05 Lug Nut Torque

[Idaho Native]

Rotated the tires on my 05 Sunday evening. Looked up the torque specs in the owners manual before proceeding and noted the range of 120-150 ft lbs with a recommendation for 135 ft lbs. Set the torque wrench accordingly... couldn't believe the effort required to acheive it on the first wheel! Got seven of them torqued down and was working on #8 when I noticed that the wheel was actually starting to "mushroom" around the cone flange of the nut . I ended up torqing the remaining wheels to 100 ft lbs as that was what it "felt" like when removing them.



I've got the nice factory polished aluminum wheels, too :{ :{ .



I did a search on the site for similar problems and couldn't find anything. Anyone else have that problem?



TIA



Loren

 

[rbattelle]

WOW! Never had that problem. First time I torqued them down I did think that 135 was too much (tons of effort, as you describe), but now I do it every time and never have any trouble. Are you sure you had the wrench set right?



Does 3/36 cover the wheels? If so, take it back and tell them you torqued to spec's and the wheel broke.



-Ryan

 

[klenger]

Here are some of the torque setting I have accumulated. http://www.klenger.net/dodge/3rd-gen-reference/torque.html

 

[Briman]

I've been using 125 ft/lb for 10 years on steel and alloy wheels on 2nd and 3rd gen trucks and it works well. Not too much effort to tighten and easy enough to remove. I've never had any come loose. I would suspect your torgue wrench may be out of spec.



If you are particular you can torgue them down in three steps/stages. This may keep that eighth one from doing the mushroom as well...

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

I have American Eagle Alum wheels and I tork them to 140 on the advice of my tire dealer. The wheels should be retorked after a couple hundred. I did not think it necessary but when you do it you will be glad you did, they will tighten up a little more, some of them. There might be a soft spot causing your mushrooming, I would take them back. Aluminum is heat treated (if it is an alloy it can be) and if not done properly will have hard and soft areas. I have got into arguements about this and a Rockwell hardnes tester will end an argument. It might not be available to you but something just does not seem right. I have worked with Aluminum in its annealed condtion and after it has been heat treated and you would not believe the diference

 

[Nate]

For the 8 lug, I usually run them to 120-125ft lbs. 100ft lbs is good for a 5 or 6 lug wheel. Never had a tire come off and I did from 5-10 cars a day.

 

[Alan Reagan]

The wheels should be retorked after a couple hundred. I did not think it necessary but when you do it you will be glad you did, they will tighten up a little more, some of them.

I rotated mine for the second time this past Sunday. I usually torque to 110, just so I can get them off if I have a flat.



My rear wheels were both loose, probably only 60-70 ft/lbs. I agree, they need to be retorqued after driving.

 

[Bertram65]

They reconmend 135 in the manual, that is what they should be torqued to, I have a 1/2" torque wrench that is about 30" long, going to 135lbs is pretty easy.

 

[Jengle]

I'll second Briman above. I once broke a couple of main cap bolts, building an engine, due to a torque wrench that was out of specs. They should be checked and recalibrated periodically for accuracy. But, yeah, 135ft/lbs does feel like a lot.

 

[Idaho Native]

Double checked the torque wrench against my neighbors for a "comparison"... same result. Wish I knew what happened. Like I mentioned, the other 7 lugs on that wheel went on OK, just lots of effort.



I'm contacting the dealer today about the situation... it'll be interesting to see what they have to say.



Loren

 

[klenger]

Sounds like maybe you need to sign up at your local fitness center :-laf

 

[Idaho Native]

klenger, you're killing me Lord knows you're probably right