Wheel Torque

1. Vtr_max Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 109

   #1 26th April 2011, 12:53

   How important is it to torq up your wheels?
   
   
   i want to do the the front pads on my mums car, but dont have a torque wrench, and they dont seem cheap on halfords website,
2. Quick Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2003 United Kingdom (England) Posts: 7064

   #2 26th April 2011, 15:07

   Its not important for the wheels, just do 'em up tight!
3. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #3 26th April 2011, 15:18

   Just do them up tight with a wheel wrench mate
   I have never used a torque wrench and I doubt most people do
4. Stevo123 Established Member Joined: Apr 2009 Redcar Posts: 1971 2000 Posi Blue vtr

   #4 26th April 2011, 16:01

   I have seen a Citroen BX come off the road due to the wheel nuts being overtightened repeatedly. (That and they only had 3 studs - in a car that size was not really the best idea!). Do em tight but don't hang off the wrench.
5. user_40784 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2010 London Posts: 2768

   #5 26th April 2011, 16:17

   Torqueing them up isnt important, just make sure its tight as mentioned.
6. baker556 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2007 127.0.0.1 Posts: 4826 oem+ sax

   #6 26th April 2011, 16:25

   Lol at people suggesting torquing wheels or anything up doesn't matter,
   
   O hai just done head gasket car running lumpy didnt use a torque wrench whats wrong?
   
   Every bolt on the car has a torque for a reason, suspension bolts, calipers wheels you name it !
   
   Pretty sure the torque is only 80-85nm.
   
   Can't believe devil out off all people you said i doubt many people use it, do up a wheel "tight" different people have different strengths. When it comes to important things like wishbones bolts, drive shaft nuts i hope everyone uses a torque wrench for there own safety and other peoples.
7. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #7 26th April 2011, 17:07

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by baker556 Can't believe devil out off all people you said i doubt many people use it.

   Dude I was referring to the wheel nuts, not every bolt on the car
   
   I meant that I doubt most people use a torque wrench to tighten wheel bolts
   Do you?
   
   I certainly don't and am unaware of anyone else who does, even the garage my local garage didnt!
8. BertieG Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 exeter, devon Posts: 1224 Clio 172

   #8 26th April 2011, 17:30

   torque wrenchs are only accurate if you are willing to clean the thread in the hub and on the wheel nut first, and ensure there is no grease or lubricant of any sort on the bolt or in the hole. otherwise, the torque rating means bugger all
9. user_40784 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2010 London Posts: 2768

   #9 26th April 2011, 17:41

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by baker556 Every bolt on the car has a torque for a reason, suspension bolts, calipers wheels you name it !

   It certainly is good practice.
10. DanTvts Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Torbay Posts: 1285 Mauritius Vts, 206 Gti 180

    #10 26th April 2011, 18:09

    Personally i always torque my wheel nuts, and everything else, its good practice and then i am totally sure it is all correct, saying that, most people just use a breaker bar. Also you can get a Sealey torque wrench for about 25-30 quid and they're not too bad, depends how much you're going to use it really!
11. raunchz Saxperience Addict Joined: Jul 2005 Solihull / Bournemouth Posts: 14233 2015 Lapiz Blue Golf R

    #11 26th April 2011, 18:57

    I torque mine to around 100ft lb if I remember, otherwise just do them up tight with a breaker bar, you get a feel for doing them up tight
12. user_43898 Established Member Joined: May 2010 leicester Posts: 1446 Clio 182 Inferno

    #12 26th April 2011, 19:14

    It's good practice to torque the wheels up, but in general even a girl tightening a wheel bolt as tight as she can would more than likely be tighter than the manufacturers torque no sexism intended, 100nm doesnt ever feel like its actually tight enough to me, praise the good old Air gun lol
13. simonwillis1988 Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 174

    #13 26th April 2011, 20:54

    Why do so many people gay off about 'how to torque things' lol! clean the thread, copper ease etc... seriously if you deal with cars day in, day out AND your uncertain of what to tighten something up to then you would use a torque wrench, experience brings knowledge of how tight certain things should be, a feel for your air gun/ ratchet i.e wheel nuts, roll bar links, suspension arms, caliper carriers, calipers etc. obviously you use a torque bar when doing a head gasket some people don't but f*** that