How do I get my T2s and camber plates tight?

Andy STI · 05-11-2007, 09:13 PM

I am having trouble tightening my front strut to my camber plates. I have RCE T2s and RCE plates. I am using a strap wrench but I can't get the shaft to stop spinning. I had no trouble with the rears but I just cant seem to get the fronts tight enough. Any ideas or suggestions about what I should do?

Thanks for any help. I can't get this to work tonight so my install will have to be finished tomorrow. At least the rears are on.

Andy

***austinpike*** · 05-11-2007, 09:24 PM

I don't know the RCE plates specifically, but I assume they have a pass-through in the center that you can insert an hex/allen wrench through. The allen wrench will keep the strut from spinning while you tighten the nut.

My write-up here, midway through post#2, may help
How To: complete idiot's guide to spring installation

**RaceComp Engineering** · 05-11-2007, 09:49 PM

Wrap the strap wrench around the shaft as much as you can. Have someone pull the strap wrench as tight as possible, while you tighten it down. This has always worked for us in the past.

FYI, with the RCE plates, the shaft will not stick through the top of the nut. When its fully torqued down, you should still see about 2 threads down on the nut until it hits the shaft.

r12rex · 05-11-2007, 10:00 PM

What tools are involved in the allen wrench and gear wrench with socket set-up? What socket is that and where can I find it?

Also, what strap wrenches would you guys recommend? I have only found some at Harbor freight...

Any recommendations?

I'll be getting my T2s here pretty soon and don't want to run into any installation problems...This will be the 5th time doing a suspension set-up on a subaru. All the other times were springs though...not coilovers.

Kind Regards,
Ryan

***austinpike*** · 05-11-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r12rex

What socket is that and where can I find it?

Sears.com - search for Gear Ratchet.

Andy STI · 05-12-2007, 05:26 AM

austinpike and r12rex, the allen key doesn't work on these struts. The top allen is used for adjustment, that is the reason for the strap wrench. It's just tough toget it tight enough to hold the shaft.

Thanks Myles, I'll try some more. That's pretty much what I was doing but I will try to wrap the strap around more.

Thanks,
Andy

***austinpike*** · 05-12-2007, 06:41 AM

^^^ I see, good luck. I had zero luck with a strap wrench when I tried that on the stock struts...

R4ND0M_AX3 · 05-12-2007, 09:35 AM

I ended up using the blue strap wrench (smaller of the two in kit from sears) and did the double wrap thing. It worked for one of the struts but the second broke the strap. Off the sears for a replacement.

utah_gonz · 05-12-2007, 11:28 AM

I recently had the same issue but I wrapped the strap around the lower part of the camber plate and was able to torque the nut that way. The compression of the nut/plate/washer was enough to hold it tight so that I could torque it.

***QuickSilverSTi*** · 05-12-2007, 04:50 PM

I can relate...just spent several hours doing a KW 3 install with much help from RoyalSTi...rear driver is giving me headaches....PITA....

May pack them up, have them rebuilt to make sure they are ok, and buy Cusco camber plates for the rear just to start fresh.

R4ND0M_AX3 · 05-12-2007, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utah_gonz

I recently had the same issue but I wrapped the strap around the lower part of the camber plate and was able to torque the nut that way. The compression of the nut/plate/washer was enough to hold it tight so that I could torque it.

I got away with that on one of the fronts. The other (last one) isn't cooperating. I got a replacement strapwrench and it's now toast as well.

Andy STI · 05-12-2007, 06:12 PM

Yeah, I broke the strap wrench twice today too (same one). I bought the 2 pack from Sears and used the smaller one. After it broke I tried again using a vise grip to hold it and I think I have it tight enough. So I have everything on now.

My new problem is that I decided to swap my rotors today too. First side went without a hitch but I broke the lower caliper bolt on the passenger side. Way to ruin my day.

Now I need to go to the dealer to see if they can drill it out and possibly tap it if needed.

***QuickSilverSTi*** · 05-12-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy STI

Yeah, I broke the strap wrench twice today too (same one). I bought the 2 pack from Sears and used the smaller one. After it broke I tried again using a vise grip to hold it and I think I have it tight enough. So I have everything on now.

My new problem is that I decided to swap my rotors today too. First side went without a hitch but I broke the lower caliper bolt on the passenger side. Way to ruin my day.

Now I need to go to the dealer to see if they can drill it out and possibly tap it if needed.

Some folks here have said they have used a helicoil on the caliper too when they busted.

R4ND0M_AX3 · 05-12-2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy STI

Yeah, I broke the strap wrench twice today too (same one). I bought the 2 pack from Sears and used the smaller one. After it broke I tried again using a vise grip to hold it and I think I have it tight enough. So I have everything on now.

My new problem is that I decided to swap my rotors today too. First side went without a hitch but I broke the lower caliper bolt on the passenger side. Way to ruin my day.

Now I need to go to the dealer to see if they can drill it out and possibly tap it if needed.

Damn. I'm doing rotors too. Got the fronts on no prob. Gonna start on the rears. Hope that goes well.

Andy STI · 05-12-2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickSilverSTi

Some folks here have said they have used a helicoil on the caliper too when they busted.

