Lug nuts

[kingbee]

Is there a suggested torque value for them? I thought I read 60-65 ft.lb.
TIA. Walt

 

[Joe K]

I think like your current production automobile, the best torque is the one you can undo with the lugwrench by hand.

Use a lubricant (Neverseeze) if you want, but tighten only tight enough by hand so you can remove them by hand if need be (by the side of the road.)

Heh. I once made the mistake on my VW TDI of using the pneumatic impact wrench to put the lugnuts on instead of doing it with a hand wrench. This even with the impact driver set at "minimum" setting like "1" or "0" according to the setting lever on the side.

I was SO proud of myself. Just like the big boys at the Datona 500 or even the local garage. Brrap-brrap-brrap-brrap-brrap. So fast. So easy.

A week or so later I had reason to remove one of those wheels - even the impact wrench set at MAXIMUM would not remove it.

I ended up over at the local farm where the owner let me borrow his 1" drive 900 ft-lbs impact wrench (The one he uses on the farm tractor) to get the lugnuts off.

This is what happens when an aluminum wheel "galls" between the lugnut and the wheel.

Fortunately for me no harm done to the wheel. Henceforth, I may use the impact wrench to speed up putting on the lugnuts - but they all get tightened (and confirmed removable) at the last by hand.

Joe K

 

[Purdy Swoft]

I just use the hand crank-lug wrench. Brattons says 50-55 ft lbs. About the only thing that I use the torque wrench for on my model A's is the head nuts and bearing caps with caution. You've got to be carefull and just use common sense. I've found a lot of advertised torque settings to be way too high.

 

[CarlG]

I just use the hand crank-lug wrench. Brattons says 50-55 ft lbs. About the only thing that I use the torque wrench for on my model A's is the head nuts and bearing caps with caution. You've got to be carefull and just use common sense. I've found a lot of advertised torque settings to be way too high.

Especially the ones for the manifold nuts and the pan bolts.

 

[Kevin in NJ]

Use the original crank and pull up with your legs.

Plus or minus a freckle you will have the correct torque.

(Yes, I am serious with this)

 

[CT AV8]

Stick with the 50 to 55 foot pounds. If you ram them on with a four-way the way we used to do with 50's cars, you will absolutely strip the the threads off the lug bolts. Don't ask me how I know,

 

[kingbee]

Thanks, guys. With 2 cars with dual side mounts, rotating the tires, servicing the brakes on these drivers has become too much for my COPD. I'm going to order a 55 ft lb torque stick for my impact driver, which should help immensely.