Bilstein has a video on YouTube showing how to replace a rear Bilstein air shock in an X350:


At 8 minutes 5 seconds, it says, "Using the specified torque, tighten all threaded connections loosened during the replacement process to the manufacturers specification."
This includes at least:
- the nuts on the suspension strut tower [the 4 nuts inside the trunk]
- the compressed air line on the suspension strut [also inside the trunk]
- the compressed air line on the air shock
- the bolt securing the rear tie rod
- the bolt that attaches the air shock to the lower control arm
- the bolt that attaches the suspension strut to the lower control arm (is this the same thing?)

Can anyone tell me what the shop manual gives as the specified torques for these?

[I'm using Miessler air shocks, but assume the torques should all be the same.]

 

To answer my own question, this is from the X350 shop manual, section 3, Chassis, 204-05 : Vehicle Dynamic Suspension:

Torque Specifications

Description_______________________________________ _____Nm__ lb-ft__ lb-in
Compressor to body retaining nuts______________________20____ 15______-
Reservoir to body retaining nuts________________________7______-______62
Solenoid valve block to reservoir retaining nuts________5______-______44
Air pipes_____________________________________________ _ 5______-______44
Air suspension module to body retaining nuts____________4______-______35
Front height sensors retaining bolts__________________ 20____ 15______-
Front height sensor to bracket retaining bolts__________5______-______44
Rear height sensors retaining bolts____________________20____ 15______-
Front vertical accelerometer to body retaining nuts____ 4______-______35
Rear vertical accelerometer to body retaining nuts______4______-______35
Front air spring to body upper retaining nuts__________25____ 18______-
Front suspension upper arm retaining nut______________ 90____ 66______-
Front air spring assembly to lower arm retaining bolt 175____129______-
Rear air spring to body upper retaining nuts__________ 25____ 18______-
Rear air spring assembly to lower arm retaining bolt__133____ 98______-
Compressor air pipe retaining nut______________________ 2______-______18

(I reformatted this table for a monospace font. The ___ are because the website strips all double spaces from text. WHY??? Oh well.)

But the procedure also requires values from the suspension specs:

204-01: Front Suspension:
Steering gear to subframe retaining bolts______________ 100 74 -
Stabilizer bar link retaining nut________________________43 32 -
Stabilizer bar link retaining nut and bolt______________ 70 52 -
Stabilizer bar clamp retaining bolts____________________ 55 41 -
Rear lower arm ball joint retaining nut__________________92 68 -
Front & rear lower arm to subframe retaining nut & bolt 175 129 -
Front lower arm to rear lower arm retaining nut & bolt__ A__A__A
Upper arm ball joint retaining nut______________________ 90 66 -
Upper arm to body retaining nuts and bolts______________ 47 35 -
Air spring assembly to lower arm retaining bolt________ 175 129 -
Tie-rod end to wheel knuckle retaining nut______________ 75 55 -
Wheel hub & bearing to wheel knuckle retaining bolts____ 90 66 -
Exhaust manifold to cylinder head retaining nuts (3.01 only) 20 15 -
Dipstick tube retaining bolt____________________________10 7 -
Engine mount lower retaining nut________________________55 41 -
Front subframe front retaining bolt____________________200 148 -
Front subframe rear retaining bolt____________________ 115 85 -
Wheel and tire retaining nuts__________________________125 92 -
Hydraulic control unit retaining bolts__________________ 9 - 80

A = refer to the procedure for the correct torque sequence - - -

204-02: Rear suspension:
Tie rod outer bolt______________________________________ 55 41
Lower arm inner bolts__________________________________ 163 120 -
Lower arm outer bolt____________________________________175* 129 -
Upper arm ball joint nut________________________________ 90 66 -
Upper arm inner bolts____________________________________98 72 -
Shock absorber upper ixing nuts__________________________28 21 -
Lower shock absorber bolt______________________________ 133 98 -
Shock absorber top mounting nut without adaptive damping 50 37 -
Shock absorber top mounting nut with adaptive damping____27 20 -
Stabilizer bar__________________________________________ 55 41 -
Stabilizer link mounting nuts____________________________48 35 -
Wheel hub nut__________________________________________ 300 221

Unfortunately, the same specs are sometimes different in different tables.
For instance, "Rear air spring to body upper retaining nuts" is 25 Nm, 18 lb-ft in the first table,
while in "Rear suspension" it's divided into
"Shock absorber top mounting nut wi adaptive damping", 27 Nm, 20 lb-ft
"Shock absorber top mounting nut without adaptive damping", 50 Nm, 37 lb-ft.

 

Sticky this!!!! (If it isn't already... I didn't look.)

The vinyl tube trick is genius!

 

At the beginning of each section in the factory repair manual is a Specifications page. There you will find all specifications, including torque specs for fasteners.
John

 

My "STICKY THIS" reply is in the wrong thread! Ignore me here!

 

Thank you for this detailed writeup.

Anyone In the L.A. area have a coilover replacement setup?
Am considering for my XJR, but given how much is involved, would really want to feel if what I would be giving up is worth it. I've already rebuilt the air suspension, yet want a more spirited driving set up.