I saw that in some threads, but what is a helicoil?

05-11-2007, 09:13 PM	#1
Andy STI Professional STI Racer Car: '05 STi Fav Mod: Britax Roundabout Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 818 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (5)	How do I get my T2s and camber plates tight? I am having trouble tightening my front strut to my camber plates. I have RCE T2s and RCE plates. I am using a strap wrench but I can't get the shaft to stop spinning. I had no trouble with the rears but I just cant seem to get the fronts tight enough. Any ideas or suggestions about what I should do? Thanks for any help. I can't get this to work tonight so my install will have to be finished tomorrow. At least the rears are on. Andy This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

05-11-2007, 09:49 PM	#3
RaceComp Engineering Authorized Vendor Car: 2008 Pinarello FP5 Fav Mod: New Underwear after a 147mph slide into turn 17 at Sebring in the rain....still got 3rd.. Location: Columbia, Maryland Posts: 3,412 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (10)	Re: How do I get my T2s and camber plates tight? Wrap the strap wrench around the shaft as much as you can. Have someone pull the strap wrench as tight as possible, while you tighten it down. This has always worked for us in the past. FYI, with the RCE plates, the shaft will not stick through the top of the nut. When its fully torqued down, you should still see about 2 threads down on the nut until it hits the shaft.

05-11-2007, 10:00 PM	#4
r12rex The Next Petter Solberg Car: 06 OBP STi Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 853 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (9)	Re: How do I get my T2s and camber plates tight? What tools are involved in the allen wrench and gear wrench with socket set-up? What socket is that and where can I find it? Also, what strap wrenches would you guys recommend? I have only found some at Harbor freight... Any recommendations? I'll be getting my T2s here pretty soon and don't want to run into any installation problems...This will be the 5th time doing a suspension set-up on a subaru. All the other times were springs though...not coilovers. Kind Regards, Ryan

05-12-2007, 05:26 AM	#6
Andy STI Professional STI Racer Car: '05 STi Fav Mod: Britax Roundabout Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 818 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (5)	Re: How do I get my T2s and camber plates tight? austinpike and r12rex, the allen key doesn't work on these struts. The top allen is used for adjustment, that is the reason for the strap wrench. It's just tough toget it tight enough to hold the shaft. Thanks Myles, I'll try some more. That's pretty much what I was doing but I will try to wrap the strap around more. Thanks, Andy

05-12-2007, 06:41 AM	#7
*austinpike* Platinum Member Car: 2oo8 aw STi Location: MN Posts: 1,942 IWSTI Addict since: Jul 2004 Trader Rating: (7)	Re: How do I get my T2s and camber plates tight? ^^^ I see, good luck. I had zero luck with a strap wrench when I tried that on the stock struts...

05-11-2007, 09:24 PM	#2
*austinpike* Platinum Member Car: 2oo8 aw STi Location: MN Posts: 1,942 IWSTI Addict since: Jul 2004 Trader Rating: (7)	Re: How do I get my T2s and camber plates tight? I don't know the RCE plates specifically, but I assume they have a pass-through in the center that you can insert an hex/allen wrench through. The allen wrench will keep the strut from spinning while you tighten the nut. My write-up here, midway through post#2, may help How To: complete idiot's guide to spring installation

05-12-2007, 09:35 AM	#8
R4ND0M_AX3 Grassroots STI Racer Car: 05 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Cobb StreetTUNER Location: Elk Grove, CA USA Posts: 591 IWSTI Addict since: Jul 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: How do I get my T2s and camber plates tight? I ended up using the blue strap wrench (smaller of the two in kit from sears) and did the double wrap thing. It worked for one of the struts but the second broke the strap. Off the sears for a replacement.

05-12-2007, 11:28 AM	#9
utah_gonz Professional STI Driver Location: SLC, UT Posts: 435 IWSTI Addict since: Jun 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: How do I get my T2s and camber plates tight? I recently had the same issue but I wrapped the strap around the lower part of the camber plate and was able to torque the nut that way. The compression of the nut/plate/washer was enough to hold it tight so that I could torque it.

05-12-2007, 04:50 PM	#10
*QuickSilverSTi* nulla poena sine lege Car: '08 GT500 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,761 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (5)	Re: How do I get my T2s and camber plates tight? I can relate...just spent several hours doing a KW 3 install with much help from RoyalSTi...rear driver is giving me headaches....PITA.... May pack them up, have them rebuilt to make sure they are ok, and buy Cusco camber plates for the rear just to start fresh.

05-12-2007, 06:12 PM	#12
Andy STI Professional STI Racer Car: '05 STi Fav Mod: Britax Roundabout Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 818 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (5)	Re: How do I get my T2s and camber plates tight? Yeah, I broke the strap wrench twice today too (same one). I bought the 2 pack from Sears and used the smaller one. After it broke I tried again using a vise grip to hold it and I think I have it tight enough. So I have everything on now. My new problem is that I decided to swap my rotors today too. First side went without a hitch but I broke the lower caliper bolt on the passenger side. Way to ruin my day. Now I need to go to the dealer to see if they can drill it out and possibly tap it if needed.

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