TRE torque confusion

[jonnycat]

I installed new steering components today in my 1998 XJ, doing the ZJ tie rod upgrade. Components used were Moog problem solver (I also replaced the drag link and it's TRE that connects to the pitman arm.

I torqued all of the castle nuts to 55 ft/lbs (from the torque chart spec in the 1999 FSM), but now I read above that that they say to only torque the TREs at the steering knuckle to 35 ft/lbs, hence my current confusion.

On my installation, the castle nut is lower than on the original installation (not low enough to bottom out on stud, but still a few threads lower than I anticipated - see image at bottom of post).

Do you think I over-torqued the TRE and possibly damaged something?


Here's the text from the FSM (it's for the drag link, but it's the same for the tie-rod end at the other steering knuckle):

INSTALLATION
(1) Install the drag link onto steering knuckle and
pitman arm.
(2) Install nut at steering knuckle and tighten to
47 N·m (35 ft. lbs.). Install new cotter pins.
(3) Install nut at pitman arm and tighten to 75
N·m (55 ft. lbs.). Install new cotter pins.
(4) Install tie rod onto drag link and install nut.
Tighten nut to 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.) and install new
cotter pins.
(5) Install steering damper onto drag link and
install nut. Tighten nut to 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.) and
install a new cotter pin.

And here's the torque spec chart I went on originally:

TORQUE CHART
DESCRIPTION TORQUE
Pitman Arm
Shaft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 N·m (185 ft. lbs.)
Drag Link
Ball Studs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Clamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 N·m (36 ft. lbs.)
Tie Rod Ends
Ball Studs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Clamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 N·m (20 ft. lbs.)
Tie Rod
Ball Stud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 N·m (65 ft. lbs.)
Steering Damper
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Drag Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)

 

[Tim_MN]

Below is a torque chart from my FSM. I doubt anything is damaged, simply re-torque as needed. The appearance/orientation of the castle nut is not critical.


TORQUE CHART
DESCRIPTION TORQUE
Pitman Arm
Shaft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 N·m (185 ft. lbs.)

Drag Link
Ball Studs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Clamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 N·m (36 ft. lbs.)

Tie Rod Ends
Ball Studs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Clamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 N·m (20 ft. lbs.)

Tie Rod
Ball Stud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 N·m (35 ft. lbs.)

Steering Damper
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Drag Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)

 

[jonnycat]

Thanks Tim, what year is your FSM from? Mine is for the 1999 XJ.

The same TRE is used for the left outer (at the steering knuckle) - ES3096L, as is used for the drag-link to pitman arm, the latter of which is specified as 55ft/lb. Maybe the steering knuckle at the wheel isn't designed to handle a torque of 55ft/lb?

 

[Tim_MN]

My FSM is for a 2000. I still don't think the difference is critical, if it makes you feel better, split the difference and torque it to 45 ft/lbs.

 

[four_shot]

Shim the nut with a washer to ensure the cotter-pin engages the castle. The last thing you want is the nut to back off. Newer parts are coming off the shelf with extended length studs for some reason.

 

[old_man]

Don't worry. All is good.

 

[jonnycat]

Thanks guys, appreciate the reassurance!

 

[maxbraketorque]

Below is a torque chart from my FSM. I doubt anything is damaged, simply re-torque as needed. The appearance/orientation of the castle nut is not critical.

TORQUE CHART
DESCRIPTION TORQUE
Pitman Arm
Shaft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 N·m (185 ft. lbs.)

Drag Link
Ball Studs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Clamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 N·m (36 ft. lbs.)

Tie Rod Ends
Ball Studs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Clamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 N·m (20 ft. lbs.)

Tie Rod
Ball Stud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 N·m (35 ft. lbs.)

Steering Damper
Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Drag Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)

I just installed an all new factory style steering linkage yesterday along with an HD tie rod. I torqued by feel with a box end wrench so I doubt I exceeded 55 ft-lbs. I plan to check torque after a bit of driving, but the 35 ft-lb spec listed here sure seems to confuse the matter. It it clear to anyone which specific tie rod end this is supposed to represent? Or is this some propagated error in the FSM.

 

[maxbraketorque]

I got my hands on a 2000 FSM. The tie rod attachment to the steering knuckles is 35 ft-lbs. All the others are 55 ft-lbs.

 

[Tim_MN]

I would NOT shim the nut. If you install a cotter pin correctly, in the pictured tie rod, it will prevent and/or indicate rotation of the nut.