Add Your Info Here: Toyota GR86 Reservation List | Subaru BRZ Reservation List

Keeping endlinks tight?

662 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by EVASIVE TRUENO, 15 d ago

Ghost86

Discussion Starter · 19 d ago

Any advice on keeping my end links tight? Recently put on Hks coilovers and their end links and haven’t been able to keep the bottom nut tight, torqued to spec, next I’m thinking blue loctite or double nutting?

Wheel Tire Sky Vehicle Car

See less See more

Reactions: 4

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

CamryGang

· #2 · 18 d ago

I had this same issue initially. There's not much room to work with when trying to tighten the bottom nut since the LCA gets in the way. I found that removing the top nut fully, and rolling the anti-roll bar forward or backwards helps to give alot more clearance to be able to torque it properly. I ended up using blue loctite too. Once both driver and passenger bottom nuts were torqued, I rolled it back in place and did the tops, which are way easier.

Its been a couple thousand miles and I haven't had any issues with it since. Hope this helps.

Ghost86

Discussion Starter · #3 · 18 d ago

CamryGang said:
I had this same issue initially. There's not much room to work with when trying to tighten the bottom nut since the LCA gets in the way. I found that removing the top nut fully, and rolling the anti-roll bar forward or backwards helps to give alot more clearance to be able to torque it properly. I ended up using blue loctite too. Once both driver and passenger bottom nuts were torqued, I rolled it back in place and did the tops, which are way easier.

Its been a couple thousand miles and I haven't had any issues with it since. Hope this helps.

Thank you! Never thought about moving the bar to get at it to torque it good lol

Reactions: 1

smarsh37

· #4 · 18 d ago

What is the symptom of a loose end link? Any weird sounds, or can you just feel the different in handling?

Reactions: 1

PB_8six

· #5 · 18 d ago

smarsh37 said:
What is the symptom of a loose end link? Any weird sounds, or can you just feel the different in handling?

Loud clunks in the front when hitting bumps or turning.

Reactions: 2

smarsh37

· #6 · 18 d ago

PB_8six said:
Loud clunks in the front when hitting bumps or turning.

Ah i was slinging my car around a turn the other day (pretty close to the limit of the car) and I heard/felt a loud clunk in the front suspension, felt/heard like it came from the front passenger side. It hasn't happened since, but I also haven't drove it that hard since. Maybe I should check to see if my endlinks are tight

CamryGang

· #7 · 18 d ago

smarsh37 said:
Ah i was slinging my car around a turn the other day (pretty close to the limit of the car) and I heard/felt a loud clunk in the front suspension, felt/heard like it came from the front passenger side. It hasn't happened since, but I also haven't drove it that hard since. Maybe I should check to see if my endlinks are tight

are you on aftermarket suspension? When it happened to me, once it loosened on my car, I would hear it very regularly just driving down the road, or going over small speed bumps/potholes.

Reactions: 2

Ghost86

Discussion Starter · #8 · 18 d ago

smarsh37 said:
What is the symptom of a loose end link? Any weird sounds, or can you just feel the different in handling?

Small or big clunk or clicks over bumps and while turning usually

Reactions: 1

smarsh37

· #9 · 18 d ago

CamryGang said:
are you on aftermarket suspension? When it happened to me, once it loosened on my car, I would hear it very regularly just driving down the road, or going over small speed bumps/potholes.

I have RSR down lowering springs and SPC camber bolts on the car, but those are the only things about the suspension that are aftermarket. I've only ever heard it twice. First time was as described (lowering springs and spc bolts were installed at the time), second time was at full lock in a parking lot that was on a hill where I was moving faster than I should have been (wasn't doing donuts, was just late for work and trying to get parked quickly) (also stock suspension at the time). The first one mentioned was much louder. But I don't hear it when regularly driving or when going over small bumps. It's so intermittent that I haven't worried about it tbh

Reactions: 1

_hsb_

· #10 · 18 d ago (Edited)

Did you orient the washer the proper way on the end link? Cause if you do, then when you tighten the nut it will pop onto the step and it will be tight. If you don't position the washer correctly I could see how there would be play. My HKS end links came with locknuts and don't see how they would back off. Also, install the lower bolt on each side with the top loose so you can rotate the roll bar as you want.

