psychobabble

As per Bentley and BSK's tech:

"Sway bar end link;
Lower connection to the sway bar; 100 Nm
Upper connection into the control arm; 40 Nm + 1/4 turn"

Are these specs for the updated versions with bushings or the older versions with the threaded studs?

Thanks in advance.

kenny (dremel)

I don't think it matters. Might want to put some anti-seize on the threads before you tighten up.

H8U-Audi

If one of them is spec'ed at 100 Nm, it matters.

Unless the manual calls for anti-seize, don't put anti-seize on the threads. It will lubricate the threads, and your torque reading will be off.

(
If you have the math skills to do it, you can calculate the necessary clamping force based on the spec'ed torque requirements, and from there calculate the number of turns necessary at the thread pitch of the fastener to arrive at the correct clamping force. It's easier to skip the anti-seize, though.
)

kenny (dremel)

then that's your own call. Living in New England, it makes life easier later on.

H8U-Audi

> Living in New England, it makes life easier
> later on.

I've lived in New England for the past 17 years.

If you put anti-seize (or anything else - oil, sand, whale semen, whatever) on the threads of a fastener that has a torque specification, you will not be able to torque it correctly.

I don't really feel like explaining it in any more detail than that. Sorry. I can give you a couple of articles to read, though.

Short, easy one:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3618/is_200305/ai_n9286823

Little longer:
http://home.jtan.com/~joe/KIAT/kiat_1.htm

More math:
http://euler9.tripod.com/fasteners/preload.html

Way more math:
http://www.tech.volvo.se/standard/eng/stdnum.html
Search for "5511,21".

kenny (dremel)

Like I said, to each his own.

psychobabble

and one has the opinion that it doesn't matter. But Audi does go through the trouble of providing specific, and different torque specs for top and bottom of the sway bar end links, so...

The issue I have is that torquing the updated links to spec as per the bentley really crushes the bushing considerably, as opposed to the other design which really didn't get crushed at all. I'd think over torquing a bushing would significantly shorten its service life. I guess I'll look into this further and post when I find out.

kenny (dremel)

"25lbs for the bushing bolts and 45lbs for the end bolts"

Not sure whether or not the B6 has the metal endlinks or the same crappy ones our cars had... but those are defintely different (lower) torque specs than the ones you listed out...

If you could find out if the B6 has metal links, that could probably be your answer? Sorry this isn't very helpful, generally I go with "good and tight" for torque specs. Good luck.

B5Davem

I use blue Loctite and guess from experience about 35-40 ft lb.