lug nut torque

[DShriver]

Can anybody give the torque for lug nuts on a 93 1 ton dually with the 5/8 flanged nuts. my owners manual calls for 325ft/lbs that seems high?

 

[Pogodually]

FWIW

I torque mine to 145 ft lbs. That is what tire dealers tell me they use also.

 

[R.E. Miller]

Torque them to 325ft/lbs, I use a snap-on torque stick on a 3/4" drive impact and it works well.

 

[Mel Fuelling]

325# is not a misprint. I thought the Dodge Service Manual contained a misprint! You don't tighten the wheels on semi's that tight! Many tire stores, etc. will mislead you on lugnut torque for 89-93 D/W350's with duals. 145# is sufficient for the newer duallies, but not for 1st Gens. 1st Gens duallies have a 5/8" stud with 1 1/8" flat washer based nut that requires more torque. It was explained to me that the drag from the flat washer base nut is the culprit that requires the extra torque. I use a 3/4" drive socket & ratchet with a piece of pipe extended to 36" that I lean my weight(215#) into. This gets me pretty close to 325# torque.



Don't forget, on 1st Gen duallies, use 2 coned nuts on rim holes that are beveled to seat and center the rims(they are "coined", 4 beveled holes& 4 reverse bevels on each side allow 2 dualled up rims to fit together in alignment); add 6 flat washered nuts, then replace the two coned nuts with flat washered nuts. I drove mine nearly 6,000 miles with wheel shake that wouldn't balance out, before some kind-hearted soul explained this to me. I would not have kept my truck if this process hadn't smoothed it right out.



Make certain you explain both paragraphs to any and everyone

you have balance, align or mount new tires; because 9 out of 10 have never heard of this peculiar torque or Budd wheel centering process.



One of my 1st Gen mentors had his duals loosen up pulling a 24' gooseneck loaded with calves, and ruined a hub and both wheels. A normally reputable shop changed a tire for him just before he loaded the calves, and didn't know how to center or tighten the lugnuts.



The above is how; I don't know why.

 

[paccool]

The 93 service manual says duals with 5/8 X18 with flanged nuts are 300-350 ft/lbs.



5/8 X18 for single wheels are 175-225 ft/lbs



1/2 X20 with single wheels are 85-115ft/lbs

 

[DShriver]

Mel, when you ran about 6000m did that hurt anything else on your truck(wheels,hubs etc. ) Ive owned this truck for about 4 months and Iknow the guy who had it before me didnt torque them. so im not sure how long they have been run like this,and if any other damage has occured. one more thing is there much to modify to put in the rear seat, ive been looking for a way to put in a rear seat.

 

[Mel Fuelling]

DShriver,

No, It didn't hurt anything except my comfort. My lugnuts were tight enough, but the rim wasn't centered. My 1st Gen mentor, who had his come loose, had very obvious chewed up damage by the time he heard and felt it and stopped.



I took my 2 rear seats out so that I have more travel storage. They came out real easy.

 

[DShriver]

Thanks for the info. I centered my wheels and torqued them to 325ft/lbs and no more vibration,it was hard to believe that a 5/8 stud would take that much torque,the flange must keep the pressure off the stud. Ive past this info on to 2 others allready! Thanks again for the help.

 

[DRR-24V]

Carry A Cheater Bar?

How in the world do you change a flat tire out on the side of the road? Good Luck

 

[Mel Fuelling]

Don,

Yes, a 3/4" socket set and a piece of pipe the same length as your ratchet are necessities for a 1st Gen Dually IMHO.