Torque setting for lug nuts.

[Chris Haynes]

How tight should lug nuts be torqued?
TIA

[40 Deluxe]

Standard torque for a modern 1/2" fine thread tapered lug nut (which is identical to a Model A lug nut) is 100 ft. lb. Ford steel back then was every bit as good as, maybe better than, steel today.

[J Franklin]

I torque to 65 foot pounds with never-sieze and never lost a wheel. I think 100 is way overkill.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

I torque to 65 foot pounds with never-sieze and never lost a wheel. I think 100 is way overkill.

I agree, but I don't use a torque wrench on my lug nuts.

[Art Newland]

Since the crank is also a lug wrench, probably as tight as you can get it with the crank.

[Synchro909]

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Getting 100 ftlb of torque on a wheel nut with the tool (crank handle) Henry provided would be a challenge!
I just do them to what I feel is right, then check them after a few miles.

[leadpot]

Never used a torque wrench for lug nuts until I snapped a couple off on different wheels. Had used never sieze on the threads. Replacing studs is not a fun job. I now use a torque wrench on dry threads only

[Kevin in NJ]

People do not understand, the crank was designed to give the correct torque. Just lift up with your legs and you will evenly torque the wheels to as tight as they need to be.

Have you ever noticed that different sized wrenches were different lengths?
An average man will put the proper torque for the size fastener.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

100 Ft Lbs on lug nuts is INSANE!!! Trust me.
100 Ft Lbs is OK for the rear axle nuts.
Gregg (RIP), my Son, did mine with the crank, I checked them & they were a perfect 55 Ft Lbs!
Chief, my Dad, taught me to tighten them until they went, "SCREEECH" & that was sufficient!
Bill W.

[Big hammer]

Originally Posted by Art Newland

Since the crank is also a lug wrench, probably as tight as you can get it with the crank.

I agree, but where not people then stronger than us today?

[Bob from Northport]

Don't the Model A manuals say 63 lbs torque?? NEVER 100. It will indent the wheels.

[J Franklin]

A model A owners manual ever mentioned torque. I use a torque wrench only to get the nuts all at the same tightness to keep things from warping.

[H. L. Chauvin]

High Chris,

1. Bratton's catalog correctly indicates 50-55 ft.lbs. of torque for all Model A wheels.

2. A few things one may want to consider for Model A wheels & wheel lugs: :

A. With thousands of flat tires on old non-paved roads years ago, with former missing lugs on old hubs back then, coupled with today's same 86 year old Model A wheels, no doubt quite a few former Model A owners tightened single different lug nuts often in excess where some tapered wheel holes were naturally worn deeper than others.

B. To insure wheels are "centered" and lay flat on outer faces of hubs, never a bad idea to tighten lug nuts incrementally, a little at a time, rather than trying to hurry up and over-tighten the very first lug nut.

C. If one has freshly powder coated or newly enameled wheels, to prevent marring new wheel finishes, one can cut & custom fit soft plastic tubing, (cut lengthwise), around a socket wrench and around a socket wrench extension, and secure & wrap this plastic tubing with heavy duty duct tape to avoid damaging wheel finishes when tightening lugs by avoiding these hard iron to iron compression forces.

D. The cylindrical socket wrench plastic tube should extend about 1/8" beyond the forward tip of the socket to protect finishes around lug nuts.

3. Finally, if one wants, place an extra torque wrench in your tool box with a painted red mark at 50 ft. lbs. so when you change a tire in dim light you know when to stop turning to avoid over-tightening lug nuts.

[Patrick L.]

Snug. 50-55#.

At 100# I would think you'd end up with the nut and part of the stud in your hand.

[RonC]

As Bill said until they "screech"

[Keith True]

If you tighten the wheels to 100 foot pounds the studs will Mae West.I saw this with a car that the owner tightened them up to that value.He had gotten his advice off the old Fordbarn.He ruined all four wheels also.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

100 Ft Lbs "could" WARP drums!!!
Bill W.

[Growley bear]

Also, the Model A wheels do not seem to fit the cast iron drums as well as they should. When installed some that I have seen did not contact the drum in the lug area as was evidenced by small cracks forming in the powder coated surface and the inability to torque the lug nuts to a firm 55 foot pounds. This was solved with a spacer and then 65 firm lbs.

[Joe K]

As I told my children about their modern cars...

"You want to tighten them using the lug nut wrench you will use to remove them.
And maybe not even all that tight - just be sure you can remove them with difficulty when at the side of the road on a dark rainy night."

The tire jockeys at the tire shop use air wrenches which leave the lug nuts entirely too tight - thus generating business for their friend the tow truck operator who will be called when the car becomes stationary at the side of the road with a flat tire.

Joe K

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Joe K

The tire jockeys at the tire shop use air wrenches which leave the lug nuts entirely too tight - thus generating business for their friend the tow truck operator who will be called when the car becomes stationary at the side of the road with a flat tire.

Joe K

I'll tell ya, I was ready to beat someones head in with the 2' long breaker bar me and my grandson had to use to break loose his lug nuts the other day.