Tweet
Torque wrenches at GM are calibrated and certified. Our techs measure break away torque as well as applied torque.
Jim
Jim
-
-
Periodically, we had to tear a missile completely down with the government watching. During the tear down, break away torque was checked and recorded. It had to be 80% on hard fasteners, and 50% on soft interfaces.Originally posted by MidwestCamper View Post
JimJim and Ginnie
2024 Solitude 310GK - 2020 F350 Dually
GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
GDRV Rally Support CoordinatorComment
-
My method for torqueing trailer ball nuts is simple. 225# man standing on a 36 inch cheater pipe that is slid onto the handle of a 24" pipe wrench. I don't think it is going anywhere soon. When I had 24/7 access to a welder, I used to put two tack welds on each side so I could tell if anything ever moved.Jerry and Kelly Powell, with Halo, Nash, Reid, Cleo, Rosie, and the two newest additions Shaggy and Bella..
Nash County, NC
2020 Solitude 390RK-R​Comment
-
Cate & Rob
(with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
2015 Reflection 303RLS
2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
Bayham, Ontario, CanadaComment
-
We commonly use paint lines in the auto industry. Development cars have paint lines all over so different groups can monitor components that fall within their responsibility.Originally posted by ThePowells View Post
JimComment
-
I just bought a tube of that stuff to use the next time I go thru the suspension and lug nuts. I'll try and see how it goes.Originally posted by MidwestCamper View PostJerry and Kelly Powell, with Halo, Nash, Reid, Cleo, Rosie, and the two newest additions Shaggy and Bella..
Nash County, NC
2020 Solitude 390RK-R​Comment
-
I agree, metric is the way to go. I was a hospital clinical NICU pharmacist. There is no way I could calculate doses based on any system other than metric.Originally posted by Capt Bob View Post
Well IMHO there are a lot of confused people in this country. Metric is rather easy if you try. I can't remember the last American built truck I owned that was not assembled with metric fasteners. Measuring is so much easier using a system based on the number 10. Converting fractions for adding or subtracting (much less multiplication and division) is so tedious. I'm over measuring something based on some dead king's nose or private parts.
Just sayin'2021 Imagine 22MLEComment
-
So I'm a procrastinator. While inventorying tools at work today I came across a 1 7/8" socket. I had the truck here (with hitch installed) so I went out and checked the ball. While work doesn't have a torque wrench, I didn't need one to know the ball wasn't tight. I moved the nut with hardly any effort. I proceeded to crank it down as tight as I could with a 2' breaker bar. Now to go order one of those sockets (I've got a torque wrench at home).
Bottom line: heed TucsonJim's advice and do this check!
HowardForum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.
2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlusComment
-
howson Howard,
This has been a valuable topic where my wrench should be here any day. I'll also mark the ball and nut with a paint line to monitor.
JimComment
-
TucsonJim Special thanks to Tucson Jim for talking me into a torque wrench to check my hitch. I found my cross bolts and ball to be less than the desired torques. Nothing was falling apart but I believe due to stretch/creep, the bolts were not as tight as the spec.
I owe you an IPA and/or some fireball.
JimComment
-
I never turn down an IPA...Originally posted by MidwestCamper View Post
I've been to quite a few rallies over the last 18 months. I always offer to check hitch torque while there and I'm surprised how many people don't take me up on the offer. But I sometimes get inundated with electrical and solar questions.
JimJim and Ginnie
2024 Solitude 310GK - 2020 F350 Dually
GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
GDRV Rally Support CoordinatorComment
-
If I torque a nut down to proper spec and then paint (or use a sharpie pen) to make a line across the nut and the bolt face.....and then 2 years later the lines both still line up perfectly.....can I assume the torque is still at the proper spec?
Bill M.
2021 Imagine XLS 22MLE
2021 F-150 3.5L EcoBoostComment
-
BillM321 Bill, provided the shank on the ball has not be deformed by some unknown force, that would be a valid assumption. I would suggest that anyone using this method paint the top interface of the ball to receiver shank to ensure the ball does not slide or rotate ensuring that nothing changes. Any rotation or sliding of the ball would indicate that there is a change in the torque value. On my tongue pull, after a couple of years I felt the trailer push and pull the ball on the receiver head upon inspection, the factory paint was not damaged to indicate movement. Thus the suggestion to mark the ball to head to ensure movement does not occur.Joseph
Tow Vehicle: 2024 GMC K3500 Denali Ultimate Diesel
Coach: 303RLS Delivered March 5, 2021
South of Houston TexasComment
-
When I was in the missile business, we were very particular about torque specifications, measurements, and changes. Each fastener was marked with torque paint. Once a quarter, we'd tear a missile down and check the torque values. Even though the torque paint did not crack or show an indication of movement, it was not uncommon for the torque value to change. This is caused by stretching of the fastener. If the change exceeded 10%, an engineering evaluation was required. For example, if a specification called for 100 Ft-lb, it could relax to 90 ft-lb and still be acceptable. Any more, and there was a problem.Originally posted by BillM321 View Post
Torque paint will only identify rotation movement. If the fastener was fractured and pulling apart, there may be no noticeable change in the paint. But the ball could still fail. So once a year, I'd still check the torque to look for movement.
JimJim and Ginnie
2024 Solitude 310GK - 2020 F350 Dually
GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
GDRV Rally Support CoordinatorComment
-
Bill,Originally posted by BillM321 View Post
I think this will be fine since we have done this in the auto industry for years. But I'm wondering if these bolts behave similar to the U bolts where once re-torqued a few times they did not take more and stabilized. This I believe is due to stretch where the nuts would be in the same location. Still good to occasionally check them after that though.
JimComment
Comment