been arguing with 2 firestones, finally called and made a complaint and was told to come to a third store. Manager seemed somewhat nice.

Problem is that control arms have been collapsing. Took a torque wrench, figured out that the alignment nuts haven't been getting tightened much past hand tight. I took them to 165 ft-lb. Anybody know what the true spec is? Factory alignment spec is +3 degrees caster, -0.25 degrees camber, +0.1 degree toe on page 2-5.

edit- found it 155 ft lbs, page 2-7 and 2-14 of the manual.

 

155 ft lbs. that's it

That can explain why your alignment has been going out on you

In 16 years my alignment never dropped or needed done only reason I finally got it done was new bushings and ball joints.


TORQUE CHART


DESCRIPTION TORQUE

Shock Absorber



Upper Nut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 N·m (19 ft. lbs.)

Lower Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 N·m (21 ft. lbs.)


Lower Suspension Arm



Front Nut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 N·m (130 ft. lbs.)

Rear Nut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 N·m (80 ft. lbs.)

Ball Joint Nut . . . . . . . . . . . 127 N·m (94 ft. lbs.)


Upper Suspension Arm



Pivot Shaft Nuts . . . . . . . . 167 N·m (130 ft. lbs.)

Pivot Shaft to Frame Nuts . 210 N·m (155 ft. lbs.)

Ball Joint Nut . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 N·m (60 ft. lbs.)


Stabilizer Bar



Link Upper Nut . . . . . . . . . . . 37 N·m (27 ft. lbs.)

Link Ball Stud Nut . . . . . . . . 47 N·m (35 ft. lbs.)

Retainer Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 N·m (45 ft. lbs.)


Hub/Bearing



Spindle Nut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 N·m (185 ft. lbs.)

 

Are these specs for a 2003 dodge dakota upper control arm?



That can explain why your alignment has been going out on you

In 16 years my alignment never dropped or needed done only reason I finally got it done was new bushings and ball joints.


TORQUE CHART


DESCRIPTION TORQUE

Shock Absorber



Upper Nut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 N·m (19 ft. lbs.)

Lower Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 N·m (21 ft. lbs.)


Lower Suspension Arm



Front Nut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 N·m (130 ft. lbs.)

Rear Nut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 N·m (80 ft. lbs.)

Ball Joint Nut . . . . . . . . . . . 127 N·m (94 ft. lbs.)


Upper Suspension Arm



Pivot Shaft Nuts . . . . . . . . 167 N·m (130 ft. lbs.)

Pivot Shaft to Frame Nuts . 210 N·m (155 ft. lbs.)

Ball Joint Nut . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 N·m (60 ft. lbs.)


Stabilizer Bar



Link Upper Nut . . . . . . . . . . . 37 N·m (27 ft. lbs.)

Link Ball Stud Nut . . . . . . . . 47 N·m (35 ft. lbs.)

Retainer Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 N·m (45 ft. lbs.)


Hub/Bearing



Spindle Nut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 N·m (185 ft. lbs.)[/QUOTE]

 

Should be I know from 97 to 2004 they all used the same control arms.

 

Control arms are not quite the same. Tiebars are different on 00+

 

Ive never put a torque wrench on those in my life but aligned lots of those trucks when I was an alignment guy..... tightening tool of choice was usually a breaker bar. sometimes an air impact.