When putting on wheels...

[Dan M]

How much do I need to worry about tightening them too much?

My Dad got an air ratchet for Father's day and I would love to take off my wheels to give em a good cleaning.

[Only4U]

don't worry about that at all...get them as tight as you can without putting UNGODLY amounts of force into it. if ya want you can even get a torque wrench and put about 100 ft lbs on them...but i take my wheels off all the time just to do random things (CAI, polish brake calipers, fix crack in car, replace splash guard--what's funny is, those are all behind the same tire heh). anyway, i wouldn't worry about it just follow this little diagram (if it works when i'm done) when tightening them to get the best torque out of it.

1
3 4
5 2

ok, so it's not the best diagram...but just make sure you tighten the one across from the last one you tightened every time.

oh god, that diagram sux

[ July 10, 2002: Message edited by: Only4U ]</p>

[Andy H]

I have an air impact I use to take my wheels off. When I put them back on I use the impact to snug them up and then I use a torque wrench to tighten. If you are using an air ratchet I don’t think you need to worry about over tightening. Most air ratchets don’t have enough torque to over tighten them.

[Dominic]

You should never use an air ratchet to tighten wheels - totally improper from a mechanical standpoint.

Invest in a torque wrench, when you goto snug up the bolts do it to 100ftbs per bolt and do them all equal.

[Dan M]

Alrighty, what kind of torque wrench do I need? I bought one once but took it back cause I didn't need it. When I was at the store, there were two kinds... I think I got the wrong one anyway.

[V6Bob]

Tightening wheel lugs right on our cars is important because you can easily warp the brake discs if you do it wrong. Right is threads in good condition, no lubricant, tightening in a pattern as explained above, and 100 ft-lbs, using a torque wrench.

There are three common kinds of torque wrenches. "Beam" - has a long external pointer and dial. Cheap, pretty reliable, less convenient. "Clicker" - Twist a dial to set torque, wrench yields a little and clicks when you get there. Very convenient. The most fragile - can go out of adjustment over time and you never know unless you calibrate periodically (which not many bother to do.) "Dial" - has a small dial and an internal pointer. Most expensive, pretty reliable. Less convenient, but can be OK if the dial has a follow on pointer to show max torque reached.

Most people get clickers. I like beams for cheap and dials for best. Never owned a clicker.

A torque wrench is also needed for critical suspension bolts like lcas and panhards.

[pgriffith]

Get a ft. pounds TQ wrench. I think the other kind you are talking about is measured in inch pounds. Just make sure its foot pounds and your all set. I would tq them to about 90 ft. #'s.

[Dan M]

Great, thanks, I'll have to check out autozone's selection. All I need to do is find a decent place to jack the car up... it's hard with a rock driveway.

[MustangEater8251]

also do not forget to do the 5-star pattern tightening order.

don't overtorque, i ofund out it is possible to break a lug with a wrnech, the hard way.

[Dominic]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by pgriffith:
Get a ft. pounds TQ wrench. I think the other kind you are talking about is measured in inch pounds. Just make sure its foot pounds and your all set. I would tq them to about 90 ft. #'s.<hr></blockquote>

Our owners manual says 100ftlbs, so I torque mine to 100ftlbs.

On steel wheels I normally go 120ftlbs since they don't bend/flex and can't be damaged by overtorquing unless you go incredible hulk on the things :D