borrego805

Hello i replaced the lower ball joints on my 97 civic after i took it for a test drive my steering was kinda hard especialy when i turn i feel it gets stuck to the side i turn too

Former User

Did you use a torque wrench?

borrego805

For wat part?

Former User

During the job, did you use a torque wrench to tighten ANY of the nuts or bolts. If so, which ones?

94EG8

Not using a torque wrench wont cause hard steering. No one in the real world torques front end parts, it's all done with an impact gun.

OP, how did you install the ball joints? If you beat them in with a hammer and hit them in the center you've ruined the new ball joints.

Former User

Are you saying that if all three castle nuts on the hub are torqued to say 85 ft-lbs, there would be no effect on steering? I'm doubtful.

This^ is clearly an exaggeration. I am part of the real world, and I torque suspension nuts and bolts. I would recommend anybody who is not a highly experienced mechanic to do the same. Some nuts and bolts should be torqued with the weight of the car on the suspension.

94EG8

That's what I'm saying. I've always cranked them on at well above what they're supposed to be torqued to with an impact gun. You'll strip the thread or break the stud before you end up with any sort of binding issues. The way the taper works it's just not possible to have the steering bind or steer hard from over-tightening those nuts.

In both shops I've worked in (one being an actual Honda dealership) we never torqued anything other than wheels, oil drain plugs and filters (only because Honda gave us the preset torque wrenches to do it) and obviously anything like head bolts. I've always tightened suspension bolts with the weight on the wheels, but I still do it with an impact gun. Accurate torque just isn't important here. Nothing will warp or leak due to being over or under tightened.

Former User

I'm just not sold. You haven't said how tightly you torqued the nuts/bolts, and Honda clearly specifies torque values for all of them. And I also think it's irresponsible to tell mechanically inexperienced people to toss the idea of using a torque wrench for car work.

94EG8

I'm not necessarily saying using a torque wrench is bad idea or a waste of time, but it will not, can not cause the problem the OP is having.

Nave43

I personally torque everything to spec. People always give me flak for it, but i find the satisfaction of it being "done right" its own reward. Even if it doesn't cause problems.