What thread size holds the bottom of Jim Torque Rod

[Solorange]

Im trying to install a torque rod in my car and its amazing how the simplest part to install can be so hard. I can't break the bottom bolt loose. My car is 10 years old now and it seems like every little thing I work on is becoming a chore. Lately everytime I try to break a bolt loose that is hard to get off, I just end up snapping the head of the bolt off causing me to have to drill out the rest of the bolt or get the new bracket. I haven't broken this bolt yet but I bet Im close. Just trying to prepare in advance, but do any of you know the thread size and length of that bolt so I can get a new one ahead of time.

Also how many of you never had success with PB blaster or any other penetrating oil? I never had any luck with any of it. Take my stupid poll!

[Ilovemylara]

mine came right off... Are you taking the whole entire bottom bracket off, or are you just taking the one horizontal bolt off? I did the latter.. Also its alot easier to get at the bolt if you remove the metal splash shield under the car and do it that way...

[akora12]

I feel your pain chris, I do more cutting and drilling than wrenching anymore. I blame it on this damn Midwest weather. I don't have much luck with the oil, but I'm also not very patient...

As for the bolt size, it's most likely an M10 since 3/8" washers fit around it. The length is 2.25" from end to end including the cap.

[Solorange]

Thanks Ryan!

Ilovemylara - Im not taking the entire bracket out because I would never get it off then. I took the fan out in front it. It made it really easy to get too. I may try it your way thanks for the tip.

[sydemoid]

try a torque pipe on a ratchet....

[Ilovemylara]

np

[SleeperSolara]

The horizontal bolt is somewhat easy to take off, the bolts for the brackets are easy but you need a long extension.
Good luck.

[Chinky420]

ok wait....

let's see if we're all on the same page first:

if you're standing in front of the car (facing the engine), and looking down at the tq rod, are you talking about the left or right side?

because the right side, the square part, does not unscrew, it's just the left side (passenger side) of the bolt that unscrews (sh!t, i may have gotten it backwards...i'm pretty sure it's left side that unscrews).

when i did mine, i broke a cresent wrench because i wasn't paying attention to which side i was trying to unscrew. and aparently, trying to unscrew a fixed peice of metal is the easy way to break a tool.


unless someone can verify for me which side is definitely the proper side, all i can say is double check that you're unscrewing the correct side.

because once i started on the correct side, taking it off was smooth as butter.

[akora12]

^If you're facing the engine, the right side is the bolt that unscrews. The left side is a fixed nut.

[Solorange]

Haha Chinky420! Good thought! But Im not that dumb!! HeHe...

I broke it loose today and got it out.

With the new torque rod in I hear a little knock when pressing the gas and letting off it. I have the torque rod top nuts tighten enough. I noticed the the bottom part of the torque rod slides on the bottom bolt so I think Im going to have to shim the bottom.

Thanks everyone!

Im shocked you all have had luck with penetrating oil too... I never seems to work for me.

[Mr_Krispy1183]

^Install some 3/8" washers on either side of the bottom end of the rod on that bolt you just broke loose. It should accept 5 on either side, a total of 10. that should reduce the lateral movement. I have Ryan/akora12 to thank for that insight from the Tutorials section.

[Solorange]

Thanks Ill do that!

[SleeperSolara]

I should've mentioned that to you in a reply.
That's what i did for my torque rod, that's how i think the transmisson mount breaks there, because of the lateral movement of the torque rod.
I did the same method for my friends' Camry but we used 2 wave washers and the rest were flat washers.

[Chinky420]

Haha Chinky420! Good thought! But Im not that dumb!! HeHe...

lol, didn't mean to imply that you were dumb....only that eventually everyone will miss a detail here and there. glad you were able to get it out

(and apparently i'm the dumb one anyway, i got it mixed up left-to-right when i was making the suggestion.....oh well, that's probably why i broke a wrench in the first place ).


as far as the lateral movement is concerned, the washers will work... but if you want to save yourself the trip, you can use some of the parts from the old OEM gas strut to cushion the bottom of the tq rod....i forget exactly which parts i ended up using, but i basically took the old gas strut apart and used a rubber 'bumper' (bushing maybe?) and a couple 'washers' that were shaped to fit around the 'bumper' (the 'washers' were probably located near/adjacent the bumper on the original assembly..i dont really remember). it fit pretty well (by guessing, i would say there was only about 2-4mm of free lateral motion possible afterwards)

but if you don't mind the trip (and the extra buck fifty spent) go for the washers. they're a sure bet.

[Solorange]

Got me washers today! Ill install them tomorrow!