Mopar instructions and torque for install

[My20231500]

Hi I’m a new ram 1500 owner. I bought the bedstep to put on my truck. I was able to get it on but I could not torque it to the spec of 124 ft lb. I took it to the dealership to have them tighten the three screws but they said they wouldn’t go above 60 since that seemed too high for the screws. It looks like some others were able to install to the specs. Have you had any issues or is it ok to keep it slightly looser? I was surprised how easy it was to unscrew but how hard to torque it back on. Thanks

 

[BrandonSmith]

Welcome to the forum. Be sure to write an introduction.

If you have a hitch receiver installed, be aware that two of these bolts also hold that in place.

60 ft-lbs isn't a whole lot. I can get 80 ft-lbs on a 12" long wrench. Think, you only have to apply 124 lbs at 1 ft away from the bolt. Or 62 lbs at 2 ft away.

What are you using to torque it? A torque wrench?

What diameter are the bolts? What grade bolts? (if you know).

 

[My20231500]

Thanks for the quick reply Brandon. This is my first truck and I’m not the most handy. I got it to tow a travel trailer.

I appreciate the input that my hitch is held on by these. I will definitely try to get them on tighter. I was using a 12 inch torque wrench w 3/8 drive but couldn’t get enough leverage.

The three screws are light grey and I was using a 21 mm socket. Two of the screws came on the truck w the extra screw supplied by Mopar. I don’t know the grace of screw aside from this. I’ll see if I can borrow a longer torque wrench w a 1/2 drive to see if that will work. I trust your take and a couple other members on this over the dealer.

 

[Eighty]

Thanks for the quick reply Brandon. This is my first truck and I’m not the most handy. I got it to tow a travel trailer.

I appreciate the input that my hitch is held on by these. I will definitely try to get them on tighter. I was using a 12 inch torque wrench w 3/8 drive but couldn’t get enough leverage.

The three screws are light grey and I was using a 21 mm socket. Two of the screws came on the truck w the extra screw supplied by Mopar. I don’t know the grace of screw aside from this. I’ll see if I can borrow a longer torque wrench w a 1/2 drive to see if that will work. I trust your take and a couple other members on this over the dealer.

Put a cheater pipe on your torque wrench, as long as you've got room for the extra length on the handle.

Or do what I'd do, and use an impact gun - damn the torpedos

 

[DeanM2]

I just looked at the Mopar Bed Step installation instructions, and it specifies 103 foot pounds (not 124), which is what I used when I installed mine. As someone else suggested, what is the size and grade of the bolt??? With that information you can do a search for the proper torque value for that specific fastener. I would think that for a Bed Step, you would want more than 60 foot pounds.
NOTE... I received another Mopar product (tow hooks) where the size/grade of bolt supplied was not strong enough for the torque specified in the instructions.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Thanks for the quick reply Brandon. This is my first truck and I’m not the most handy. I got it to tow a travel trailer.

I appreciate the input that my hitch is held on by these. I will definitely try to get them on tighter. I was using a 12 inch torque wrench w 3/8 drive but couldn’t get enough leverage.

The three screws are light grey and I was using a 21 mm socket. Two of the screws came on the truck w the extra screw supplied by Mopar. I don’t know the grace of screw aside from this. I’ll see if I can borrow a longer torque wrench w a 1/2 drive to see if that will work. I trust your take and a couple other members on this over the dealer.

I don't think I've ever seen a 3/8 drive torque wrench that could hit 125 ft/bs. Most stop at 75-80, and only a few even go to 100 ft/lbs. You definitely need a 1/2" drive torque wrench.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Put a cheater pipe on your torque wrench, as long as you've got room for the extra length on the handle.

Or do what I'd do, and use an impact gun - damn the torpedos

Not sure I'd use a cheater pipe on a torque wrench. If you can't get the proper torque without it you need a bigger torque wrench. And as I said in first reply to OP, I've never seen a 3/8" drive torque wrench rated for that high of torque

 

[kapinallinen2]

My 3/8 drive only goes to 250 in lbs. little over 20 lb ft.
Sure as heck would not use a cheater bar on that.

