How tight should the spindle connecting rod studs be?

[robroy]

Good evening!

Today I applied the shop manual's torque spec to the spindle connecting rod studs, like this one:



I set my torque wrench to about 67 ft/lbs based on this line from the 1972 Ford Truck Shop Manual, 16-01-09,



After torquing them, I wanted to put the cotter pins in. But naturally the holes in the studs for the pins didn't line up with the grooves in the castle nuts!

I figured I'd just back it off one notch. But when I backed it off, it basically lost ALL of its torque--it was only finger tight then! Then I figured I'd just tighten it down until I hit the next notch. But this stepped the torque way up to something around 85 ft/lbs. It seems like a lot of torquing action happens in a very small amount of space with those studs and nuts!

So which is better: the nut on there only finger tight, or the nut on there a little over the factory torque spec? I'm guessing the latter, but I'm not sure how tight these are really supposed to be.

Thanks very much!
Robroy

[ToughOldFord]

When I get in that spot I always go one tighter.

[robroy]

Hey ToughOldFord thanks for replying!

OK, I'm glad! I went one tighter on that one connection in the photo, but I thought I'd hold off on the others before asking about it. I wasn't certain whether or not those connections are really supposed to be tight, or whether they're supposed to be made that tight, then backed off.

Thanks again,
Robroy

[fordman]

tighter is better with those things. i will help seat it in there more so it wont get loose later if it does relax and let it slide up into the hole.

[robroy]

Hey Fordman, thanks for replying!

OK, two votes for tighter is enough to convince me! Especially from you guys.

Thanks again,
Robroy

[70_F100]

I've really never known anybody to torque a tie rod end, even though that would be the correct thing to do.

Just tighten it good and tight, insert the cotter pin and away we go!!

Once you get it tight enough, the taper is going to hold it anyway.

[robroy]

70_F100, thanks for replying!

I see what you mean, and when I think back, I never watched anybody torque those either. That's part of why I was confused about exactly how tight they should be made after being initially torqued down.

Thanks again,
Robroy