Torque figure - Radius Arm Bolt

[Jasper013]

Trying to confirm if there is a torque figure for the radius arm bolt (front bolt that secures the large end to the underside of the floor). Thanks
Paul

[abowie]

Be careful. It's common to strip out the thread in the cup due to rust.

As a general principle when looking at E Type fasteners look at generic tables for Unified threads.

From memory your bolt is 3/8" UNF and that's probably no more than 30 lb/ft.

[mgcjag]

And they should be drilled heads and wire locked....Steve

[ralphr1780]

My advice would be to tighten to 30 lb, then take the car for a drive on a bumpy and twisty road, then retighten again and lock-wire.

[Jasper013]

Thanks everyone.
I did see a figure of 46 lbft mentioned on another forum but wanted confirmation.
Will run with around 30 as suggested.
Can I also ask - I seem to have quite a gap between the arm/ face of the bushing and the floor (15-20mm) is that normal?

[Jasper013]

Quick pic.

[mgcjag]

Should look something like this (not my photo). Is your bush pressed fully into the arm...put some anti sieze on the cup

[mgcjag]

We just posted together....yours does not look right....is that with the bolt in and tightened up....Steve

[Jasper013]

Yes that’s with bolt tightened.

[Jasper013]

Checked my manual again and it does state 46 lbft

[mgcjag]

I Paul..yes the Jag service manual does say 46lb/ft.....however you bush dosnt look like its fully engaged on the mount......It looks like your mounts have been replaced...the base protrudes a bit and i can see welds around the edges........there are different bushes and mount for various models...i dont know if the cups are all the same size.......needs checking though.........i would at lease dismantle and see whats stopping the cup fully engageing....Steve

[mgcjag]

Hi Paul....just done some searching.....it has happened before that when removeing the radius arm from the mount the bush has given way and actually left the inner cup of the bush stuck to the mount...this photo shows it..its come away clean but look close and you can see the lip at the top......might be your problem...cant post an image for some reason will add it later....Steve

[Jasper013]

Thanks Steve.
Going to get the car back up in the air and take a proper look.
I know the bushes were replaced prior to me purchasing the car from CMC a few years ago. Would be surprised if they would have left the old cup in situ but does sound plausible.

[Jasper013]

Got to it straight away!
Have removed the bush from the mount. There is nothing present from the deterioration of a previous bush/cup.
Inside the bush cup I can fell a raised centre that protrudes into the cup (bolt passes through this to screw into mount). With everything tightened I would imagine the centre protrusion would mate up against the bottom of the mount hence why I can’t force the bush onto the mount any further.
Is this a standard bush/ cup design?

[mgcjag]

Hi Paul.....just managed to get the photo posted....i would look again at yours in my photo where the cup(the shiney bit) is left on the mount you can see a ridge at the top...looks very similar on yours.....yes the bush has a turned under edge so that the retainer strap sits in it....do you have the same issue both sides?.......Steve

[Jasper013]

Yes, same issue both sides Steve.
When I removed the bush I cleaned and inspected the mount. Definitely no old cup present I think what was visible in my photo was a build up of grease/ dirt.
Have applied anti seize and tightened everything up again. Went to 35 lbft and it is certainly fitting a bit better. Don’t want to risk
going up to 46 !

[Bob.]

Hi Paul,
Had you originally had the radius arms off or was there a problem, such as a knock, which led you to feel the need to remove the wire locking to check the bolts were at the correct torque?
The reason I ask is that looking at a blown up version of your photo, it looks as if the bush is cockled on the mount with a large gap between them at the rear and none at the front, suggesting it is either loose due to the bolt thread having stripped (unlikely given that you have tightened the bolt) or not fully on the mount. This may of course just be an optical illusion.
Putting the radius arm bush onto the mount with no angular load on either is easy enough if a spring/damper or two are disconnected at the bottom and the hub jacked up to put the radius arm in the appropriate position.
The picture does seem to show that a bush has been correctly seated higher up on the mount at some point in the not too distant past unless it is an extra sleeve after all.
Sorry if I am barking up entirely the wrong trees!
Bob



Inside view of bush

[Jasper013]

Thanks Bob.
I think that original pic is rather deceptive.
There have been knocks or issues at the rear, I was fitting new rear shocks/ springs and thought the bush just looked to be sitting off the mount quite a bit.
Having removed them from the mounts now, and cleaned/ lubed them and refitted I’m happy that they are fitted as best they can.
Used a small bottle jack to push the bush as fully home as possible and then tightening the bolt. Will take a pic tomorrow but they do seem to be fitting better overall.
I’m wondering if the mounts have been replaced (looks likely considering the welds) and they are slightly larger ?
Here’s a pic of the near side bush removed.

[mgcjag]

Hi Paul...i did mention the welds on your mounts and questioned it the mount shape was the same on all Jag models......they do have different part numbers some with a square base some with rounded base...Steve

[Jasper013]

Hi Steve,
Convinced the mounts (which seem to be on a round base plate?) are slightly oversized.
Anyway, have them fitting better. Everything is certainly secure.