 

[Eighty]

My 3/8" torque wrench registers up to 80 ft-lbs (and will go higher, but off the registered range). But yeah, ok, cheater pipe on a lightweight torque wrench probably not the best idea.

 

[Cbty2050]

I don't think I've ever seen a 3/8 drive torque wrench that could hit 125 ft/bs. Most stop at 75-80, and only a few even go to 100 ft/lbs. You definitely need a 1/2" drive torque wrench.

My Snap On TechAngle maxs out at 125, would never push it that far. Just in case you needed to get a 3/8 torque wrench that goes that high.

 

[kapinallinen2]

I bought my ATD 100 and ATD 102 as a set to fix the transmission in my `92 Ford Exploder way back when.
Needed the low end of the 100.

 

[kapinallinen2]

Getting little side railed here.
I would just crank it with a 1/2 inch drive ratchet and call it "good and tight"

 

[Darksteel165]

I torqued bed steps to 80 ft-lbs on my last truck and sheered off the bolt into the frame.
That side just had 2 bolts out of 3 for the rest of it's life.

Don't forget most of the weight are on the threads of the bolt, not pulling directly out. Tight and good is fine.

I also use 3/8 for everything but I am required t go 1/2 for higher torque. My 3/8 only goes to 80 which is pretty high, and using a pipe on a torque wrench is a terrible idea as it's very easy to put pressure on the wrong section and end up getting the wrong amount of torque.

 

[BrandonSmith]

Go to harbor freight and buy a 1/2” torque wrench for $20…

Make sure you’re looking at lbs-FT and not lbs-IN And not N-m either!

 

[Darksteel165]

Go to harbor freight and buy a 1/2” torque wrench for $20…

Make sure you’re looking at lbs-FT and not lbs-IN And not N-m either!

I would recommend spending a little more and getting something else unless you are able to calibrate it against another one.
Lexivon seems to be good quality and isn't much more.

 

[Nascar Tommy]

Is there any confusion here between NM (Newton Metres) and foot pounds?
I've received instructions with Mopar parts and torque specs were listed in NM.

 

[BrandonSmith]

I would recommend spending a little more and getting something else unless you are able to calibrate it against another one.
Lexivon seems to be good quality and isn't much more.

The Pittsburgh torque wrenches I have are just fine. I’ve got a torque meter and all three of my torque wrenches are within their stated specs (I’ve had them for 5 years and have used them for anything that has required a specific torque on my four vehicles).

Countless videos on the interwebs comparing torque wrenches like snap-on to Pittsburgh, et al. and there are only minor differences (typically accuracy near the upper and lower limits) for home-use. When you start using something like this every day, then, yes, they will wear out faster and become less accurate than the $300 competitors.

If you’re going to use something a handful of times in your life, go to Harbor Freight. If you’re going to use something multiple times a week, get something better.

 

[MannyN]

 

[Darksteel165]

The Pittsburgh torque wrenches I have are just fine. I’ve got a torque meter and all three of my torque wrenches are within their stated specs (I’ve had them for 5 years and have used them for anything that has required a specific torque on my four vehicles).

Countless videos on the interwebs comparing torque wrenches like snap-on to Pittsburgh, et al. and there are only minor differences (typically accuracy near the upper and lower limits) for home-use. When you start using something like this every day, then, yes, they will wear out faster and become less accurate than the $300 competitors.

If you’re going to use something a handful of times in your life, go to Harbor Freight. If you’re going to use something multiple times a week, get something better.

I only use them very rarely but my 1/2 Pittsburg broke and never clicked again (but no signs it broke). I got a new one for free and it did click but was very quiet so I just gave it away and got a better brand one.
My pittsburg torque sticks still work within 1-3ftlbs

 

[My20231500]

Thanks for the help guys. So yep being an idiot the 3/8 is inch lb not ft lb. How do I look up fastener torque specs. Attaching two pics of the screws and the instructions. If it doesn’t show well the one screw says 9.8. The other two looks like it says SFT 10.