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Author Topic: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench  (Read 4138 times)

Offline curls

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Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« on: April 05, 2006, 09:51:17 am »
I don't want to buy a torque wrench, as I rarely do garage work on my own (I have skilled friends and a beer budget for this), but I do do the summer-winter-summer tire changeover in spring and fall, on both my car and my wifes'.

What I want to know is how tight should I put the lugs on using body weight as a guide?  Can they be TOO tight?  I'm 210 lbs and use the OEM tire wrench (12" long).  I tend to put about 1/2 my torso weight into it, pushing down, which to me would be approx 80-90 ft-lbs of force.  I need to give it a good pull to remove them, so I figure they're at least not too loose. ;)

Anyone have recommendations?  Just curious...
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Offline Snowman

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2006, 09:55:30 am »
The issue is not if they are tight enough, but equal distribution of the tightening force on each stud. Torque wrenches are not that expensive. If it is that big of an issue borrow one of your mechanically inclined friends.
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Offline curls

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2006, 10:01:44 am »
Quote from: Snowman on April 05, 2006, 09:55:30 am
The issue is not if they are tight enough, but equal distribution of the tightening force on each stud. Torque wrenches are not that expensive. If it is that big of an issue borrow one of your mechanically inclined friends.

A good torque wrench runs what, $80+?  If so, that's $80 I'd rather use on the baby that's due in May. ;)

My mechanically inclined friends w/ the torque wrenches both live about 45-60km from me. :(

I'm fairly sure I put them on quite evenly between each stud... never had problems, either.  Just more wondering / curious, than anything. ;)
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Offline canadianexpress

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2006, 10:03:57 am »
I totally agree with Snowman about equal distribution.  Having said that, at 80lb, I was able to loosen the nuts with just pushing down with my hands (pretty hard)on the wrench.  I would invest on the torque wrench to take the thinking out of it.  If you can catch it on sale at princess auto it will probably cost you around $40 for the 1/2" wrench and the socket set would probably be around $25 (cant rembember exact price).

Cheers.
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Offline davidy

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2006, 10:04:44 am »
Princess Auto typically has the cheapest torque wrenches. Around $30-$40 or so. Cheaper if on sale.

Amount of torque varies by vehicle (see below):

http://www.dba.com.au/catalogue/pdf/online_pdf/wheel_torque.pdf

Dave
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Offline safristi

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2006, 10:17:31 am »
so yer gonna use the $80 ta TORQUE to yer baby......!!!....? ??? ::) :P
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Offline Giant Dwarf

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2006, 10:33:14 am »
Back in the good ol' days, I recall my buddy and I doing the summer / winter wheel swap on his Integra twice a year.  We didn't bother with the torque wrench back then.  We evenly finger-tightened them while the car was up and gave each a 1/4 turn with the wrench to snug 'em up a bit.  Lowered the car and then gave another 1/4 turn once it was on the ground.  The wheels never fell off the car once.  :)

HOWEVER... now that I'm doing it to my own car, I sucked it up and shelled out for a fancy-pants Cdn Tire torque wrench.  Probably spent too much on it, but it's the last one I'll ever buy.  Over the next 40 years or so of doing this, I figure it'll work out to costing me about 6 cents per bolt.  I can handle that for the piece of mind that my beautiful alloys are being properly applied.
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Offline safristi

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2006, 10:42:53 am »
Man that 80 year old Mx5...Miata..Frittata...looks good Giant.....U still advertising DEPENDS ULTRA..?.....
  I'm stuck in an OLDS FARTS HOME wif Snowie,Inco,AvT ,Ovr,Shnak and Big T n Bullett...where did I GO WRONG...they are stinkin' UP THE PLACE.........

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Offline ovr50

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2006, 11:29:23 am »
Quote from: davidy on April 05, 2006, 10:04:44 am
Princess Auto typically has the cheapest torque wrenches. Around $30-$40 or so. Cheaper if on sale.

Amount of torque varies by vehicle (see below):

http://www.dba.com.au/catalogue/pdf/online_pdf/wheel_torque.pdf

Dave

My guess is that a torque wrench priced at $30 or $40 is junk; I would spend at least $100 for a decent one or borrow friend's.
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Offline Giant Dwarf

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2006, 12:06:47 pm »
Thank you Ovr.  I feel better in justifying the $100 I spent to myself now.   ;D
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Offline Railton

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2006, 12:25:34 pm »
Dear Ovr, I bought my torque wrench 30 years ago for $40 bucks. Is it junk? :rofl:
Railton
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Offline ovr50

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #11 on: April 05, 2006, 12:40:26 pm »
Quote from: railton on April 05, 2006, 12:25:34 pm
Dear Ovr, I bought my torque wrench 30 years ago for $40 bucks. Is it junk? :rofl:
Railton

Today's prices, Rail, today's.  ;) ;)
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Offline curls

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #12 on: April 05, 2006, 12:44:47 pm »
Quote from: ovr50 on April 05, 2006, 11:29:23 am
My guess is that a torque wrench priced at $30 or $40 is junk; I would spend at least $100 for a decent one or borrow friend's.

I agree... a cheapo torque wrench will likely lose calibration easily (or not even be calibrated well to begin with)!!

If/when i do buy one, it might just be the nice shiny Snap-On one. ;)  One day.....
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Offline safristi

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #13 on: April 05, 2006, 01:31:32 pm »
SNAP_ON...SNAP OFF...yeah ONE DAY at a TIME.........
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Offline wing

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #14 on: April 05, 2006, 01:52:59 pm »
I bought the princess auto-torque wrench it operates and looks identical to the $300 one my buddy bought and showed me, cost me $25 on sale.

Canadian Tire has a bar type torque wrench that is around $20 regular price as well.
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Offline safristi

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #15 on: April 05, 2006, 02:51:16 pm »
I torked ma shorts too tight...what should I DO !!!!!! 8) :o :P :-[ :-*..ANY...SUGGESTIVENESS  !!!? :)
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Offline ktm525

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #16 on: April 05, 2006, 06:14:18 pm »
Use German torque: Guten tight. :)

I have never bothered to use a torque wrench as I do it by hand and not an impact wrench capable of twisting poor lugs to 200lbs and beyond. As Snowy said the biggest issue is equal distribution and a proper tigtening pattern is essential. My method is to use the supplied lug nut wrench and give each lug a good snug using one arm (no feet, bouncing etc). That way I will be able to remove the lug using my own strength when I am at the side of the orad with a flat. In all my years of installing my winter rims and driveway rotations I have never encountered loose lug nuts or "warped" rotors". I have alsways been able to remove them with a standard lug wrench.

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Offline citydude

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #17 on: April 05, 2006, 08:38:36 pm »
Not sure why people are willing to spend $30K on a car, but not $80 on a torque wrench (that lasts forever). :)

Citydude
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Offline davidy

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #18 on: April 05, 2006, 09:32:23 pm »
No worries with my $30 torque wrench....just torque the nuts in the correct pattern and make sure that I remember to turn to torque setting back to zero each time. My truck's tires are suppose to be set at 100 foot-pounds. A few foot-pound shouldn't really matter.

Dave
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Offline morty

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Re: Putting on wheels w/o a torque wrench
« Reply #19 on: April 08, 2006, 01:21:13 pm »
I have a new baby to and I would consider having the lug nuts torqued properly a priority. Afterall...I use my car to drive the little one around and for $80 or less I would rather have the wheels stay on the vehicle. On the reverse...over torqueing can cause damage to your brakes which could be even more expensive. If you dont have the tools take it to a local shop and have them torque properly.
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