I just placed Powerflex inserts in my rear trailing arms. The instructions urge me not to fully tighten and torque the bolt until the suspension has been 'loaded.' What exactly does that mean? I assume what they want me to do is put the wheels on, take the car off the blocks, and at a minimum bounce the rear to give the inserts the opportunity to fully settle in, then torque. Correct?

 

Disconnect the sway bar link, then place your jack under the hub and lift until that corner of the car lifts slightly off the jack stand. At that point, the suspension on that corner will be loaded and you can torque the bolt.

 

Thanks

 

"Loaded..." means just that, the suspension at full car weight.
And if you are over about 150 or so pounds in weight, I'd add that also.
Put the car on four jack stands, bricks, whatever you may have so that you can safely crawl under it, with the car level. Then...tighten to the given torque spec.

Pretty silly to put the chassis "into a corner" mode. Think about this for just a second... Just what is the percentage of time that you spend "in a corner" vs, driving on flat ground..!
Sorry, but the answer to put the chassis at an angle (post 2) makes zero sense.

Mike

 

I respectfully suggest that you may be mistaken? ;-)

njaremka suggests a more convenient way to achieve compression of one corner, by simply picking up the weight that WAS on that jack-stand using a jack at the hub. That leaves the car level (if done as suggested) and will put the suspension at the appropriate level for torquing.

I kinda thought it ingenious myself...

Cheers,

Charlie