Torque values - Swapping Spindles Mcgaughty

heymoveover · #1 (**permalink**) 11-13-07, 07:19 PM

I lowered my truck over the weekend by using the McGaughty spindles in the front but the damn instructions did not tell me the following torque values. I searched the net and found some but I need one more:

Does anyone know what are the torque values for the following:

Are these correct?

Upper ball joint - 20 ft/lbs
Lower ball joint - 75 ft/lbs
Tie Rod - 20 ft/lbs

But I do not know what is the torque value is for the hub in in the spindle (the huge nut for the FWD spline)

Please help!

Thanks

heymoveover · #2 (**permalink**) 11-14-07, 11:24 AM

Anyone? I ended up torquing the hub nut (the one holding the FWD spline to the spindle) to 50 ft/lbs. Everything seems to be running fine. Couple of things though. I am running 24" DUBS with 305 35 24 tires and it rubs when I make sharp turns, any one else having the same problem? Also the rear springs seems to have made the ride rather bouncy. I am thinking of putting back the stock rears and cutting a coil off.

Cleanslade · #3 (**permalink**) 11-14-07, 03:14 PM

after lowering with the spindle kit do you have to get the truck towed for alingment? or you can just drive it for a while without getting alingment??

heymoveover · #4 (**permalink**) 11-14-07, 03:57 PM

No, but I had to readjust the tie rods by eye becasuse the spindles caused the wheels to go out of alignment. Both wheels were out by an inch (both wheels were not parallel to each other) and was not drivable until I adjusted the tierods by turning the tie rod nuts. I did the lowering on a Friday night, drove it all weekend and I took it to the alignment shop on Tuesday. The truck tracked fine and no warning lights came on. The camber was not too far out. I wouldn't recommend driving the truck for a while without an alignment as it will prematurely wear out your tires. Replacing tires probably set you back $500-1000 whereas an alignment is $60

But it wasn't any problem driving the truck afterwards, with some minor adjustments no towing to the alignment shop required.

baskalade · #5 (**permalink**) 11-17-07, 05:19 PM

how do you like the ride? is it uncomfortably bouncy?

heymoveover · #6 (**permalink**) 11-19-07, 01:27 AM

Front is fine, like stock. But the rear was bouncy, but now I am used to it and it doesn't bother me much. The only issue I am having is some times, depending what slope the hill is when I park the truck, it seems that the rear is lower than the front. I am thinking of putting the stock springs back in and cutting a coil. I also heard that I can adjust the height by re-bending the air ride sensor rod. This in turn may stiffen up the rear too. I will adjust the rods next weekend.

As for the alignment, I forgot to say that I was only out by 1/2 inch. And I adjusted it by eye!

BD997 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-08, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heymoveover

Front is fine, like stock. But the rear was bouncy, but now I am used to it and it doesn't bother me much. The only issue I am having is some times, depending what slope the hill is when I park the truck, it seems that the rear is lower than the front. I am thinking of putting the stock springs back in and cutting a coil. I also heard that I can adjust the height by re-bending the air ride sensor rod. This in turn may stiffen up the rear too. I will adjust the rods next weekend.

As for the alignment, I forgot to say that I was only out by 1/2 inch. And I adjusted it by eye!

can anyone explain in detail how to adjust the ride height by re-bending the air ride sensor rod? Thanks

true07esv · #8 (**permalink**) 07-21-08, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BD997

can anyone explain in detail how to adjust the ride height by re-bending the air ride sensor rod? Thanks

Why bend the sensor rod?? My kit came with three different rods (shorter) and it's the best one the use. I have the Eibach kit....call them and I'm sure they have the rods you need. Don't bend them, you won't get the right height.

true07esv · #9 (**permalink**) 07-21-08, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heymoveover

I lowered my truck over the weekend by using the McGaughty spindles in the front but the damn instructions did not tell me the following torque values. I searched the net and found some but I need one more:

Does anyone know what are the torque values for the following:

Are these correct?

Upper ball joint - 20 ft/lbs
Lower ball joint - 75 ft/lbs
Tie Rod - 20 ft/lbs

But I do not know what is the torque value is for the hub in in the spindle (the huge nut for the FWD spline)

Please help!

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by heymoveover

Anyone? I ended up torquing the hub nut (the one holding the FWD spline to the spindle) to 50 ft/lbs. Everything seems to be running fine. Couple of things though. I am running 24" DUBS with 305 35 24 tires and it rubs when I make sharp turns, any one else having the same problem? Also the rear springs seems to have made the ride rather bouncy. I am thinking of putting back the stock rears and cutting a coil off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleanslade

after lowering with the spindle kit do you have to get the truck towed for alingment? or you can just drive it for a while without getting alingment??

