Wheel Nut Torque

[packick]

Maybe this topic has come up before but I couldn't find it if it has.

The owner's manual for my GT says to torque the wheel nuts to 150 ft. lbs. That seems awfully high. I talked to my dealer's service dept. and they agreed that it seems high. Their manual says 148 ft. lbs.

Does anyone know any reason why it is so high? Or is 150 ft. lbs. a typo in the owner's manual?

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[Todd15Fastback]

http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22264&highlight=Lug+nut+torque

 

[imjuslazy]

Thats because youre not searching in the wheel and tire section.

 

[Barrel]

150 is correct.

 

[MELLOWYELLOW06]

I use 100lbs as my benchmark for all my cars

 

[2Cool]

Here is a link to a metric fastener torque table, look at the m14 (metric 14mm) row, 10.9 hardness column. States 151 lb/ft max. So the 148 makes sense, as it allows a bit of extra capacity.

A lot of people are running less, I normally go 120 lb/ft on mine. Some vendors have stated that they recommend 100 lb/ft, so it is kind of a best guess.

http://electronicfilters.tpub.com/TM-10-4330-237-13P/css/TM-10-4330-237-13P_105.htm

 

[jbailer]

The way I figure it is Ford spec'd them at 150 so I use 150. My 06 and 10 were both 100 from Ford and I use that for them...

 

[Blk2015GT]

150 ft/lbs is overkill probably. Im running 130 on my lugs, what I felt was a good split between 100 and 150 on the higher side of the split.

 

[Old Car Guy]

Ok....

Ok I had some work done at my Ford Dealer some time back, and I had asked him what the torque was on my wheels was when he was putting them back on my 2015 Mustang, GT and he said 150 lbs, so I'm just passing this on what he said, and he is the Mechanic down there at this Ford dealership in my town.... I hope this helps you guys and gals, he has always looked up the torque Specs when he was putting on my lower and mods that I ordered from Steeda, and really what he looked for the torque was for the brace for the Transmission after he put in the Steeeda Trans bushing, and how and he look that up was on Ford Website, and this the about the rims also...... So do not Execute the messenger what I have posted this......... Thanks........ :ford:

 

[DickR]

Ok so the Ford engineers decide that 148-150 (essentially the same given torque wrench calibration tolerances) is required but people who may not be engineers decide that they "feel" a lower number is better?

FYI I did some research in the owner manuals for other recent Fords that use 14 mm wheel studs. You guessed it. 150 lb-ft. Others that use 12 mm wheel studs spec 100 lb-ft.

12 mm is approximately the same diameter as the 1/2 studs we are all used to in previous Fords where 100 lb-ft was the spec.

 

[Need4SpeedMotors]

100 ft lbs thats what we use

 

[DickR]

100 ft lbs thats what we use

Why considering Ford specifies 150 lb-ft?

 

[Blk2015GT]

If you check your torque every few weeks it doesn't matter what torque you use, 100 or 150.

150 is cover their ass to avoid a wheel falling off crash/lawsuit because Joe customer never checks the lug torque himself until it sees a shop which could be 7500 miles/a year.

There is no harm using a bit less, say 125-130, if you keep up keeping them tight. 150 is the very top end of most torque wrenches and very hard to lean into by hand.

I used 130 and I can tell you I had to crank on it quite a bit still. They're not going anywhere at 130.

 

[Need4SpeedMotors]

Why considering Ford specifies 150 lb-ft?

That is what Ford states as a manufacturer and also to cover themselves incase of anything, however 100 lbs works just fine no need to stress the lug nuts and studs by cracking it down to 150. If your not ok with 100 do it at 125 then

 

[DickR]

That is what Ford states as a manufacturer and also to cover themselves incase of anything, however 100 lbs works just fine no need to stress the lug nuts and studs by cracking it down to 150. If your not ok with 100 do it at 125 then

Interesting engineering.

Do you normally torque other critical fasteners in the cars you work on to lower torque than the manufacturer recommends? For example the strut to spindle bolts on the 2015 Mustang are 16 mm with a torque spec of 184 ft-ft. Would you torque those to a lower number?

FYI for anyone who is looking for a 1/2 inch drive 250 lb-ft torque wrench this one from Lowes appears to be good quality and works well so far for me. http://www.lowes.com/pd_337334-22328-85602_0__?productId=3381202

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