Author Topic: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!  (Read 3998 times)

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Offline GrantC

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Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« on: April 21, 2009, 10:13:38 am »
This is straight from the Subaru Service manual hosted in the Tech Docs area.



65.7ft/lbs!

Approximately 66 ft/lbs, that's it.  No need to go for 80, 90, or even the impact gun "round number" of 100ft/lbs...

Offline lh0628

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2009, 10:25:39 am »
66 ft-lb is a lot of torque!!

Offline GrantC

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2009, 10:28:02 am »
66 ft-lb is a lot of torque!!

Yes, but it's less than the ~80ft/lbs I've heard mentioned...  I figured I'd let people know what to set their shiny new torque wrenches to.  ;)

Offline LilDrunkenSmurf

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2009, 04:28:12 pm »
My manual says between 65 to 72.. I've been using 75..

I'm gonna de-torque them haha.
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Offline TWRC

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2009, 04:31:35 pm »
I've been using 72ft lbs.

Offline skylineguv

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2009, 07:59:23 pm »
I've been using 72ft lbs.
Likewise. I'd always used 75ft lbs as a good go by, but have stuck to 72 on the Subaru....so far anyway.

Offline Airboy

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2009, 09:26:30 pm »
This somewhat OT but I just bought a Torque Wrench (MasterCraft Maximum) and it seems really easy to make it "click" at 65ft-lb while putting the wheels on the other day.  Is there a simple/effective way to check the accuracy of the torque settings?

Gain 50 ft-lbs, ask me how! :-)

Offline bejamin

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2009, 09:35:23 pm »
I do mine to 75 and it feels really easy too, i figure it's just because the torque wrench has a lot of leverage.
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Offline mars636

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2009, 09:38:54 pm »
This somewhat OT but I just bought a Torque Wrench (MasterCraft Maximum) and it seems really easy to make it "click" at 65ft-lb while putting the wheels on the other day.  Is there a simple/effective way to check the accuracy of the torque settings?
Sunny do you have the 3/4 " drive.  They are real long and you have a lot of leverage so it does not seem like it is that tight  I thought the same with the one i have.

Offline GrantC

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2009, 09:40:07 pm »
I personally do 72 (it's only 110% of what the manual says).

Use whatever you feel like.  Just be aware of what extra stretch/stress you're putting on the studs/brake rotor when you do it.

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2009, 09:45:33 pm »
This somewhat OT but I just bought a Torque Wrench (MasterCraft Maximum) and it seems really easy to make it "click" at 65ft-lb while putting the wheels on the other day.  Is there a simple/effective way to check the accuracy of the torque settings?
Sunny do you have the 3/4 " drive.  They are real long and you have a lot of leverage so it does not seem like it is that tight  I thought the same with the one i have.

It is 1/2" drive and the handle is ~2' from the socket.

Gain 50 ft-lbs, ask me how! :-)

Offline mars636

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2009, 10:00:13 pm »
This somewhat OT but I just bought a Torque Wrench (MasterCraft Maximum) and it seems really easy to make it "click" at 65ft-lb while putting the wheels on the other day.  Is there a simple/effective way to check the accuracy of the torque settings?
Sunny do you have the 3/4 " drive.  They are real long and you have a lot of leverage so it does not seem like it is that tight  I thought the same with the one i have.

It is 1/2" drive and the handle is ~2' from the socket.
Sorry Sunny mine is the 1/2" drive also.  and yes it doesnt feel like it is that tight at all

Offline Sleeper

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #12 on: April 21, 2009, 11:19:22 pm »
Wow that's loose compared to what mine are at. I'm going to have to un-torque them a few ft-lb's.

Offline Scout255

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #13 on: April 22, 2009, 07:02:51 am »
The only way to tell if a wrench is accurate is with a torque comparator, which at places that do wrench services will cost about 50 bucks or so.  Re-calibrateing them costs around 100-150 bucks as well.

Offline Speed Stick

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2009, 12:15:23 am »
Always at 72ft/lbs.  I torque vehicles all day long five days a week.  Yes 72ft/lbs is not much but its really all it needs. And you should barely move the toque wrench before the click.   I use a torque comparator all the time at work to make sure all wrenches are within spec.

And don't overtorque because that will result in shortened stud life and loss of clamping force.
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Offline Way-do

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #15 on: April 24, 2009, 09:03:27 pm »
And you should barely move the toque wrench before the click. 

but it should still just be rotating as you reach torque.  Static torque is significantly higher than running torque (static vs dynamic friction)

Offline xrider

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #16 on: April 24, 2009, 11:30:00 pm »
i hve been doing 72. good to know!

Offline Speed Stick

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Re: Wheel Torque for Aluminum wheels!
« Reply #17 on: April 25, 2009, 12:43:49 am »
And you should barely move the toque wrench before the click. 

but it should still just be rotating as you reach torque.  Static torque is significantly higher than running torque (static vs dynamic friction)

I meant that the torque wrench doesn't move that far after the lugs are snugged down.  Like a eighth of a turn with the wrench(static) when lugs are tightened with 50ft/lbs limited impact guns(dynamic).
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