MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MG Y Type - Torque values

I intend to dismantle the front suspension so as to replace every rubber bushing and dust excluder.

But I can't seem to find any nut & bolt torque value table anywhere in my Maintenance Manual (chapter M on suspension). How can a paranoid Sunday mechanic be expected to correctly tighten everything back up again?

The only torque table I found was on the Website and it relates mainly to the XPAG. I've printed that one and stuck it in a half dozen places so I trip over it regularly.

Thank you for your ALWAYS precious advice.
Gilles Bachand

No torque values, but a nice step by step of the front suspension, non the less:

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgccy/pdf/1952.pdf
Willem van der Veer

Hi Giles.
I would have thought that by now you would have had some guidance from several "engineer type" Y owners as to torque values.
I am NOT and engineer, but over many years one develops a "feel" for when a nut and bolt is tight enough and of course this depends whether you are dealing with new fixings or items that have been used over and over again and therefore "stretched" far beyond their intended tolerances.
As a rough guide, and hopefully others may comment, I would suggest that with new fixings of say 1/4 BFS it should be 18-20 lb/ft and 5/16 BSF it should be 22-26lb/ft.
Over tightening can sometimes be worse than under as the former can suddenly shear without warning. I try and go round the YB once a year just checking and tightening all nuts and bolts that I can get to.
Hope this helps.
Keith
Keith D Herkes

Thank you for that rule of thumb, Keith.

Upon dismanteling my front suspension, I have discovered that knowing precise torque values for that area of the car is not critical. The reason is that all important fasteners are tightened until the nut rests smartly on the shoulder built into the bolt (or until it rests on a metal bushing) and then you ensure that it does not unscrew itself simply by fitting a cotter pin.

I have scoured the Web and have asked a great local mechanic (specializing exclusively in British cars for 30 years) and have come up with nothing insofar as torque values for areas of the car other than engine & gearbox.
Gilles Bachand

I have used the following guide for over 25 years of messing around with old MG's.

Always examine spring washers and discard those that don't "spring out" when released.

These are BSF bolt sizes - not BSW spanner sizes !.

Grade 5 plain (TYPICAL CHASSIS & SUSPENSION)
1/4" BSF - 9ft/lbs dry, 7ft/lbs lubed
5/16" BSF - 18.5ft/lbs dry, 13.5ft/lbs lubed
3/8" BSF - 32.5ft/lbs dry, 24ft/lbs lubed
7/16" BSF - 53.5ft/lbs dry, 38.5ft/lbs lubed
1/2" BSF - 83ft/lbs dry, 60ft/lbs lubed

Grade 8 Hi-Tensile (TYPICAL ENGINE)
1/4" BSF - 13ft/lbs dry, 9.5ft/lbs lubed
5/16" BSF - 25ft/lbs dry, 19.5ft/lbs lubed
3/8" BSF - 47.5ft/lbs dry, 35ft/lbs lubed
7/16" BSF - 78ft/lbs dry, 58ft/lbs lubed
1/2" BSF - 115ft/lbs dry, 85ft/lbs lubed

You should always lube when using a Torque Wrench.

Tony Slattery

Be Careful what you lube with-
Light oil/ standard torque value;
Lubricating paste with MoS2/ standard value less 15%.
Scott Barrow

As Tony points out, there is a standard setting of torque figures for bolt sizes and metal types. Any decent engineering book will guide you.

NC.
Neil Cairns

Hello guys
Finally I found your site, I am so happy!
Good
Irrarakew

This thread was discussed between 31/01/2008 and 04/03/2008

MG MG Y Type index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MG Y Type BBS now