CH 6.

Threaded Fasteners, Torque, and

Repair
 Introduction (1 of 2)
• Tools and equipment are very important to an
efficient and effective shop operation.
– Provide means for work to be undertaken on vehicles
– Purchase, use, and maintenance is very important to
overall performance of any shop.
 Introduction (2 of 2)
• Always use tools and equipment the way they
are designed to be used.
– Identify the most effective tools to do the task.
– Inspect the tool before using it.
– Use it correctly.
– Clean and inspect it after you use it.
– Store it in the correct location.
 Fasteners and Torque (1 of 3)
• Fasteners are designed to secure parts that are
under various tension and sheer stress.
– Lug studs and lug nuts are examples of fasteners
withstanding sheer stresses.

• Fasteners come in a variety of diameters and

hardnesses.
– Defined in grades
 Fasteners and Torque (2 of 3)
• Fasteners with screw threads are designed to be
tightened to a specific rating.
– The material they are made from
– Their size
– The thread type
 Fasteners and Torque (3 of 3)
• Overtightened fastener
– Could become damaged or break

• Undertightened fastener
– Could come loose over time

• Torque is a way of defining how much a fastener

should be tightened.
 Bolts, Studs, and Nuts (1 of 8)
• Designed for heavier
jobs than screws
– Made of metal or metal
alloys
 Bolts, Studs, and Nuts (2 of 8)
• Bolt
– Cylindrical piece of metal
– Has a hexagonal head on one end
– A thread cut into the shaft at the other end
 Bolts, Studs, and Nuts (3 of 8)
• Nut
– Hexagonal nut threads onto the bolt thread
– Hexagonal heads are designed to fit tools such as
combination wrenches and sockets

• Stud
– Does not have a fixed hexagonal head
– Has a thread cut on each end
– Used to attach throttle body to intake manifold
– Can have different threads on each end
 Bolts, Studs, and Nuts (4 of 8)
• Can have either standard or metric threads
• Thread diameter
– Measured across outside of threads
– Fractions of an inch for standard-type fasteners
– Millimeters for metric-type fasteners
 Bolts, Studs, and Nuts (5 of 8)
• Thread pitch
– The coarseness of any thread
– Measured in threads per inch (tpi)
 Bolts, Studs, and Nuts (6 of 8)
• Thread pitch (cont’d)
– Each bolt diameter in the standard system can have
one of two thread pitches:
• Coarse (UNC) (3/8 – 16)
• Fine (UNF) (3/8 – 24)
– Measured by distance between peaks of threads in
millimeters in the metric system
 Bolts, Studs, and Nuts (7 of 8)
• Length
– Measured from end of bolt to bottom of head
– Listed in inches or millimeters

• Grade
– Relates to its strength
– Higher grade number, higher tensile strength
 Bolts, Studs, and Nuts (8 of 8)
• The Society of Automotive Engineers certifies
fasteners.
– Have a rating scale from grade 1 to grade 8
• Most general-purpose bolts used are grade 5.
• Bolts under higher stresses are a higher grade.
• Must replace original bolt with a bolt of same grade
 Torque Specification (1 of 2)
• Level of tightness that bolts and nuts need to be
tightened to
– Many nuts need to be tightened to specific level.

• Bolts and nuts are often marked with grade to

tell you their strength.
– Determines how much torque can safely be applied to
them
 Torque Specification (2 of 2)
• Once bolts are tightened, you must ensure they
stay tight.
– A locking washer
– A locking chemical compound
– A nylon locking device built into the nut
 Torque Charts
• Torque specification for bolts and nuts will
usually be contained within shop manuals.
• Manufacturers also produce torque charts.
• Most charts include:
– Bolt diameter
– Threads per inch
– Grade
– Maximum torque setting for dry and lubricated bolts
and nuts
 Torque Wrenches (1 of 7)
• Also known as a
tension wrench
• Used to tighten
fasteners to
predetermined torque
 Torque Wrenches (2 of 7)
• Designed to tighten using drive on end
– Fits with any socket and accessory of the same drive
size, found in an ordinary socket set
– When torque is specified, it is important to follow
specifications.
 Torque Wrenches (3 of 7)
• Torque value
– Amount of twisting force applied to a fastener by
torque wrench
– Specified in:
• Foot-pounds (lb-ft)
• Inch-pounds (in-lb)
• Newton meters (Nm)
 Torque Wrenches (4 of 7)
• Torque wrenches come in various types.
• Beam style
– Uses spring steel beam that flexes under tension
– A smaller fixed rod indicates amount of torque on a
scale mounted to the bar.
– Amount of deflection of the bar coincides with the
amount of torque on the scale.
– Must be positioned directly above the scale
 Torque Wrenches (5 of 7)
• Clicker
– Uses an adjustable clutch inside that slips (clicks)
when the preset torque is reached
– The higher the torque, the louder the click.
– The lower the torque, the quieter the click.
– It is easy to miss the click and overtighten, break, or
strip the bolt.
 Torque Wrenches (6 of 7)
• Dial
– Turns a dial that indicates torque based on torque
being applied
– You have to be able to see the dial to know how much
torque is being applied.
– Many have a movable indicator that is moved by the
dial and stays at the highest reading.
– Once the proper torque is reached, the indicator can
be moved back to zero.
 Torque Wrenches (7 of 7)
• Electronic
– Uses a spring steel bar with electronic strain gauge to
measure amount of torque applied
– Torque wrench can be preset to desired torque.
– Torque is displayed when the torque fastener is being
tightened .
– Usually gives audible signal when it reaches the
preset torque

