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MG MGA - torque setting for U bolts

Hi
I am putting the springs back on after replacing the rubber pads and buffer plates and was wondering how much to torque the nuts on the U bolts?
Thanks
Kris
Kris Sorensen

Kris, I don't think it is a torque question, rather than how much to compress the rubber pads.Having said that, I don't know the answer, only thatr I did mine up till it "felt right"
A Pearse

Kris, make sure to tighten evenly with the spring pads level or it will put uneven pressure on the leaves, causing one of the leaves to kick out of the stack. I did this when I was a kid in a fit of lets tighten everything exuberance, one of the leaves worked it's way out and ruined the inside of a tire!
GrandPa Fuzz
Russ Carnes

Kris,
Per the archives, I read anywhere from 20 to 25 ftlb is accepted. I used poly pads and torqued it to 25 and felt that this was a little much since the pads deformed somewhat. This would probably be too much for the stock rubber, so 20 to 23 should be ok.
SJS Steinhauer

Kris, as far as I know there are no torque settings. Tighten them slowly and the same torque for all bolts. The rubber squeezes out very easily. I think I got mine to between 15 and 20 pounds. It's more a matter of feel rather than torque.

Andy
74 BGT
67 B
60 A Coupe under restoration
Andy Preston

And check them after a few weeks - they slacken off as everything settles in and compresses.
Bill Spohn

Thanks for that info.
The biggest problem I have had is getting them in evenly. The threads seem to be sticking through a little more on some bolts than the others on the same side even though they are all at 20psi. I think I will drive it around a bit and recheck after each drive to see if things have shifted or slackened off any.
Kris
Kris Sorensen

Kris,

Tighten them down to just snug, keepint the u-bolts from rotating. Then tighten each nut equally about 1 turn at a time. As you tighten one nut on the u-bolt, it tends to rotate the bolt. Another not-so-clear point is that the nuts, when tightened to your liking, are then double nuted to prevent them from loosening. The Moss exploded diagram shows one nut but if you count up the number of nuts required it will become clear. The factory service parts list shows it better.

Chuck
C Schaefer

This thread was discussed between 07/06/2008 and 11/06/2008

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