Actual Torque on upper ball joint nut?

Backwoods · Feb 28, 2017

I'm getting ready to install bilstein 5100 shocks this weekend and I am yet to find a definitive spec on the upper ball joint nut. The sticky above says 70ftlbs but then I have the haynes manual for these trucks and it says 40ftlbs and then an additional 200 degrees. Does anyone know what is meant by that? I have never seen a torque factor like that. Anyone out there that has done this them selves what did you torque yours to? Any help is appreciated.

Dantheman · Feb 28, 2017

Backwoods said:
I'm getting ready to install bilstein 5100 shocks this weekend and I am yet to find a definitive spec on the upper ball joint nut. The sticky above says 70ftlbs but then I have the haynes manual for these trucks and it says 40ftlbs and then an additional 200 degrees. Does anyone know what is meant by that? I have never seen a torque factor like that. Anyone out there that has done this them selves what did you torque yours to? Any help is appreciated.

70 sounds about right. 40 ft/lbs and 200 degrees means tighten to 40 then do a 200 degree turn after that with the wrench. So slightly more than half a turn. I'm not sure about the math but that seems like it would also be getting closer to 70 ft/lbs

R.L.K. · Feb 28, 2017

I torqued mine to 80ft lbs , I got the tq from a spec sheet on suspension components for 13-14 Ram Trucks from a friend of a friend who's a chrysler tech at a local dealership .

80 ft lbs felt right , and I've had my bils installed issue free for well over 20k .

A tq spec of a spacific poundage + X° is not terribly uncommon .

40'lbs +200 ° would be somewhere around 70 -80 ' lbs imo .
Hope this helps !

R.L.K. · Feb 28, 2017

Take a look here if you haven't already , some good info ....I'm a bit partial to POST #26

http://www.ramforum.com/showthread.php?p=1205715

If your Ram is a 2011 like your profile says , then you have no reason to replace your ucas unless yours a worn out now , as the uca issues to my knowledge started with a slightly different design in 2013 .

Hope this helps !

Backwoods · Mar 1, 2017

Thanks guys, that does help. The last thing I want to do is under torque.

R.L.K. It is a 2011, I wasn't planning on replacing the UCAs. How would I know if they're worn out? The truck has just under 90k on it.

Dantheman · Mar 1, 2017

Backwoods said:
Thanks guys, that does help. The last thing I want to do is under torque.

R.L.K. It is a 2011, I wasn't planning on replacing the UCAs. How would I know if they're worn out? The truck has just under 90k on it.

If you can grab it and easily move it around, it's toast. Was going to attach a video of mine but apparently that's not an option anymore

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

R.L.K. · Mar 1, 2017

Backwoods said:
Thanks guys, that does help. The last thing I want to do is under torque.

R.L.K. It is a 2011, I wasn't planning on replacing the UCAs. How would I know if they're worn out? The truck has just under 90k on it.

Two ways to tell if your ucas require replacing or repair .
1) any separation on the top or any looseness in the ball joint itself .

2) as said above , with the ball joint disconnected if you can move the uca up and down with little or no force then the elastomer is weak and has separation , is delaminated badly or failed all together .

Both the issues stated above usually are accompanied by clunking over medium rough terrain or turning and hitting a bump . If you're not hearing or feeling issues your probably alright Sir .

Good luck !

Backwoods · Mar 2, 2017

Thanks, R.L.K. and Dantheman. I'll check them out when I install the shocks but I dont hear any clunking so hopefully I'm good. Thanks everyone too for the torque clarification. I look forward to finally doing this over the weekend.

quietpeen · Mar 3, 2017

Also check out this thread sticked at the top of this section. Has all the Torque specs you need to do bilsteins

http://www.ramforum.com/f40/chassis_torque_specs-92967/

RCP_Mark · Oct 31, 2021

Can anyone confirm if the ball joint nuts are re-usable or are 1 time use?

Actual Torque on upper ball joint nut?

Backwoods

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Dantheman

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R.L.K.

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R.L.K.

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Backwoods

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Dantheman

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R.L.K.

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Backwoods

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quietpeen

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RCP_Mark

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