What should i torque lug nuts to

Well that is not the right way to do it. You see, these air impact wrenches have grown in power over the years.

Back in the day, many many years ago, if they produced ft-lbs, it was a powerful wrench. Well today, some of these are 12 or 13 hundred ft-lbs, and the average is eight to nine hundred ft-lbs of torque. And when you look at that, and realize that the average torque required on a lug nut, to hold the wheel on, is 80 to 90 ft-lbs, well you can imagine how over-tightened some of these lug nuts are. You should torque your car's lug nuts in as much of a star pattern as you can, that is, bottom right, top left, etc.

This helps to secure the wheel onto the car, preventing wheel tilting. Lug nut torquing is expressed in foot-pounds. Any dirt, grim, or metal chips sitting on the threads can interfere with accurate torquing.

You also don't want to lubricate the threads, or use any type of rust-proofing, as this will also prevent a proper mechanical connection between the lug nut and the threads. Next, use the right tools. Power impact wrenches and torque sticks are great for removing lug nuts, but you don't want to use them to put them back on again because there's simply no way to fine tune the amount of torque they're applying. Attach each lug nut by hand, and then use a manual torque wrench to tighten until you hear the 'click' sound that indicates you've reached the right amount of torque.

The number—usually in the lb-ft range—should be easy to locate in your vehicle's owner's manual. The pattern in which you tighten the lugs also makes a difference. The most common sequence is to move in a 'star' pattern on a 5-lug setup—start with a top-corner lug, and then move diagonally across until each lug has been tightened. On 4-lug wheels, move diagonally for the first bolt, then across, then diagonally again. For 6-lug wheels, you'll want to start horizontally with the bolt that's directly across, then move diagonally, then horizontally again, horizontally a second time, then a final diagonal.

Using these patterns properly seats the rim against the hub while you apply torque and allows for the most accurate application of tightening force. You might be surprised to learn that torquing new wheels once isn't enough. The optimum torque value for your car or mounted rims can be found in the vehicle manual.

It depends on the car model, rim size, design aluminium or steel rims and number of bolts. If you change the rims on your car, you will find the new torque values in the rim certificate.

The rim certificate is issued by the manufacturer. It confirms that the rims have been tested and approved by the relevant authority. If you do not have the car manual to hand right now, it is worth taking a look at our torque chart. If you are retrofitting: Remember to have your new rim size entered in the vehicle registration document. This means that you will have to take the wheel rim certificate with you to your next vehicle safety inspection.

Check the seating of your wheel nuts and adjust if necessary, whether after a tyre change or before a long journey. We will explain how to tighten your wheel nuts:. Step 1: Put your car into first gear and then apply the handbrake.

Have the torque wrench ready. Step 3: Tighten the wheel bolts one after the other in a criss-cross pattern. Turn the torque wrench clockwise. Step 4: Loosen the torque wrench so that the spring does not slacken and the torque value settings remain correct for the future..