Eric Pennal
Well-Known Member
As I was installing my wheels this weekend, I wondered if I have been using the proper technique to torque down the lug nuts, all these years.
Here's how I've always done it:
After snugging up the wheel nuts (in a criss-cross pattern) with a standard lug wrench, I adjust my torque wrench to the required setting (100 lb/ft for example). I then gradually tighten each nut in the same criss-cross pattern, going around and around this way until the wrench clicks on each nut.
Typically what happens is, after each nut has clicked once - by the time I come back around to the first nut in the pattern, it has to be tightened some more before it will click again. Usually, 2 or 3 nuts will have to be re-tightened to get them to click again. It's not uncommon to have to go around the horn 3 or 4 times before all the nuts click instantly - requiring no more tightening to do so.
Is this a good technique? My concern is that I am over-tightening the nuts by doing it this way. Should I stop after the first click, and not check them after that?
Here's how I've always done it:
After snugging up the wheel nuts (in a criss-cross pattern) with a standard lug wrench, I adjust my torque wrench to the required setting (100 lb/ft for example). I then gradually tighten each nut in the same criss-cross pattern, going around and around this way until the wrench clicks on each nut.
Typically what happens is, after each nut has clicked once - by the time I come back around to the first nut in the pattern, it has to be tightened some more before it will click again. Usually, 2 or 3 nuts will have to be re-tightened to get them to click again. It's not uncommon to have to go around the horn 3 or 4 times before all the nuts click instantly - requiring no more tightening to do so.
Is this a good technique? My concern is that I am over-tightening the nuts by doing it this way. Should I stop after the first click, and not check them after that?