight as hell. The car handles way better because it's stiffer, the less movement the better, that's the idea isn't it?<hr></blockquote>

Thats what I am thinking, I have the front endlinks off cuz I am planning a trip to the dragstrip on wed. then i am going to slap them on and tighten the hell out of them for when I go autocrossing on sunday.

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by V6Bob:
The torque specs for the rear fasteners are 16 ft lbs for the endlinks and 18 ft-lbs for the mounting bushings. Given the fact they tend to rust solid, I'd coat them with antiseize and use a little less torque.

I don't see how you could possibly have tightened them to 200 ft lbs., they'd strip long before that????<hr></blockquote>

That's the specs. AutoX friends tell me the same. I don't know why loose is better. I also though tight is the way to go. I don't even have a torque wrench that goes down that low.