Tootie Pang

iTrader: (2)

I'm not sure who did what to the car I just bought, but most of the front body panel bolts were lose so I tightened them up.

Last night, doing motor mounts, struts, etc, I notice one of the big carrier(?) to subframe bolts was loose. The one just above the rear lower control arm pivot bolt. I torqued it to about 100 lb-ft but couldn't find a torque spec.

I checked others, they seemed fine.

Is this typical for these cars or perhaps someone was careless with some refitment?

cypris09

iTrader: (1)

Hard to say. Iv changed some subframes in newer cars and have seen bolts missing! Maybe a defect from the factory or someone else has been into the car? With the age I'd go with someone being careless.

RBob

iTrader: (1)

They are k-member bolts, our cars don't have a sub-frame. Here are some links to short threads with good info on the location of and the torque spec of those bolts:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...passenger.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...-k-member.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...our-front.html


RBob.

Tootie Pang

iTrader: (2)

Thanks, I noticed many commented that the third post should be a sticky. I agree!

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

Where did that graphic come from? 160 N-m is standard torque for a 14 mm bolt.

The K-member bolts on my '89 are M12 and a bolt of that size has a standard torque of 100 N-m, and a high torque of 105 N-m for structural members. Coincidentally (or not so coincidentally), the GM service manual for an '88 Firebird (the only version I can find) calls for 105 N-m torque.

Tootie Pang

iTrader: (2)

89 Service Manual

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

I'd pull a bolt and measure the thread size. If it is an M12 then throw all of them in the trash and buy new bolts, and then torque it properly.