So this morning I decided to torque the 10.9 bolt on the axle side of the track bar since I broke the original one this past weekend. I was told to torque at 74 ft-lbs. So instead I set my torque wrench to 60 just to see if the bolt will hold up to 60. Nope. BANG! Bolt snapped again. So what's going on? I might just tighten it with a ratchet 'till it's nice and tight w/o the darn torque wrench. This is the Craftsman torque wrench that I'm using.

 

Uh-I think you're only supposed to torque it at 40-45 lbs

 

74 to axle 60 to frame are you usung strong enough bolts they make different grades

 

Using the same grade that originally came off the Jeep...a 10.9 witch I think is the same as a grade 8. I think my torque wrench may be off.

 

I'd just go with a grade 8 bolt.

 

to snap a grade 8 bolt of that size takes 12000 lb load, so i dont think you are buying grade 8 bolts. go to home depot and tell them what you want, and walla, grade 8 no break!

 

My factory service manual for the 2001 Cherokee says that the axle bracket bolt of the track bar should be torqued to 40 ft. lbs.

Edit: Curiously, I checked the FSM for a 1994 XJ and it recommends 100 N-M or about 74 ft. lbs. Perhaps a design or hardware change resulted in a change in torque rating?

 

What size bolt are you using? 10.9 should be more then enough.

http://www.dansmc.com/torque_chart.htm

 

I'd check that torque wrench. I almost screwed up when I did my harmonic balancer. Uh huh...gonna torque to spec. I'm cranking and cranking and like whoa!!!!, the wrench should have clicked by now.

Put the wrench in a vise, set it to 40 lbs. Almost tipped over the table cranking it and it never clicked.

Just saying....

-bob-

 

I've had two name brand torque wreches go bum south over the years for no apparent reason. Yours may be suspect. You could try a fastener in the vice, perhaps borrow another wrench from a friend. 2nd the nomination for the grade 8 bolt. If all else fails just start with fresh bolt and nut and tighten it until you are satisfied, don't go hulk here, and check it a couple times over the next few days.
PS: I always antisieze prior to assembly, and lets not start a debate that torque should be different with dry fasteners vs lubed fasteners. The anti seize is a favour to yourself in the future.

 

Just happened to me on a '99...don't believe it was the wrench. The FSM, the Haynes older Cherokee manual, and the Haynes newer to '01 manual all show 74lbs. The bolt snapped way before it reached 74lbs. I happened to have the axle out of my '97 Waggy, the track bar bolt looks like a hardened flange bolt and the one off the '99 looks like pot metal. Will replace it with a Gr8.