{Chrysler 300} Torque wrench

I read the below article from Rock auto on torquing the top of a shock absorber using a crow foot wrench. What caught my eye was the placement of a torque wrench makes a difference....John

Properly tightening the upper nut on a shock absorber typically requires more thought and tools because the nut is threaded onto the shock's piston shaft. The top of the shaft must be held in place or it will just spin when the nut is turned. Locking pliers are sometimes used to hold the top of the shaft. A better option is to use a specialized shock absorber nut tool to keep the shaft from turning.

The next challenge is how to use a regular torque wrench to tighten the nut. The tool holding the shock's piston shaft makes it impossible to get even a deep socket onto the nut. My preferred solution is to snap a crow foot wrench onto the torque wrench ratchet instead of a socket. The shock's piston shaft and nut pass through the crow foot, and the problem is solved.

The torque setting on a torque wrench is based on the distance from the socket to a spot on the handle. If the crow foot is put on so it lengthens the torque wrench (parallel with the torque wrench) then the tool becomes a longer lever that applies more torque than the setting on the wrench. For example, the torque wrench may be set to 30 ft-lbs but the crows foot sticking straight out the end of the wrench may actually be applying closer to 35 ft-lbs.

Mustang Upper Shock Absorber Nut & Shock Absorber Nut Tool

Crow Foot Perpendicular (90°) to the Torque Wrench

To avoid applying more torque than the wrench setting, put the crow foot on so it is perpendicular (90°) to the torque wrench. This will avoid changing the overall length of the torque wrench and maintain the accuracy of the torque setting.