Wheel Automotive tire Tire Automotive lighting Motor vehicle

See less See more

Ghost86

Discussion Starter · #11 · 18 d ago

_hsb_ said:
Did you orient the washer the proper way on the end link? Cause if you do, then when you tighten the nut it will pop onto the step and it will be tight. If you don't position the washer correctly I could see how there would be play. My HKS end links came with locknuts and don't see how they would back off. Also, install the lower bolt on each side with the top loose so you can rotate the roll bar as you want.

View attachment 26867

Yeah I believe my washers are on right, they all look like your picture there but I'll recheck them later tonight. Definitely gonna take them off and tighten the bottoms first

HumboldtEF

· #12 · 18 d ago

By all means use loctite if you think you need it. Though keep in mind loctite melts plastic so when its used with a locknut/nylock you could be melting the nylon insert that does the "locking".

Locknuts are also technically a 1 time use item. If its already loosening its probably worth tracking down some new locknuts to be safe.

It does sound like _hsb _ is onto something, make sure yours its fully seated before you tighten it. Looks like his has 3-4 exposed threads so if his is fully seated you should be able to compare that against yours.

Reactions: 1

Ghost86

Discussion Starter · #13 · 18 d ago

smarsh37 said:
I have RSR down lowering springs and SPC camber bolts on the car, but those are the only things about the suspension that are aftermarket. I've only ever heard it twice. First time was as described (lowering springs and spc bolts were installed at the time), second time was at full lock in a parking lot that was on a hill where I was moving faster than I should have been (wasn't doing donuts, was just late for work and trying to get parked quickly) (also stock suspension at the time). The first one mentioned was much louder. But I don't hear it when regularly driving or when going over small bumps. It's so intermittent that I haven't worried about it tbh

_hsb_ said:
Did you orient the washer the proper way on the end link? Cause if you do, then when you tighten the nut it will pop onto the step and it will be tight. If you don't position the washer correctly I could see how there would be play. My HKS end links came with locknuts and don't see how they would back off. Also, install the lower bolt on each side with the top loose so you can rotate the roll bar as you want.

View attachment 26867

Do you have a washer on the otherside of

_hsb_ said:
Did you orient the washer the proper way on the end link? Cause if you do, then when you tighten the nut it will pop onto the step and it will be tight. If you don't position the washer correctly I could see how there would be play. My HKS end links came with locknuts and don't see how they would back off. Also, install the lower bolt on each side with the top loose so you can rotate the roll bar as you want.

View attachment 26867

Okay last night I took both off, ensured they were seated and torqued them both top and bottom, and the ticking still resides in the front right in my way to work this morning lol

Ghost86

Discussion Starter · #14 · 18 d ago

HumboldtEF said:
By all means use loctite if you think you need it. Though keep in mind loctite melts plastic so when its used with a locknut/nylock you could be melting the nylon insert that does the "locking".

Locknuts are also technically a 1 time use item. If its already loosening its probably worth tracking down some new locknuts to be safe.

It does sound like _hsb _ is onto something, make sure yours its fully seated before you tighten it. Looks like his has 3-4 exposed threads so if his is fully seated you should be able to compare that against yours.

Yeah maybe new locknuts next idk, I retorqued top and bottom nuts last night with Loctite and the front right stared making the noise again this morning, this is like the 7th time I've had the wheels of to mess with these

CamryGang

· #15 · 15 d ago

Ghost86 said:
Yeah maybe new locknuts next idk, I retorqued top and bottom nuts last night with Loctite and the front right stared making the noise again this morning, this is like the 7th time I've had the wheels of to mess with these

did you let the loctite cure? Maybe your torque wrench is out of spec and not clicking at the right torque. You could try hitting it with the torque driver instead since it keeps happening for you.

ZN8

· #16 · 15 d ago (Edited)

oooof, thats a good looking car, what wheels are those? Cosmis xt006r?

Brendan

· #17 · 15 d ago

Ghost86 said:
Any advice on keeping my end links tight? Recently put on Hks coilovers and their end links and haven’t been able to keep the bottom nut tight, torqued to spec, next I’m thinking blue loctite or double nutting? View attachment 26856

Off topic but what is that plate holder bracket?

EVASIVE TRUENO

· #18 · 15 d ago

Are you tightening them the right way? You're supposed to tighten the endlinks with the tires actually on the ground IIRC. You can simulate this by adding just a slight bit of load to each control arm with a jack IIRC but i'm not entirely certain. There are videos of it on youtube for the FRS / 86 chassis you can find of folks explaining it better than I did. It's all the same shit, so finding a video from a FRS wont make a difference. End links have always been a PIA on these cars.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts