Blog 5 Techniques for Proper Automotive Fastener Tightening Automotive fasteners are critical for keeping a car together, but only if they are installed properly. Clamps, screws and bolts need to be tightened to the right specifications to maximize safety and longevity. Whether you use seal tight fasteners or traditional fasteners, there are a few ways you can make sure they get tightened the correct way. 1. Inspect Your Seal Tight Fasteners The first step to getting the job done right is ensuring you work with good materials. Inspect the fasteners themselves. Stay-tight fasteners often have extra material on them that creates a seal. Check to see if that material is in good condition and that there are no cracks, tears, or other damage that could compromise the seal. 2. Use the Right Torque Wrench The next tip is still all about your equipment. You need the right torque wrench for each specific job. Every fastener needs a certain amount of torque, or twisting force, to be installed correctly. If there is too little, the fastener could come loose. Too much torque can damage seal-tight fasteners and other components. Torque wrenches are designed to let you measure the amount of force you are applying to a fastener. With a properly calibrated torque wrench, you can get your fasteners to just the right position. 3. Hand Tighten Before Torquing A helpful technique for getting good tight fasteners is to hand tighten the fastener before you apply the torque wrench. When you start the process by hand, it's easier to make sure the threads align correctly. If a bolt or screw is tightened when it's not aligned, the threads could break and cause damage to your parts. 4. Follow a Cross-Pattern Sequence You can improve the quality of your job by using a cross-pattern sequence when you are dealing with multiple fasteners at once. For example, if you have bolts in a square pattern, partially tighten the one at the top left first. Then partially tighten the bolt at the bottom right, then the top right, and then the bottom left. Go back and tighten each bolt in order until they are where they need to be. This pattern evenly distributes pressure and prevents the risk of warping flexible panels or parts. 5. Lubricate Threads (When Appropriate) Some fasteners are made with a coating that will make it easier to install while sealing itself from water and chemicals, but not all do. With those fasteners, you may need some kind of lubricant. You can get anti-seize to reduce the risk of the fastener seizing and breaking. Be careful not to use too much oil or lubricant. Be More Confident With Your Seal Tight Fasteners Installing fasteners the right way allows you to feel good about your work. By making sure you have high-quality seal-tight fasteners along with the right tools and a bit of simple know-how, you can keep vehicles running well for years. If you need fasteners and other supplies for your shop, check out the selection at ROGO Fastener. Sources: https://www.edtengineers.com/blog-post/threaded-fasteners https://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/304 https://www.boltscience.com/pages/tighten.htm https://zago.com/resources/what-are-sealing-fasteners/ https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/torque https://www.boltscience.com/pages/tsequence.htm
