Clayton Jam Nut Torque

[JTL21]

I sent @Clayton Off Road an email via their website with this question but they haven't responded yet (might not be open today).
I'm installing an Overland+ 3.5" lift on my '21 JTOD and the torque spec for the Clayton jam nuts on the instructions seems astronomically high, 398 ft-lbs and 723 ft-lbs respectively. Does anyone know if this is accurate? If it is accurate then how are people achieving such a high torque? What's the worst that could happen if I just can't torque them that high?

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[Deadpool392]

When I installed mine I didn’t see any torque specs for the jam nuts, I just tightened them by hand with a wrench. After about 500 miles and just checked them all again, never loosened on me and I have around 12K miles since installing the kit.

 

[KrashEd]

I have a set of jam nut wrenches from Barnes and a heavy duty breaker bar that I use. The jam nut wrenches work as torque arms, so if you were to torque the nuts, you'd need to factor length and arm angle into the measurement.

I can't say that I ever measured torque when tightening these, but I can say that I've never had an issue (tighten until you see stars).

 

[Greg_L]

Some things are very important to torque correctly.

Jam nuts are not one of those things. Tighten it as much as you can with conventional tools and go on about your business.

Also...398 and 723 ft/lbs is laughable.

 

[JTL21]

Thanks for everyone’s input. That’s what I was hoping to hear. I’ll just use my 24” crescent wrench to tighten as much as I can and leave it at that.

 

[Rusty PW]

The jam nuts on Core 4x4 arms are 250 ft lbs on the lowers and 200 ft lbs on the upper fronts. 250 ft lbs on all rears. After you tighten everything up. Put a paint stripe across the nut and the bar. So if does loosen up. You can see if it happens.

 

[Clayton Off Road]

I sent @Clayton Off Road an email via their website with this question but they haven't responded yet (might not be open today).
I'm installing an Overland+ 3.5" lift on my '21 JTOD and the torque spec for the Clayton jam nuts on the instructions seems astronomically high, 398 ft-lbs and 723 ft-lbs respectively. Does anyone know if this is accurate? If it is accurate then how are people achieving such a high torque? What's the worst that could happen if I just can't torque them that high?

Hey there! To be honest, the number in the instructions is super high, but you can go even higher. The best thing to do with the jam nuts is to just get them as tight as possible and not to even worry about damaging them because you won't! We like to throw the wrench inside of a steel bar here and just really crank them down!

 

[JTL21]

So I did the best I could with the tools I have. I feel pretty good about most of them but I had a tough time with the passenger side front upper control arm jam nut. I could get my wrench on it but the exhaust prevented me from being able to really crank down on it. There’s just not enough clearance to tighten then reposition the wrench and continue tightening. I’ll have to keep an eye on it and if it ever loosens I might have to use locktite next time.

 

[ttn333]

So I did the best I could with the tools I have. I feel pretty good about most of them but I had a tough time with the passenger side front upper control arm jam nut. I could get my wrench on it but the exhaust prevented me from being able to really crank down on it. There’s just not enough clearance to tighten then reposition the wrench and continue tightening. I’ll have to keep an eye on it and if it ever loosens I might have to use locktite next time.

I've learned to check them more frequently, at least before every trip. Mine spun loose after a "spirited" trail run once. Had to make an hour drive to town to pick up a wrench large enough. Now I carry that wrench with me lol.
Probably going to order a set off these https://motobilt.com/collections/tools/products/jam-nut-wrench-set

 

[Free2roam]

I've learned to check them more frequently, at least before every trip. Mine spun loose after a "spirited" trail run once. Had to make an hour drive to town to pick up a wrench large enough. Now I carry that wrench with me lol.
Probably going to order a set off these https://motobilt.com/collections/tools/products/jam-nut-wrench-set

Those are slick! Wonder what kind of heat treatment it would take to make them stronger.

 

[Rusty PW]

Those are slick! Wonder what kind of heat treatment it would take to make them stronger.

They are limited to 150 ft lbs or less, depending on the size. Not meant to replace your regular shop tools.

 

[Free2roam]

They are limited to 150 ft lbs or less, depending on the size. Not meant to replace your regular shop tools.

Yeah I understand that. But if they can be reinforced or heat treated to make them stronger that would be awesome.

 

[Rusty PW]

Yeah I understand that. But if they can be reinforced or heat treated to make them stronger that would be awesome.

Be easier to get Snap On crows feet of the sizes you need. That's what I did. I have a few of that style of wrench. The jaws spread apart too easy.

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