Get rid of your thumbscrews for a quieter ride

Make sense. Good to know I was just about to order a set for the spring time.
Thanks.

Don't overtorque them. I snapped one!😌

BostonBadlands

Don't overtorque them. I snapped one!😌

It would help if Ford ever published what the proper torque is for these bolts 😂

Sulley

It would help if Ford ever published what the proper torque is for these bolts 😂

It's published in the manual. 😛

RagnarKon

It's published in the manual. 😛

Thanks, I swear I looked through that thing twice for this.

Sulley

Thanks, I swear I looked through that thing twice for this.

Just leave it in the can and you'll have every line memorized in a couple weeks. Or days depending on how much fiber you eat. 😆

Sulley

Pulled off my hardtop thumbscrews and put the original bolts back in. Surprised how much of a difference it made with the amount of wind noise in back. The thumbscrews were hand tight, but something to be said for a ratchet-tight seal. The wind is still hitting the top, but you can tell it’s staying outside now. No other modifications. The thumbscrews are unfortunately just as much of a pain to remove as the bolts, maybe more so.

I'm glad you took the time to post this. Those thumbscrews look cool, but evidently don't work as well the OEM bolts. Not everything that looks cool is worth installing. Thanks again.

Wow, got the torque wrench out and my hand tightening turned out to be spot on. I wonder if over torquing these has anything to do with some of the cracks the community has been seeing along the bottom, or in the plastic mounting plate.

Sulley

Wow, got the torque wrench out and my hand tightening turned out to be spot on. I wonder if over torquing these has anything to do with some of the cracks the community has been seeing along the bottom, or in the plastic mounting plate.

Confession: I don't have a torque wrench. So far, I've used both metric "that-oughta-hold" and SAE "good'n'tight." Guess I'll have to get down to Lowe's. I'd appreciate recommendations.

BostonBadlands

Confession: I don't have a torque wrench. So far, I've used both metric "that-oughta-hold" and SAE "good'n'tight." Guess I'll have to get down to Lowe's. I'd appreciate recommendations.

I‘ve never had a torque wrench and not sure how to use! 😂. Guess I’m making a trip to Lowes or O’reilly’s as well.

BroncoFred

I‘ve never had a torque wrench and not sure how to use! 😂. Guess I’m making a trip to Lowes or O’reilly’s as well.

The Craftsman I own has a handle you just turn until it lines up with the desired torque line. Then you just use it like a ratchet, and the head will click when you achieve the desired torque.

Thanks I get installed 8.

RagnarKon

It's published in the manual. 😛

I have used a torque wrench before (mainly on my bike) and am familiar with NM but what does 20+- 3nm mean? Does that mean between 17 and 23 nm or 3nm, sorry I am confused?

miles813

I have used a torque wrench before (mainly on my bike) and am familiar with NM but what does 20+- 3nm mean? Does that mean between 17 and 23 nm or 3nm, sorry I am confused?

Plus or minus 2lb is how I read that.

miles813

I have used a torque wrench before (mainly on my bike) and am familiar with NM but what does 20+- 3nm mean? Does that mean between 17 and 23 nm or 3nm, sorry I am confused?

It’s a range, @Sulley nailed it.

20 ± 3 NM means anywhere between 17 NM and 23 NM with 20 NM being ideal.

And while we’re talking about it… for those who don’t know NM is newton-meters… which is the metric unit of measurement for torque. Ford uses metric on all of their vehicles.

And for the Canadians among us lb.ft is pound-feet. Which is the ‘merica unit for torque. You’ll often see many of us say “foot pounds” instead of “pound feet” when talking about torque even though technically foot-pounds is a unit of work similar to a joule and not a unit of torque. But… ya know… ‘MERICA!!! and all that. 😎

Sulley

Plus or minus 2lb is how I read that.

RagnarKon

It’s a range, @Sulley nailed it.

20 ± 3 NM means anywhere between 17 NM and 23 NM with 20 NM being ideal.

And while we’re talking about it… for those who don’t know NM is newton-meters… which is the metric unit of measurement for torque. Ford uses metric on all of their vehicles.

And for the Canadians among us lb.ft is pound-feet. Which is the ‘merica unit for torque. You’ll often see many of us say “foot pounds” instead of “pound feet” when talking about torque even though technically foot-pounds is a unit of work similar to a joule and not a unit of torque. But… ya know… ‘MERICA!!! and all that. 😎

Thank you for the explanation gentlemen.