How to torque drive shaft bolts?

[IanP]

I dropped the front drive shaft out the disco this morning to have greaseable UJ's installed in the cardan coupling, but I could not get a Torque wrench / socket onto the nuts/bolts and so am stumped :( as to how I can torque them up when I reinstall the shaft tomorrow. Does anyone have a clue how I can get the correct torque on these bolts?

Also, I planned to replace each of the 8 nyloc nuts with new ones, or is it preferable to use normal nuts, spring washers and maybe some Loctite.

Any bright ideas welcome! :)

Cheers
Ian

[BigJon]

Use new nylocs. I just do them up tight to very tight.

[isuzurover]

They are a PITA to get at. I just do them up as tight as I can with a spanner.

[Slunnie]

Same, just spanner tight. Its not a very critical tension on them.

[IanP]

Thanks Slunnie, Isuzurover and Bigjon. New Nylocs, a hearty breakfast and a decent ring spanna should do the job! What would I do without this forum? - probably have a mental breakdown and buy a Toyota - perish the thought!!

Cheers
Ian

[Slunnie]

:lol2:

Don't even need a heart breakfast. Just tight is fine. If you do them up FT you'll round them when you go to remove them next time or you'll strip the nyloc.

[IanP]

Thanks Slunnie, good point, I always swing on the spanners too hard, thats why I prefer a torque wrench whenever I tighten anything. Tomorrow I will keep your 'words of wisdom' in mind.

Cheers
Ian

[abaddonxi]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/good-oil/88883-prop-shaft-socket-tool.html

[Blknight.aus]

a 3/8th drive socket extention and adaptor for the torque wrench is all you need.

[IanP]

The tool from Koken looks like a socket with an extension on it? If that works then fine, I can use a torque wrench, but failing that, a couple of spanners will do just fine.

[Gumnut]

Or, tighten them up till they snap, and then back them of 1/2 a turn!:twisted:

[IanP]

A quick update!

Using a 120mm extension on a normal socket I was able to torque the cardan coupling end of the front drive shaft.

The diff end was more difficult and I resorted to using a couple of ring spanners, but for future reference, a shallow socket (normally found in the small cheap socket sets), an adapter or two plus the extension piece and I am sure these bolts could be torqued as well.

Thanks to all who gave me their suggestions! :)