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Front Suspension Torque Specs for Bilstein 5100 install

5.3Avalanche

By 5.3Avalanche
in Troubleshooting & Recalls

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5.3Avalanche Enthusiast

5.3Avalanche

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Hi,

 

I installed a set of front Bilstein 5100 shocks on my 2017 1500 Silverado truck, and I was wondering if anyone is able to provide the OEM torque required for the top, centre nut which is on the shock absorber rod.  I’m getting some squeaking right now on the rubber shock assembly bushing so it’s either too loose or too tight and is causing it to creak when the shock moves around while driving.
 

I tried searching this site and there seems to be conflicting information regarding this torque.  I found 19 ft-lbs on one thread and 59 ft-lbs on another. 

 

Thanks in advance.

Snowcamo Senior Enthusiast

Snowcamo

Posted
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Iirc its like 19 or 37, but you need to reuse the factory nut not the one that comes in the kit.

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5.3Avalanche Enthusiast

5.3Avalanche

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27 minutes ago, Snowcamo said:

Iirc its like 19 or 37, but you need to reuse the factory nut not the one that comes in the kit.

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Thanks.  According to this thread for the GMT900 trucks, the 3 shock tower nuts are 37 lb-ft and the shock nut is 59 lb-ft.  I’m assuming the GMT900 would be very similar if not identical to the 2017 K2?

 

https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/122106-front-strut-torque-specs-asap/

Snowcamo Senior Enthusiast

Snowcamo

Posted
Posted
Thanks.  According to this thread for the GMT900 trucks, the 3 shock tower nuts are 37 lb-ft and the shock nut is 59 lb-ft.  I’m assuming the GMT900 would be very similar if not identical to the 2017 K2?
 
https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/122106-front-strut-torque-specs-asap/
Given your not gonna fit a socket over the nut to be able to get a torque set. Use the factory nut an adjustable wrench and an 18mm its not allot of torque required i can say from my years of wrenching it really doesnt feel like more then 25 and thats being honest. You do not want to attempt to grab the strut cylinder and damage it.

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5.3Avalanche Enthusiast

5.3Avalanche

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1 hour ago, Snowcamo said:

Given your not gonna fit a socket over the nut to be able to get a torque set. Use the factory nut an adjustable wrench and an 18mm its not allot of torque required i can say from my years of wrenching it really doesnt feel like more then 25 and thats being honest. You do not want to attempt to grab the strut cylinder and damage it.

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I have a crows foot for my torque wrench and used with a vice grip on the top of the rod to hold it still while tightening.  If anyone has the GM spec from the service manual I would appreciate it.

Snowcamo Senior Enthusiast

Snowcamo

Posted
Posted
I have a crows foot for my torque wrench and used with a vice grip on the top of the rod to hold it still while tightening.  If anyone has the GM spec from the service manual I would appreciate it.
Looking at alldata.com it doesnt show a spec for the center bolt. Just the outer 3 and lower 2.

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Snowcamo Senior Enthusiast

Snowcamo

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Here ya go... e080e39371bf307d08e086515338205a.jpg

 

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Google bilstien install mamual. Cardid second link that pops up has it listed same as i posted but ledgible

 

 

5.3Avalanche Enthusiast

5.3Avalanche

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4 minutes ago, Snowcamo said:

Here ya go... e080e39371bf307d08e086515338205a.jpg

 

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Google bilstien install mamual. Cardid second link that pops up has it listed same as i posted but ledgible

 

 

Fantastic, thank you! Looks to say that item (1) is torqued to 19 lb-ft.  Appreciate the help guys.

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted

So per GM, the OEM version of nut #1 on the Bilstein diagram has two different specs when using the factory struts. 

 

If the truck does not have Z85 (increased capacity) or Z95 (magride) its 37 ft.lbs. 

 

If the truck has Z85 (increased capacity) or Z95 (magride) its 55 ft.lbs.   

 

Here is the Bilstein install sheet however for the strut #24-238304:  https://productdeskapi.cart.bilsteinus.com/media/products/bilstein/E4-WM5-Y458A00.pdf

 

They call for 19 ft.lbs with their strut. 

Snowcamo Senior Enthusiast

Snowcamo

Posted
Posted
Fantastic, thank you! Looks to say that item (1) is torqued to 19 lb-ft.  Appreciate the help guys.
Did the factory nuts resolve your issue? A fee guys have had the same issue. Thanks.

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5.3Avalanche Enthusiast

5.3Avalanche

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1 hour ago, newdude said:

So per GM, the OEM version of nut #1 on the Bilstein diagram has two different specs when using the factory struts. 

 

If the truck does not have Z85 (increased capacity) or Z95 (magride) its 37 ft.lbs. 

 

If the truck has Z85 (increased capacity) or Z95 (magride) its 55 ft.lbs.   

 

Here is the Bilstein install sheet however for the strut #24-238304:  https://productdeskapi.cart.bilsteinus.com/media/products/bilstein/E4-WM5-Y458A00.pdf

 

They call for 19 ft.lbs with their strut. 

Great information, thank you.  Odd that there’s a difference Between OEM and Bilstein specs because they’re both compressing the OEM rubber top bushing.  Thanks for your help.

5.3Avalanche Enthusiast

5.3Avalanche

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53 minutes ago, Snowcamo said:

Did the factory nuts resolve your issue? A fee guys have had the same issue. Thanks.

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I haven’t tried yet.  It’s 14F outside and I want to wait until it’s above freezing to torque the nut again.  I will report back when I get around to it.

  • 2 weeks later...
5.3Avalanche Enthusiast

5.3Avalanche

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So I torqued the centre shock rod nut of the driver side shock to the Bilstein recommended 19 lb-ft of torque, and they still squeak (both sides).  I then upped it to 25 lb-ft and it still squeaks.  Since I have a Z71, I will next try to torque them to 37 lb-ft per the OEM specs as newdude posted above.

I can't even describe how loud this squeaking is.  I'm wondering if I should have packed that top rubber mount with synthetic grease when I reassembled it even though it was initially dry?  If it doesn't stop squeaking with increasing the torque, I will likely end up disassembling it again and putting in a light layer of grease, or possibly even replacing the top rubber mount. 

 

Snowcamo Senior Enthusiast

Snowcamo

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I would just use the factory nut my friend. Its a different design made to pull the strut shaft up into the top mount by like a 1/4 in.

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5.3Avalanche Enthusiast

5.3Avalanche

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So I finally got around to torquing the strut top nut to 37 lbft on both sides.  I also found that my passenger side nut had completely backed off and was very loose.  That did the trick and now nothing makes a sound on either side.  I’m very happy.  You could see due to the nut not being torqued properly that The rod was moving slightly on the steel washer that rides in the bushing when I jacked the truck up and down which caused the squeaking.  Always torque everything to spec and trust the engineers that design these machines.  Thanks all for your help.  I’m now 100% satisfied with the Bilstein 5100 level.  Ya’ll have to buy a crows foot kit for your torque wrenches.  

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