Torque Specs For Tie Rod And Front Ball Joint Assy Installation

[albertm7]

Hello,

I couldn't seem to find this information anywhere (I may just be bad at searching) but as the title states, can anyone tell me the torque specs required for tie rod and front ball joint ASSY installation?

I own a 1995 R33 GTR.

I've tried gtrcanada, gtruk, and tried to find the FSM for something other than the motor and yielded nothing.

Thanks.

[GTSBoy]

Find and download the pdf of the FSM for R32 GTR and use those numbers. Can't be so different that they won't work.

Edited August 15, 2013 by GTSBoy

[joshuaho96]

I know this topic is extremely old. I am bumping this so future searchers will find this. The book spec for the front axle tie rod end lock nut is 29-39 N-m or 3-4 kg-m.

There are multiple ball joints in the suspension. The lower ball joints on the "transverse link" the lock nut spec is 97-119 N-m. The nuts that hold them in have two different specs. The outer ball joint nut that attaches the ball joint to the steering knuckle has a torque spec of 72-97 N-m. The inner ball joint that attaches somewhere to the subframe I think has a spec of 63-78 N-m.

The upper "third link" ball joint that attaches to the top of the steering knuckle is integral to the third link and attaches to the steering knuckle with a nut that calls for 148-186 N-m of torque. This is a big one.

Edited July 24, 2022 by joshuaho96

[Neostead2000]

On 7/24/2022 at 2:50 AM, joshuaho96 said:

I know this topic is extremely old. I am bumping this so future searchers will find this. The book spec for the front axle tie rod end lock nut is 29-39 N-m or 3-4 kg-m.

There are multiple ball joints in the suspension. The lower ball joints on the "transverse link" the lock nut spec is 97-119 N-m. The nuts that hold them in have two different specs. The outer ball joint nut that attaches the ball joint to the steering knuckle has a torque spec of 72-97 N-m. The inner ball joint that attaches somewhere to the subframe I think has a spec of 63-78 N-m.

The upper "third link" ball joint that attaches to the top of the steering knuckle is integral to the third link and attaches to the steering knuckle with a nut that calls for 148-186 N-m of torque. This is a big one.

Mate sorry to be a twat but I'm trying to understand what you're saying but I can't. I believe you might be mixing up the term ball joint with bushing? As the lower control arm (transverse link?) has one outer ball joint and one inner bushing. The upper control arm has 2 small bushings and 1 big bushing. The diagonal arms have two nuts and 1 big bushing.

I am trying to find out all the torque specs for those components for a 33 but there does not seem to be a manual that covers this. Also the 4 main nuts holding the subframe to the chassis.

[Duncan]

There are different setups in different r chassis cars. R32 GTR (and 33 I think) has 3 ball joints at the front as described above.

Someone might be able to link you a 33 GTST service manual, I don't have that

[dyl33]

I usually go off this:

[Neostead2000]

Cheers Dyl(an?), those make sense even for my GTST. And Duncan I was unaware the GTR came with that style suspension, I'm only just getting familiar with my poverty spec 33 😳 And I just noticed OP was asking about his GTR specifically so I was in error.

 

[Duncan]

Ha! No skylines are poverty spec any more

[AdiR34]

This post has OUTER tie rod torque spec - what about INNER tie rod torque spec??? Cannot find this info ANYWHERE.

[GTSBoy]

Tighten until it starts to get loose again, then back off 1/4 turn?

[hardsteppa]

On 12/05/2025 at 7:14 AM, GTSBoy said:

Tighten until it starts to get loose again, then back off 1/4 turn?

tighten until it strips completely, then buy new rack. Repeat.

[Duncan]

From R32 GTR:

Front:

(not that I can actually see a "specified torque" there)

Rear if that is an issue: