Kitcat Posted February 27, 2008 Posted February 27, 2008 OK, it's my first Spring w/my Caterham and I want to tighten up all those nuts in the chassis/suspension/elsewhere that might have worked loose a little. Anyone have a handy diagram showing the likeliest culprits, along with the recommended torque settings?
powderbrake Posted February 27, 2008 Posted February 27, 2008 a listing for US bolts is here: US bolt torques This lists both dry and oiled. I would stick to the dry ratings. Even those have a disclaimer that they are for unplated bolts only. disclaimer. I have not personally used this listing. I use the factory manuals on the critical items on my cars. I found this on a google search.
southwind25 Posted February 27, 2008 Posted February 27, 2008 When we were racing, we called this a "nut and bolt" check, and is an exxcellent idea. We actually did it between EVERY session on the track and it became a habit. it was also a great way to find those little things that could get nasty quick. it also included checking all fluids, tire pressures (as well as lug nuts) belt tension etc..it makes you real aware and intimate with the car after a while, but we never DNF'd from something stupid. We made a checklist not unlike the preflight walkaround list i used as a pilot.
southwind25 Posted February 27, 2008 Posted February 27, 2008 When we were racing, we called this a "nut and bolt" check, and is an exxcellent idea. We actually did it between EVERY session on the track and it became a habit. it was also a great way to find those little things that could get nasty quick. it also included checking all fluids, tire pressures (as well as lug nuts) belt tension etc..Also dont forget the allen's and philip heads all over as well as electrical connectors. it makes you real aware and intimate with the car after a while, but we never DNF'd from something stupid. We made a checklist not unlike the preflight walkaround list i used as a pilot but much more extensive. we even put together a mini tool kit we used exclusivly for the checklist so the person doing the check would never take from repairs or tunning tools being used.
MHKflyer52 Posted February 27, 2008 Posted February 27, 2008 You might also want to paint stripe nuts and bolts with a yellow or red or what ever color you like so that you can do your walk-a-round and see if anything has come loose by looking at the stripe. If it has backed off the stripe will be broken and miss alined. Finger nail polish works well and even has a very small brush for the application. Here is what I have been using and find it works very nicely, http://www.durablesupply.com/mediumpoint.html I keep one in each of my tool boxs so that I always have it. I stripe all suspension nuts and bolts, pedal attachment bolts, throtle linkage hardware, oil drain plugs and all steering nuts and bolts. I also do a quick walk around before every time I get the car out of the garage and after all very spirited driving and look for those stripes and lok for the following, 16 on front suspension, 6 on the steering system, 10 on the rear suspension, 3 on the pedal assy and it mabe takes 15 min for me to do this walk around. Hope this helps.
Kitcat Posted February 27, 2008 Author Posted February 27, 2008 Vary clever Martin! You wouldn't happen to have a diagram showing the location of all those bolts would you? I know I can just follow my nose but am afraid I will miss something. (eg, wouldn't have thot of the steering system bolts).
MHKflyer52 Posted February 27, 2008 Posted February 27, 2008 Vary clever Martin! You wouldn't happen to have a diagram showing the location of all those bolts would you? I know I can just follow my nose but am afraid I will miss something. (eg, wouldn't have thot of the steering system bolts). Kitcat, Basicly it is all of the points that attach the suspension (upper an lower a-arms at frame and spindle) to the frame for the front and rear, steering would be the bolts that attach the rack and steering shaft, pedal assy the bolts and nuts that hold the pedals in their brackets, throtle linkage to the carb (also lets me check for fuel leaks), all in all anything I feel is critical to safety or my survival is either cotter pinned or safety wired or paint striped.
weconway Posted February 27, 2008 Posted February 27, 2008 Here's a photo of the checklist on a GT-class Pontiac GTO.R before last year's Daytona 24 hr. race. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1328563825_GTOR Checklist.jpg I like how "change bellhousing" is so casually written on the list, as if it were so easy!
breezy7 Posted February 28, 2008 Posted February 28, 2008 Here is the list from my assembly guide.http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1183676584_image1.jpghttp://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1034342414_image2.jpg
breezy7 Posted February 28, 2008 Posted February 28, 2008 Meant to put this with my previous post. You can download the assembly guide from http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/showroom/build_manual.html Should have pictures of everything in the torque table
lotusman1951 Posted February 28, 2008 Posted February 28, 2008 :banghead: Perhaps taking Carol Smiths , PERPARE TO WIN, advice to use AN bolts on everthing is helpful, No stock Loti or Caterhams use AN bolts and from a high performance/saftey perspective are lesser as a result.
Kitcat Posted February 28, 2008 Author Posted February 28, 2008 Thanks all. I have that old Archie Bell and the Drells record from '67 ready to play.
yellowss7 Posted February 28, 2008 Posted February 28, 2008 "Do the Tighten up" Just a note, during a tech inspection at an autox a few years ago, my Caterham failed due to "excessive play" on the front wheels. I went back to paddock, checked the torque of the wheel nuts, they were correct, Car was only a year old so bearings were new, Grabbing and shaking the tires, their was definately alot of movement. One of the other competitors stopped by and while I was shaking the wheel, he said, "I see your problem" The Nylocs had come loose on Both upper A Arm bolts. Other side had also come loose. From then on, I trust but verify :flag: that all fasteners are properly torqued. Tom
MHKflyer52 Posted February 28, 2008 Posted February 28, 2008 "Do the Tighten up" From then on, I trust but verify :flag: that all fasteners are properly torqued. Tom So that is your secret of being so FAST and SMOOTH.....The Tighten Up prior to every event.... :lol: :jester: :thumbs:
yellowss7 Posted February 28, 2008 Posted February 28, 2008 http://YouTube Video Yeah, This song is for prep. and this song is for getting in the right frame of mind. http:// :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :jonautox: :d Tom
Ian7 Posted February 28, 2008 Posted February 28, 2008 The pre-drive "nut and bolt" check is good advice, we do it regularly on all the race cars. One mistake over-eager novices tend to make though is thinking that they have to make the nut or bolt 'move' each time they put a wrench on it for it to be "checked". Quite wrong, all you want to do is make sure there is the correct torque on it each time, not MORE torque.
Kitcat Posted February 28, 2008 Author Posted February 28, 2008 Ian 7: Do you untighten first, then re torque to spec? Or, do you put the T-wrench on it and if it clicks, leave it where it is? My concern is that if you don't loosen it first, you mite not notice any nuts that are over-torqued. But maybe that's not really an issue?
solder_guy Posted February 29, 2008 Posted February 29, 2008 a listing for US bolts is here: Thanks for posting .. I printed this out. I wonder where there is a torque listing for metric bolts. I'll google. Thanks for the music yellowss7 Rob
Sean Posted February 29, 2008 Posted February 29, 2008 Head torque is especially important! http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1251298727_headtork.jpg
MHKflyer52 Posted February 29, 2008 Posted February 29, 2008 Head torque is especially important! http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1251298727_headtork.jpg Mo needs a biger leaver to torque that nose it looks like.....:jester: :jester:
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now