wheel nut torque

[dayle1]

I'm rotating tires for the 1st time and the owners manual states the the lug nuts should be tightened to 140lb-ft.  Is this correct for the factory aluminum wheels?  I put a torque wrench on several of them and they came loose easily with less than 100lb-ft.  If 140 is correct for the aluminum wheels, then I need a new torque wrench today since mine only goes to 100lb-ft.  Thanks for any feedback.

[2001 HD]

Yep dayle1, your gonna need a torque wrench. #140. Good time to invest in one. Sears probably has a Craftsmsn on sale for fathers day!

[WEFs99]

Home Depot, Lowes and Craftsman all have good torque wrenches and priced about the same. The Sears wrench does NOT have the ''Guaranteed forever" that other Craftsman tools have.  Whichever one you get, be sure to always reset it to zero when you're done.

[MountaineerTom]

And don't drop them, or bang them around too much.  

[westex39]

I've always used a 100 ft/lbs.  Never had any trouble.  Older pickups  (back in the 80's) were a 100 ft/lbs.  I don't know why they changed.  

One other thing you need to do with a torque wrench.  If it has been stored for a long time and the lowest setting, you should set it to the setting your going to use and exercize it prior to use.  I lock the square drive in a vise to do this.  This is to help it give more accurate readings on the first torque.

[siume99]

Home Depot, Lowes and Craftsman all have good torque wrenches and priced about the same. The Sears wrench does NOT have the ''Guaranteed forever" that other Craftsman tools have.  Whichever one you get, be sure to always reset it to zero when you're done.

The only Craftsman torque wrenches that carry the "Lifetime Guarantee" are the $20 bar or beam wrenches.  Draw back to these are that you must be able to see the scale for the measurement (no click).

 

Oops, I just checked their webpage and they mention a 90day warranty on at least the bar torque wrench.  I worked there about 3 months ago and the packages said "lifetime" on them.  I need to ask the manager about this.

[ClipperSkipper]

It really depends on the size of the stud, and the nut.

I use a 'torque stick' on my impact wrench

which stops tightening at the torque indicated.

The set is made by "Accutorque" and is available at NAPA.

Hope that this helps,

 

David

[95Yukon]

When I did mechanic work we used a general rule of thumb: on cars (smaller studs) 80 ft lbs for steel wheels, and 100 for aluminum. Trucks torqued at 100 for steel and 120 for aluminum. If you have a manual with torque specs, go with those. If you have aluminum wheels, you should always check and re-torque them after a hundred miles or so, as they tend to "settle in" and can loosen up if they aren't checked after they have been removed. The steel wheels have a little flex which takes up any slack when they are torqued so they tend to stay tight without rechecking them. The torque sticks are good if you have air tools, and fairly accurate. You should always torque lugs and do them evenly or you can warp a rotor pretty easily.

[Beaux Duke]

I have the aluminum rims also.  I'm not so sure I'd go with the 140 ft lbs.  Mine lug nuts came off easily too.  And when I was reinstalling them I had one stud break off.  I went back and retorqued them all to 120.  Not what the manual says but I don't like replacing wheel studs.

 

My torque wrench is old but it's a "clicker" Craftsman and has never been abused.

 

Good luck

Beaux

[obyone]

Craftsman? I have a 100# (3/8" drive) and a 200# (1/2" drive) Snap On torque wrenches. Set mines at 120#.