Manually tighten up wheel lug nuts?

MoonRiver

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Just got tires rotated at the dealership. Didn’t see how he did it, but assuming he used 150 ftlb torque stick to tighten it.
They said online that the specified torque stick only for a rough ftlb, it’s better to verify that with a torque wench. But 150 ftlb ford called for is a heck of torque. Manual torque to that is tough. Any thoughts?
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markboris

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You need a torque wrench for sure and 150 is not unusual. My ICE Mustang and F150 are the same.
 
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highland58

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Just got tires rotated at the dealership. Didn’t see how he did it, but assuming he used 150 ftlb torque stick to tighten it.
They said online that the specified torque stick only for a rough ftlb, it’s better to verify that with a torque wench. But 150 ftlb ford called for is a heck of torque. Manual torque to that is tough. Any thoughts?
I would use a pipe that will slide over the torque wrench handle to make it longer, adding more leverage. PVC pipe would probably not be strong enough, metal would be better.
 

ATL

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I would use a pipe that will slide over the torque wrench handle to make it longer, adding more leverage. PVC pipe would probably not be strong enough, metal would be better.
Might be more effort to go get the pipe, take it to the car, then put it away again, than to lean a little harder on the wrench!:giggle:
 


AZBill

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I would use a pipe that will slide over the torque wrench handle to make it longer, adding more leverage. PVC pipe would probably not be strong enough, metal would be better.
You should not do this, the pressure needs to be applied at the handle of the torque wrench, 150ftlb is not that difficult, just put a little body weight into it.
 

RickMachE

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I would not verify anything.
 

JohnFoxeSheets

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You should not do this, the pressure needs to be applied at the handle of the torque wrench, 150ftlb is not that difficult, just put a little body weight into it.
Well, it would be an impossibility for my <100 lb wife...
 

nuMach

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Its high in comparison to other cars I've owned. Not that hard to do with a 1/2" drive torque wrench.

Engineers determine based on bolt grade and size etc. what torque is required to stretch the fastener sufficiently for the application.

I'd go with their spec. I've done them myself to 135 on seasonal wheel change with no issues. Not recommending it, but that happened before I read the spec. At the factory, they use torque measuring controllers, or torque + angle depending on the fastening strategy to control the gun, or in this case, a multi spindle tool that does all bolts together.

Cool to watch.
 

ChrisO

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Well, it would be an impossibility for my <100 lb wife...
Reminds me of when I was doing torque wrench calibration in the USAF. Being 132 lbs and trying to test a 5-foot wrench that was used for tightening the bolts on the aircraft. I could literally put my whole weight on the bar and be floating in the air and still it wouldn't reach breaking point.

On the other hand, I have torqued down car nuts with not too much trouble.
 

AtomicInternet

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This is the song we tighten up to:

 

rhougey

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You should not do this, the pressure needs to be applied at the handle of the torque wrench, 150ftlb is not that difficult, just put a little body weight into it.
150 lbft will only take about 80 lbs of force on the handle of a 24” torque wrench. I have not had any problem with it. I’m only 169 lbs and don’t need body weight to do it.

Bill is correct. The torque wrench will not be accurate unless force is applied in the correct spot (the grip at the end of the wrench).
 
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MoonRiver

MoonRiver

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you are good. I haven't tightened anything to 150 that much of torque. I'm kind of nervous about breaking the studs.
 
 







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