tightening wheel nuts....

FAQ · 09-18-2007, 12:50 PM

I usually let the wheel touch the ground a little bit so the tire won't turn when I tighten the wheel nuts. But I saw the mechanic using a torque wrench to tighten the wheel nuts in a garage with the vehicle on the hoist.

Now I bought a torque wrench. The question is that should I let the wheel touch the ground or not? Or it doesn't matter.

Thanks.

damen · 09-18-2007, 12:55 PM

personally I let it touch the ground just a little bit - even with a torque wrench you can wind up spinning it (unless you got an impact wrench, anyway)

FAQ · 09-18-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damen

personally I let it touch the ground just a little bit - even with a torque wrench you can wind up spinning it (unless you got an impact wrench, anyway)

ok. Thanks.

**Midnight Tech** · 09-18-2007, 06:20 PM

Torque wrench or impact wrench?

**jaggerwild** · 09-18-2007, 07:45 PM

They have adaptor's for the impact wrench called "torque sticks" that work good too. there different colors for different cars.......

**Midnight Tech** · 09-18-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaggerwild

They have adapters for the impact wrench called "torque sticks" that work good too. there different colors for different cars.......

I was thinking the same thing if he had an impact wrench...with those, there's no reason to overtorque lug nuts.
I have shops hand-tighten lug nuts with an actual torque wrench for the simple fact I don't want to be stuck on the side of the road and unable to get the darn things off.

FAQ, let it touch the ground just enough to keep it from spinning....too much and it won't sit properly against the hub surface and may throw off the torque specs.

FAQ · 09-18-2007, 08:49 PM

Thanks guys. It is not an impact wrench. It is a simple needle type torque wrench that can tell me approximately 100 ft-lb.

**Midnight Tech** · 09-18-2007, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAQ

Thanks guys. It is not an impact wrench. It is a simple needle type torque wrench that can tell me approximately 100 ft-lb.

Best way to tighten lugs! Keep it stored in a safe place so it doesn't get out of adjustment.

stoonaad · 09-20-2007, 09:00 AM

Jack the car high enough to get the new tire on.
With the new tire on hold it so you can HAND tighten the lug nuts.
Take your torgue wrench and finish setting the lug nuts so they are snug.
Let the car down on the tire and torgue to specs,

FAQ · 09-21-2007, 03:56 PM

"Let the car down on the tire and torgue to specs"

Let the tire just touch the ground so it won't turn or let the car down on the tire completely?

**Midnight Tech** · 09-21-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnight Tech

FAQ, let it touch the ground just enough to keep it from spinning....too much and it won't sit properly against the hub surface and may throw off the torque specs.

All the way down is too much.

FAQ · 09-21-2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnight Tech

All the way down is too much.

Got it, thanks.

09-18-2007, 12:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
FAQ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 106 OS: xp	tightening wheel nuts.... I usually let the wheel touch the ground a little bit so the tire won't turn when I tighten the wheel nuts. But I saw the mechanic using a torque wrench to tighten the wheel nuts in a garage with the vehicle on the hoist. Now I bought a torque wrench. The question is that should I let the wheel touch the ground or not? Or it doesn't matter. Thanks.

09-18-2007, 12:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
damen TSF Supporter "I helped the forums" Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 66 OS: Vista Ultimate 64bit, 2003 Enterprise Server, XP Pro x64	Re: tightening wheel nuts.... personally I let it touch the ground just a little bit - even with a torque wrench you can wind up spinning it (unless you got an impact wrench, anyway) __________________ Damen Knight MCSE/MCSA/MCP, Security+

09-18-2007, 06:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Midnight Tech Admin/Head GreaseMonkey/Igor's alter ego/Grand Exalted PoohBah Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SC Posts: 2,921 OS: Windows XP Home/Pro SP3/Windows 98SE/Fedora Core 6/RH 7.2 with Autopoint/TAMS II	Re: tightening wheel nuts.... Torque wrench or impact wrench? __________________ Please post all questions in the appropriate forum. Questions sent by email or PM will not be answered. Sharing my life...with my Imzadi! Interested in Trek gaming? Check out the Dynaverse! Proud supporter of the Carolinas Aviation Museum. If we have helped you in any way, please donate to keep TSF up and running!

09-18-2007, 07:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
jaggerwild TSF Gearhead (Audio) Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 843 OS: Windows XP32 bit/Vista HB 64bit My System	Re: tightening wheel nuts.... They have adaptor's for the impact wrench called "torque sticks" that work good too. there different colors for different cars....... __________________ Please if you need help, start a new thread with questions only after reading the first few sticky's up top. http://www.techsupportforum.com/auto...ter/car-audio/ A Link for Viper alarm owners http://www.directed.com/Support/Prod...es/Owners.aspx

09-18-2007, 08:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
FAQ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 106 OS: xp	Re: tightening wheel nuts.... Thanks guys. It is not an impact wrench. It is a simple needle type torque wrench that can tell me approximately 100 ft-lb.

09-20-2007, 09:00 AM	#9 (permalink)
stoonaad Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1 OS: XP PRO	Re: tightening wheel nuts.... Jack the car high enough to get the new tire on. With the new tire on hold it so you can HAND tighten the lug nuts. Take your torgue wrench and finish setting the lug nuts so they are snug. Let the car down on the tire and torgue to specs,

09-21-2007, 03:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
FAQ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 106 OS: xp	Re: tightening wheel nuts.... "Let the car down on the tire and torgue to specs" Let the tire just touch the ground so it won't turn or let the car down on the tire completely?