Re: [DML] A TABs HOW-TO?

["tmpintnl" <tobyp@xxxx>]

Hank - Here's a brief snapshot of the process to get a quick look at 
the TAB's to make sure that they at least *appear* to be secure. 
Naturally, the only way to know for sure is to remove them, and 
examine them very carefully for signs of cracking, corrosion, etc. 
(If you take them out for a good look, you might as well install a set 
of TOBY-TAB's back in, and be done with it - subtle plug :-) ) Put 
the car up on ramps or jacks. Remove the sheet metal shields from the 
area on both sides. The studs can sometimes spin while trying to take 
the nuts off, so it may take two people to do this step. Examine the 
trailing arm joint common to the frame for signs of obvious distress, 
such as bent parts (frame members, trailing arm, etc.). Grab the shims 
and try to move them around the bolt shank itself. If the bolt is 
tight, you can't move the shims ... if the bolt has come even a little 
loose, you can rotate the shims rather easily. With a rachet and 
socket on the head of the bolt, rotate the bolt in a clockwise 
direction, and observe the shims carefully. If the bolt is bent, the 
shims will appear to move up and down when the bolt is turning. I say 
clockwise because you don't want to accidentally loosen the bolt while 
inspecting it. Inspect the two small bolts that attach the rubber 
bushing plate to the frame. The bolts must be secure. I have seen 
these shear off and/or fall out. This allows some movement in the 
joint, but is not as catastrophic as a brokem bolt can be because of 
the retention of the large flat washers on each side of the joint. If 
all appears well, check the torque on the TAB using a torque wrench, 
with a box-end wrench on the other end. You will probably have to 
check the torque on the head of the bolt, unless you have a 
low-profile torque wrench. Set the wrench to 50 - 55 ft-lbs. You may 
get a slight rotation of the assembly due to wear on the flat washers 
or the steel sleeves in the joint. Once you are satisfied with the 
inspection, put the shields back on in reverse order, and away you go.

Toby Peterson VIN 2248
Winged1 

-- In dmcnews@xxxx, "Hank Eskin" <heskin@xxxx> wrote:
> could someone provide a "TABs for Dummies"
> step-by-step explanation on how to check them?