Just finished installing the AEV Geo Correction brackets, but I don't have a torque wrench.

Instructions say to torque the upper control arm bolts (both bracket and original mounting point) to 75 ft pounds and the lower control arm bolts (both locations again) to 125 ft pounds.

I just tightened the LCA bolts about as hard as I could while lying on my back under the jeep, and the uppers not as much.

How important is it to get the torque right? Should I go buy a torque wrench, loosen everything up and then re-tighten?

By the way, I took the jeep out for about 20 miles after the brackets were on. Serious improvement...handling and braking is really nice.

 

You absolutely need to get them torqued! 1. It's a safety issue. 2. You most likely under torqued your lowers which will cause premature failure of bushing and control arm brackets. 3. Causes death wobble and steering issues.

You can 'borrow' them from most auto parts stores if you don't want to buy one. However, you really need one. You'll want it for lug nuts and most any bolt you mess with.

 

Sure you're not the first or last person to do this, especially in the case of someone out on a trail repair. However, torque values ensure two things: 1) That the fastener is tight enough to not come loose, and 2) That the fastener is not so tight as to become damaged. Did you tighten everything with the Jeep on the ground (not on jack stands)? Personally, I think you should get those torque values checked. 125 pounds is a lot harder than you may think, especially if you just used a typical length 1/2" drive ratchet.

 

10-4, I'll head to sears and buy one!

 

Thank you. I did the install with all 4 tires on the ground like the instructions said.

Got the brackets in and the arms in with everything semi loose, then jumped up and down on my front bumper an rocked the jeep back and fourth, then re-tightened.

I was using 1/2 and 3/8 ratchets depending on the bolt size. The uppers were a 15mm and the lowers were 22mm I think...forced me to change between wrenches with my set.

 

Size recommendations for my torque wrench when I go to sears? I see online that you can get up to a 200 ft pound for around $100. That one looks pretty big and I know how tight it can get under the jeep...would something smaller be better, or go as big as I can find?

 

I had a Craftsman for a long time. They (still!) use a plastic locking collar on many of their torque wrenches that is very easily broken. Many complaints online about that--check the Sears website comments. Mine broke, so replaced it with a GearWrench. Metal collar, and 3" longer, making pulling 125 ft-lbs, and even 165 ft-lbs (pinion nut), way easier at my age (I'm 64).

 

I purchased a Pittsburg brand torque wrench at HF for less than $40. I only use it on the Jeep's suspension so it doesn't get heavy use like my Snap-On and Mac wrenches at work. Every year it's calibrated it's right at 2% tolerance which is great for how cheap it was.

 

^^^^ my hf works just fine too...

 

Where are you in Colorado?