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Hyundai service manual for strut assembly reverse installation states: "Tighten with specifed torque at curb position of vehicle"

What is curb position? Is this the same as curb weight?

I was looking into changing out the struts on a 2015 Hyundai Accent and noticed this caution note at the bottom of the procedure.

If this is referring to curb weight, does this mean tighten the bolts, then put the weight of the vehicle on the axle, and then torque to specification? And is this for all bolts (axle mount, and upper mount in engine bay)?

If so, what's the best way to accomplish this without the wheel on?

Also, what is the reason for this? Just to better understand.

Here is a link to the procedure I'm using: manual

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  • Welcome to Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair!
    – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦
    Apr 23, 2020 at 13:56

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This means that the final torqued setting has to be done with the vehicle sitting on its wheels so the suspension is in the "normal" position. So this can be on the pavement or when on a ramp but the mass of the vehicle must be taken by the wheels.

If you tighten the bolts/nuts with the suspension "hanging down" then the rubber bushes end up "stretched when the suspension takes the mass of the vehicle and stretched even more when the suspension flexes which leads to premature failure.

To avoid confusion for some, the type of ramp I am referring to is shown in the image: enter image description here

These are common in some countries and also used for vehicle testing in many establishments. These ramps are installed with the metal surfaces where the wheels go level, which is useful as trying to find apiece of perfectly level ground can often be a challenge, even a concrete driveway is usually constructed with a slight slope to promote drainage.

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  • Unless I misunderstand what you've written, the vehicle should be on level ground when doing this, not on a ramp. If on a ramp, the center of gravity will change, which will change how the bushings/springs are loaded, which will cause undue wear on them during use, which is what you are trying to prevent in the first place.
    – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦
    Apr 23, 2020 at 13:55
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    @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 There are ramps of many styles, ramps with two metal wide rails are suitable, as the wheels take the mass of the vehicle. Ramps which have swinging arms which have pads used on the jacking points are not suitable as that means the mass of the vehicle is not supported by the wheels...
    – Solar Mike
    Apr 23, 2020 at 14:02
  • Yes, what you are calling "ramps" I'd refer to as a "lift", which works completely fine for what I'm talking about. The vehicle is level, so all is good. And, you're right about a slight incline, which won't make much of a difference. I'm talking about having the front wheels a foot higher than compared to the back wheels, or visa-versa.
    – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦
    Apr 23, 2020 at 14:14
  • @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 The phrase "put it on the ramp" is so often used, when post lift, scissor lift etc would be the correct technical term...
    – Solar Mike
    Apr 23, 2020 at 14:17
  • The phrase "put it on the ramp" is common where you are from ... not from where I'm from. This is local color and semantics, but to me a ramp is a ramp. A lift is a lift.
    – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦
    Apr 23, 2020 at 14:20

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