Aluminum lug nuts

[JonA]

My manual says the lug nuts should be torqued to 94-96 ft.lb. and old posts here confirm this number.
I look at those delicate little aluminum things and my intuition says no way.......
Are the factory aluminum lug nuts on factory phone dials really supposed to be torqued to 94-96 ft.lb.?

Jon
87 924S

[ERAU944]

yes sir, i have torqued to this many times with no problems at all... in fact i'm sure in their previous lives my car's lugs have probably been tightened way more than that by stupid mechanics with air ratchets... booo!!!!

torque 'em up!

[ERAU944]

oh, also, it does help to use a bit of never-seize on the lug bolts, as my local p-car mechanic (and neighbor) do this and it is a cheap and effective way to assure that they will not bond to the steel (dissimilar metal style).

happy driving!

[bearone2]

wd40 does the same thing

[Dantilla]

A touch of never-seize lasts for years.

My aluminum lug nuts are torqued on a regular basis, as I switch from street tires to race tires, to rain tires and back again.

They're very durable.

[Razorback1980]

I agree with the never-seize. I thought just like you at first. Torque -em they will hold up.

[Zero10]

I keep the threads as clean and dry as possible. Antisieze tends to attract dust, just like WD-40. I cleaned my lug nuts in a parts washer, brushed them out as well as I could, then cleaned the studs. You can give the lug nuts a spin, and they will spin another 1-2 turns after you let go. I think that's as good as they get. In the past I tried anti-sieze and wd-40, and they both just started to gum up after a few wheel changes.

As for the torque value, they feel too delicate for nearly 100lb/ft, but yet they take it like a champ

[JonA]

Thanks guys, I'll set them to spec......

Jon

[hpaulb]

Past experience with dozens of cars results in the conclusion that, never use an oil or WD40 unless your trying to get something off and always use anti-size compound on everything you put together from engine bolts to fender bolts. The thick substance stays soft and fills the gaps so water or air can't get in. Therefore no corrosion that binds. That's what it's designed for. Kind of the same reason thread locker is used. Only difference is removable easily or hard respectively.

[Razorback1980]

Zero has a good point...I do use anti-seize like Paul, but I also clean mine every time I take them off before I reapply the anti-seize again. You definitely don't want them to be sticky in any way or the torque reading will not be correct.