CKit

Technology is nice and all, but you still see the race teams doing their alignments with string and tape measures. Low tech still works.

All the technology in the world won't help you if your torque specs are inaccurate.

110 pounds on a 2 foot bar = 220 ft*lbs. Good enough for me.

DER MotorSports

Yes have done (too) many string alignments and wrote a DIY on it we include with every suspension purchase. Do you realize just how difficult it is to keep the strings aligned with the "frame" and if using a jig ala Smart Strings, actually reading the dimensions correctly without corrupting the strings' position even with a "Dream Stick"? Wewent to ART Laser Strings II just for that reason - it can be done old school and accurately but to be accurate takes more time than a racer can afford who's already on a time budget (same might be said of a husband/father too). We typically recommend it only to people who can't get an alignment shop they can trust or rack sufficiently low to drive on (and even then will recommend they remove the bumper before resorting to stringing).

Anyway, you have pointed out a difficiency I need to address - where can I see these TSBs - anyplace with not just the topics but the details online without paying? I would like to go through my manuals and update them.

Something about the idea of increasing a torque spec without upgrading the fastener strikes me as inherently wrong but they are engineers and I am not. We had a similar situation with BMW lug bolts (yes they still use bolts (and single piston calipres and and and) pretty amazing on a 60.000+ car these days), they increased the torque spec to prevent loosening and guys started snapping them. Fortunately not multiples at a time and most of my guys are already on studs....

negcamber

It's not an actual TSB...it was posted in the Service News publication that goes to Honda dealers.

DER MotorSports

Thanks. Does that also apply to '03 and up (would think so but....)? Also, last torque spec I have on spark plug is 25Nm, what's the latest there? Any other torque specs change since inception of the vehicle?

Thanks in advance.

negcamber

I haven't heard if spark plug torque was changed "officially". Many say 18ft-lb...others say 21ft-lb. Well...the way I look at it, those couple ft-lb is withing the error for my smallest torque wrench. Plus, the real torque is going to change depending on how much anti-seize that's applied to the threads. I'm sure you know old school never really used torque wrenches for spark plugs anyway...just a calibrated elbow.

The 220ft-lb applies to all years.