Tightening lug nuts?

[hihoslvr]

Hello all

I am wondering about the proper way to tighten alloy lug nuts on my early fuchs. Is there a proper torque setting as well?

Thanks!

Jeff
68 911 targa

[Clark Griswald]

93 ft lbs.

criss-cross pattern.

[Jim Sims]

Also use a "soft" socket: an aluminum one or a steel one with a plastic insert. Jim

[Jdub]

Many will tighten to around 50ft/lb, then go to the final torque from there.

A deep socket, protected, is your best bet for full contact. Shorter sockets can break the nut at mid point, leaving you to chisel what is left of the nut.

John

[ras911]

1 - 3 - 5 - 2 - 4 Tighten, then the same pattern With the torque wrench to final spec ( I think 94-96 is generally recommended) Check manual for exact spec.

[tmctguer]

i use a "star" tightening pattern at 95 ft lbs. when i'm done, i check each nut IN SEQUENCE, not the star pattern, just to make sure i didn't miss one when i was criss-crossing.

very important to double check, in my opinion.

[beepbeep]

And remeber that lubricating the nuts with anti-sieze will lower required torque somewhat.

[Britwrench]

Porsche recommended torque setting is with their approved anti-seize on the cone of the nut and threads.

On 17" and 18" wheels should be torqued with the weight off the wheels (car raised).

[pbs911]

If you need a torque wrench Harbor Freight has a pretty good one on sale for the lugs. I just picked one up for $11.00. This is in addtion to my craftsmans torque wrench. If you only use it for the lugs, $11.00 is still worth it.

[89911]

How accurate can an $11 torque wrench be? That seems unsafely cheap. I have doubts that my Craftsman wrench is all that accurate when professional ones go for a few hundred.

[91C2wrencher]

I've always "set" the lugs with tire off the ground, then lower the jack so the tire is just touching ground enough to prevent rotation and procede with star pattern @95 ft/lb, then lower the jack and do a once around the lugs to check. carelessly or incorrectly torqued lugs can cause all sorts of unwanted results. and yes I use a anti-sieze compound to help ensure accurate torque and prevent dis-similar metals corrosion.

[Planter91C2]

Originally posted by 89911
How accurate can an $11 torque wrench be? That seems unsafely cheap. I have doubts that my Craftsman wrench is all that accurate when professional ones go for a few hundred.

i have that harborfreight torque wrench, it is o.k.

in fact a member here also has one who got it tested by a tool truck and it was very accurate (sorry forgot who).

i wouldn't be afraid of this cheap torque wrench as it seem like a very simple mechanism.

also, i take a very thin rag and put it over the lug so it seats between the lug and socket as to not scratch them. it works good.

[Early_S_Man]

Without a doubt, the best 'soft' socket for alloy lug nuts is the Stoddard T52.508.300 Forged Aluminum Socket!

Per the factory service manual, 94.0 lb-ft is the correct torque setting. Bentley has 94 lb-ft some places, and 96 lb-ft in others, but the 96 is a typo!

[Superman]

I have three Harbor Freight (Pittsburgh) torque wrenches, 1/4" that measures inch-pounds, 3/8" and 1/2" that goes to 150 lb ft. I had them tested at the same place the local airplane mechanics have theirs tested. All three were within aircraft spec. One, barely. Aircraft spec is +/- 4%.

[pbs911]

Originally posted by 89911
How accurate can an $11 torque wrench be? That seems unsafely cheap. I have doubts that my Craftsman wrench is all that accurate when professional ones go for a few hundred.

I tested the accuracy of teh 11.00 Harbor Freight torque wrench with my craftsman $100.00 torque wrench. While the craftsman only goes to 80 lbs, the Harbor Freight was very accurate. Considering the only thing I will torque with the 11.00 wrench is my lug nuts, I feel very comfortable. Especially since I do not have t ospend another $100 just to tighten the lugs!

[Superman]

Here's another shocker for some of you guys. I'm going to put my engine together with those harbor Freight torque wrenches that meet aircraft spec. I've seen threads where folks talk pretty emphatically about torque criticalness and I think this can be taken a bit too far.

Why, in my day Sunny, we us'ta put 'em together with breaker bars. Then there were those needle style torque wrenches. Those were the cool when my car was designed. So, my point is that specifications on fasteners allow for a bit more leeway than we seem to sometimes think. Of course, with alloy lug nuts this measurement is particularly critical, but if you're within 15 lb/ft one way or the other, you'll be fine, particularly if they are all relatively even.

I'm going to torque rod bolts down to factory spec with my Harbor Freight torque wrench and I'm not going to worry about them at all.