Buick Century 1982-1996 Body & Frame Bolt Torque Specifications

Correct torque is crucial to ensure proper clamping force. Under-torquing can cause bolts to loosen over time, leading to rattles, misalignment of body panels, and potentially dangerous situations. Over-torquing can stretch or break bolts, damage threads, and deform the body structure, which could lead to expensive repairs.

Over-tightening can cause several problems. You risk stripping the threads in the body panel or the bolt itself, requiring repairs like thread chasing or inserting a heli-coil. It can also deform the surrounding metal, leading to body panel misalignment or even cracking. Additionally, the bolt may be stretched beyond its yield point, becoming weakened and more prone to failure.

Generally, body bolts can be reused if they are in good condition, meaning no stripped threads, rust, or evidence of damage. However, it’s a good practice to replace self-locking or torque-to-yield bolts, if any are present in a specific application. If you are unsure of the condition of the bolts or are undertaking significant repairs such as collision work, replacing them is recommended for safety.

While not always critical for every single body bolt, a sequence is recommended when tightening multiple bolts on a panel to prevent distortion. Typically, a criss-cross pattern or working from the center outwards is advised for better panel alignment and even torque distribution. For example, when mounting a door hinge, start with the middle bolts and then the outer ones in a alternating manner to get a uniform clamping.

Typically, body bolts on the Buick Century do not require a thread locking compound unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer or if they are known to work loose. If you are experiencing a situation where the bolts loosen regularly, a light strength thread locker can be used in such a situation, but ensure to reduce torque specifications to compensate for the added friction if doing so.