How to torque control arm bolts at ride height without a lift or pit

jimsbox · Sep 28, 2012

The FSM says to put the tire back on and with the car sitting at ride height to torque the control arm bolts. Very difficult to do for your average home mechanic. This is the way I do it so the car stays on jackstands with the wheel off but the control arm is at ride height.
I leave the car on jack stands, put my floor jack under the brake disk and jack the control arm up until the whole car starts to lift. At that point the suspension should be at ride height and you can get into it to torque the bolts.

Submariner409 · Sep 28, 2012

Just be sure you have at least 2 lug nuts tightened onto the bare hub/rotor.

jimsbox · Sep 29, 2012

Good point, I do and I also reposition the stands if the car does move significantly. Thanks Sub

NBhunter80 · Nov 30, 2012

I know this thread is a bit older, but I just wanted to add that I have always done this by using wheel ramps. Put the control arm bolts back in, tighten them slightly, put the wheels back on, lower vehicle and drive up on the ramps so you can get under the car while the car is at ride height.

DTECKBAUER · Sep 16, 2014

Is post number 4 still an accepted way to do this? any other ways? I've done a lot of reading and searching on this topic, but not a lot found on this forum.

How to torque control arm bolts at ride height without a lift or pit

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