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Removed steering wheel to do repairs, did not have a torque wrench.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Kayla Colflesh, Sep 22, 2020.

  1. Kayla Colflesh

    Kayla Colflesh Junior Member

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    I replaced my airbag clock spring today. I followed a video tutorial posted by Chris Fix's video on Youtube "
    How to Replace a Clock Spring (airbag light & horn not working)". He says that you need to tighten the steering wheel nut to 37 ft-lbs as specified in the Haynes repair manual. I didn't properly prepare for it (just used whatever I had in my toolbag), so I didn't have a torque wrench while doing the repair.

    Instead, I tightened the steering wheel nut as much as possible. Took a breath, and tried again, while putting as much force as I could on my wrench (my handle was pretty long). Am I going to be ok? I assume overtightening isn't an issue, but if it's under tightened, then the steering wheel may come loose from the steering column?

    I did everything else exactly as he said, just worried about the steering wheel nut not be tightened to exactly 37 ft lbs. I also drove for about 10 miles afterwards, making many turns, and did not notice any unusual noises, and nothing felt like it was loose.
     
    #1 Kayla Colflesh, Sep 22, 2020
  2. M in KC

    M in KC Active Member

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    You can always check out a torque wrench from a local auto part store's loan a tool program.
     
    #2 M in KC, Sep 25, 2020
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Or pick up a made-in-China 1/2" drive one for maybe $30. That's all I've ever had and DIY testing of my collection seems to indicate they're all fairly accurate.

    That said, from your description of how you tightened, I think you're good.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Sep 25, 2020
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If you're ever stuck on a desert island without a torque wrench (but with a 2007 Prius), you can always have this kind of little dialogue with yourself:

    Does this handle look about a foot long? Did I feel like I was pulling about 37 lbs on the end of it?

    Or was it about two feet long and I felt I was pulling about 18½ lbs?

    If your desert island also has some 20 or 40 lb bags of stuff lying around (water softener salt, potting soil, I don't know, not sure why a desert island would have either of those really) you can pump them a little beforehand to get that feeling in your arm, then pull on the wrench.

    For a steering nut, you'll probably get close enough.
     
    #4 ChapmanF, Sep 25, 2020
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
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