Quote:

Originally Posted by heymoveover

No, but I had to readjust the tie rods by eye becasuse the spindles caused the wheels to go out of alignment. Both wheels were out by an inch (both wheels were not parallel to each other) and was not drivable until I adjusted the tierods by turning the tie rod nuts. I did the lowering on a Friday night, drove it all weekend and I took it to the alignment shop on Tuesday. The truck tracked fine and no warning lights came on. The camber was not too far out. I wouldn't recommend driving the truck for a while without an alignment as it will prematurely wear out your tires. Replacing tires probably set you back $500-1000 whereas an alignment is $60

But it wasn't any problem driving the truck afterwards, with some minor adjustments no towing to the alignment shop required.

Quote:

Originally Posted by heymoveover

Front is fine, like stock. But the rear was bouncy, but now I am used to it and it doesn't bother me much. The only issue I am having is some times, depending what slope the hill is when I park the truck, it seems that the rear is lower than the front. I am thinking of putting the stock springs back in and cutting a coil. I also heard that I can adjust the height by re-bending the air ride sensor rod. This in turn may stiffen up the rear too. I will adjust the rods next weekend.

As for the alignment, I forgot to say that I was only out by 1/2 inch. And I adjusted it by eye!

I'm sorry to say this but you guys are making it harder for yourselves....I know it's too late but spindles, torques, sensor rods bending, & etc is all headaches. It's as simple as this.....

Eibach Pro kit w/sensor rods
3-4 hours of installation (depending on your installer)
wheel alignment (I recommend the dealership to do this, they use some kind of digital alignment)
and you are done!!.....rides smooth, drives straight, and not bouncy at all.

gs430 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-21-08, 10:37 PM

What is the part # for your eibach kit?^^^

heymoveover · #11 (**permalink**) 07-22-08, 01:18 PM

true07esv, Sorry you may have misinterpreted the thread but I wasn't complaining about the Mcgaughty lowering kit being crap. I would much rather lower the truck using spindles than lowering springs as it would still have the same suspension travel and not affect the camber. The installation was not difficult what so ever. The front took a couple of hours and the rear took less than 30 min.

I was just merely wondering if anyone knew what to torque the bolts at. Having said that, I tourqed them as I mentioned earlier and I have had no problems. The truck has been driving fine, straight and not bouncy. I was having some issues with the rear being bouncy but it was fixed by rebending the sensor rod a slight bit less.

Overall I am very pleased with the the Mcgaughty kit and would recommend it to others in a heart beat. I have no comment on the Eibach kit as I haven't seen one.

BD997 · #12 (**permalink**) 07-22-08, 04:30 PM

I did my research before doing my suspension... and everyone I called and spoke to recommended Mcgaughys over Eibach, G-Force and the other top brand names in lowerin kits... Thats why I went with Mcgaughys and love it.

true07esv · #13 (**permalink**) 07-23-08, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heymoveover

true07esv, Sorry you may have misinterpreted the thread but I wasn't complaining about the Mcgaughty lowering kit being crap. I would much rather lower the truck using spindles than lowering springs as it would still have the same suspension travel and not affect the camber. The installation was not difficult what so ever. The front took a couple of hours and the rear took less than 30 min.

I was just merely wondering if anyone knew what to torque the bolts at. Having said that, I tourqed them as I mentioned earlier and I have had no problems. The truck has been driving fine, straight and not bouncy. I was having some issues with the rear being bouncy but it was fixed by rebending the sensor rod a slight bit less.

Overall I am very pleased with the the Mcgaughty kit and would recommend it to others in a heart beat. I have no comment on the Eibach kit as I haven't seen one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BD997

I did my research before doing my suspension... and everyone I called and spoke to recommended Mcgaughys over Eibach, G-Force and the other top brand names in lowerin kits... Thats why I went with Mcgaughys and love it.

No problem bud....it was my mistake, I was just trying to help.....my bad. For a minute there I thought you had some issues. Don't get me wrong, I believe that Mcgaughty is one of the best....Eibach is probably not but by far it's easy to deal with....no headaches. Install and roll. Thanks bud

BD997 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-24-08, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by true07esv

No problem bud....it was my mistake, I was just trying to help.....my bad. For a minute there I thought you had some issues. Don't get me wrong, I believe that Mcgaughty is one of the best....Eibach is probably not but by far it's easy to deal with....no headaches. Install and roll. Thanks bud

I'd go with either Eibach or Mcgaughys....