• Torque wrenches fall out of calibration over time

or if they are not used properly.
 Using Torque Wrenches (1 of 2)
• Used to apply a specified amount of torque to a
fastener
• Various methods used to indicate that correct
torque has been reached
– Audible sound
– Visual signal
– Some must be observed while torquing the fastener.
 Using Torque Wrenches (2 of 2)
• Support head of torque wrench with one hand.
• It is best to not use extensions; use a deep
socket instead.
 Torque-to-Yield and Torque
Angle (1 of 3)
• If threads are rusty, rough, or damaged:
– Twisting force required to tighten increases

• Tightening a rusty fastener to a particular torque

will not provide as much clamping force as a
smooth fastener torqued the same amount.
• When bolts are tightened, they are also
stretched.
 Torque-to-Yield and Torque
Angle (2 of 3)
• Torque-to-yield (TTY) bolts
– Designed to provide a consistent clamping force
when torqued to yield point or just beyond
– The torque does not increase very much, or at all,
once yield is reached.
– TTY bolts generally require torquing procedure called
torque angle.
– In virtually all cases, TTY bolts cannot be reused
because they have been stretched into their yield
zone and likely fail if retorqued.
 Torque-to-Yield and Torque
Angle (3 of 3)
• Torque angle
– A more precise method to tighten TTY bolts

• Multistep process
– Bolts are first torqued in the required pattern using a
standard torque wrench.
– They are further tightened an additional specified
angle (torque angle) using an angle gauge, providing
further tightening.
 Thread Repair (1 of 6)
• Aim of thread repair is to restore thread to a
condition that restores fastening integrity.
 Thread Repair (2 of 6)
• Thread file
– The least invasive and reshapes the thread
– If threads are not too badly damaged, can clean them
or a restoring tool can be used to reshape
– Each thread file has eight different sets of file teeth
that match the bolt you are working on and file the
bolt in line with the threads.
– Will remove any distorted metal from threads
– Only file until the bad spot is reshaped.
– Tool looks like an ordinary tap and die set.
 Thread Repair (3 of 6)
• Thread insert
– For threads that have substantial damage
– Thread insert is a sleeve with both internal and
external threads.
– Internal thread on the insert matches original
damaged thread size.
– Hole is made larger and a larger thread is cut.
– Thread matches external thread on insert.
– Thread insert can be screwed and secured into
prepared hole.
 Thread Repair (4 of 6)
• Make sure tools are clean and in good condition
and are suitable for thread repair.
• Determine type and size of thread to be
repaired.
• Thread removal includes:
– Removal of a broken bolt
– Restoration of internal and external threads
– Use of thread insert to repair an internal thread
 Thread Repair (5 of 6)
• To remove a broken bolt
– Inspect the site.
– Select correct size of extractor and drill designated
hole size in center of broken bolt.
– Use a center punch to mark the bolt.
– Once hole is drilled, insert extractor and turn
counterclockwise.
 Thread Repair (6 of 6)
• To remove a broken bolt:
– Flutes on extractor should grab inside of bolt.
– Don’t exert too much force if bolt is really stuck.
– Once broken bolt is removed, run lubricated tap or
thread restoring tool of correct size and thread pitch
through hole to clean up any rust or damage.
 Summary (5 of 30)
• Torque defines how much a fastener should be
tightened.
• Bolts, nuts, and studs use threads to secure
each part; these threads can be in standard or
metric measures.
• Thread pitch refers to the coarseness of the
thread; USCS bolts, nuts, and studs are
measured in threads per inch (tpi), classified as
coarse (UNC) or fine (UNF).
 Summary (6 of 30)
• Fasteners are graded by tensile strength (how
much tension can be withstood before
breakage).
• SAE rates fasteners from grade 1–8; always
replace a nut or bolt with same grade.
• Torque specification indicates level of tightness
each bolt or nut should be tightened to; torque
charts list torque specifications for nuts and
bolts.
 Summary (7 of 30)
• Torque (or tension) wrenches tighten fasteners
to correct torque specification.
• Torque value—the amount of twisting force
applied to a fastener by the torque wrench—is
specified in foot-pounds, inch-pounds, or newton
meters.
• Torque wrench styles are beam, clicker, dial, and
electronic. Each gives indication when proper
torque is achieved.
 Summary (8 of 30)
• Bolts that are tightened beyond their yield point
do not return to their original length when
loosened.
• Torque-to-yield (TTY) bolts can be torqued just
beyond their yield point, but should not be
reused.
• Torque angle can be used to tighten TTY bolts
and requires both a torque wrench and an angle
gauge.
 Credits
• Unless otherwise indicated, all photographs and
illustrations are under copyright of Jones &
Bartlett Learning.