Torque Rod Installation
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:22 pmPIC#1 is the torque rod available from Jim @ Foreign affairs. Jim sends the torque rod pre-assembled which I thought to be very helpful. PIC#2 is the transmission shock that we will be replacing. If you don't have this in your car, you might want to ask yourself why you are doing this. 
I used the following tools; 3/8 socket wrench, 6” 3/8 extension, 14mm socket, deep 14mm socket, 17mm socket, deep 17mm socket, 14mm ratcheting combination wrench, 17mm ratcheting combination wrench and a 17mm opened end wrench. I took about 30 minutes to do this and was really taking my time. Very easy job and even easier if you have small arms and hands 
. Let’s get started…
Removal:
Since I was the guinea pig and had no instructions, I figured I’d throw caution to the wind. I didn’t know it the transmission needed to be supported or not so I just removed the shock without supporting it to see. When I started removing the bottom bolt, I noticed there was no pressure on it at all so it didn’t need to be supported, too easy! Refer to PIC#2, in the first step, we’ll be working with point “C”. There are 2 nuts on top there together. To get the top nut off, you’ll need to put a 14mm opened end wrench (or ratcheting combination wrench) on the lower nut to hold it still, then take the top nut off using a 14mm socket wrench with a 6” extension. After you get the top nut off use the deep 14mm socket to remove the net beneath it still at point “C”. After those 2 nuts are removed, pull the hardware off the top including the rubber bushing. Next, we’ll remove the bolt that is holding the shock in. The nut at point “A” is welded on. Here’s where the small arms and hands come in. You need to get a 14mm wrench on the bolt at point “B” and take it off. All I had to do was brake it loose (which wasn’t difficult thankfully) then I took it out by hand. Keep that bolt, we’ll reuse it to hold the torque rod in place. With the bolt out, the shock will pull right out.
Assembly:
To start with, take the hardware off the torque rod at point “A” in PIC#1. Then spin the nuts down towards point “C” a little to get it out of the way. Now slip the torque rod with point “A” coming up through the top hole where you removed the shock leaving the rod end (heim joint) at the bottom. Get that bolt you removed and kept for this step and insert it in the same direction it was in with the shock, going through the hole in the rod end and tighten it down with a 14mm wrench. Next, push the urethane grommet up against the metal bracket and screw the top nut up firmly to the bottom of that grommet. Then spin the other nut up to it and tighten the 2 together. Those nuts are 17mm. Next, put the hardware from point “A” that you took off earlier back on the way it came off. If you forgot, refer to the pic. Tighten the bottom nut snuggly, no need to torque it. Then tighten the top nut down to the bottom nut. It should now look like PIC#3.
I really don't think you'll have any trouble but if you do, post and I'll try to help. -JoeB
*EDIT* I originally said "ignition wrench", it's actually a ratcheting combination wrench I uesd, open on one side, closed on the other side and ratchets. It was perfect for that bottom bolt!
I used the following tools; 3/8 socket wrench, 6” 3/8 extension, 14mm socket, deep 14mm socket, 17mm socket, deep 17mm socket, 14mm ratcheting combination wrench, 17mm ratcheting combination wrench and a 17mm opened end wrench. I took about 30 minutes to do this and was really taking my time. Very easy job and even easier if you have small arms and hands . Let’s get started…
Removal:
Since I was the guinea pig and had no instructions, I figured I’d throw caution to the wind. I didn’t know it the transmission needed to be supported or not so I just removed the shock without supporting it to see. When I started removing the bottom bolt, I noticed there was no pressure on it at all so it didn’t need to be supported, too easy! Refer to PIC#2, in the first step, we’ll be working with point “C”. There are 2 nuts on top there together. To get the top nut off, you’ll need to put a 14mm opened end wrench (or ratcheting combination wrench) on the lower nut to hold it still, then take the top nut off using a 14mm socket wrench with a 6” extension. After you get the top nut off use the deep 14mm socket to remove the net beneath it still at point “C”. After those 2 nuts are removed, pull the hardware off the top including the rubber bushing. Next, we’ll remove the bolt that is holding the shock in. The nut at point “A” is welded on. Here’s where the small arms and hands come in. You need to get a 14mm wrench on the bolt at point “B” and take it off. All I had to do was brake it loose (which wasn’t difficult thankfully) then I took it out by hand. Keep that bolt, we’ll reuse it to hold the torque rod in place. With the bolt out, the shock will pull right out.
Assembly:
To start with, take the hardware off the torque rod at point “A” in PIC#1. Then spin the nuts down towards point “C” a little to get it out of the way. Now slip the torque rod with point “A” coming up through the top hole where you removed the shock leaving the rod end (heim joint) at the bottom. Get that bolt you removed and kept for this step and insert it in the same direction it was in with the shock, going through the hole in the rod end and tighten it down with a 14mm wrench. Next, push the urethane grommet up against the metal bracket and screw the top nut up firmly to the bottom of that grommet. Then spin the other nut up to it and tighten the 2 together. Those nuts are 17mm. Next, put the hardware from point “A” that you took off earlier back on the way it came off. If you forgot, refer to the pic. Tighten the bottom nut snuggly, no need to torque it. Then tighten the top nut down to the bottom nut. It should now look like PIC#3.
I really don't think you'll have any trouble but if you do, post and I'll try to help. -JoeB
*EDIT* I originally said "ignition wrench", it's actually a ratcheting combination wrench I uesd, open on one side, closed on the other side and ratchets. It was perfect for that bottom bolt!
