How many people torque their wheels?

[witxp]

Hi everyone,

I have an 05 Camry I4 and I'm looking to retorque my wheels since I usually just give it all I got until it's nice and tight. Just went to Pep boys yesterday and got me a torque wrench (stupid me, forgot the 1/2 inch sockets since I didn't pay attention and assumed it was 1/4 inch). I'm reading the manual and it says 76 ft lbs. Is this correct? I thought everyone is saying 85 ft lbs?

And just wondering how many people on this board actually takes out the torque wrench to torque their wheels?

Thanks

[TRD VVTi]

EVERY single time.

I do 90 ft/lbs on my Camry and 100 ft/lbs on my Formula.

76 ft/lbs sounds correct.

[west467]

I do!!! I have seen too many over-torqued wheels in my 40 years.

It is very easy to take the T-wrench out dial in the correct torque.

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

EVERY single time.

I do 90 ft/lbs on my Camry and 100 ft/lbs on my Formula.

76 ft/lbs sounds correct.

Tirerack.com recommend 77 ft/lbs for our Camry. 90 ft/lbs might be a little too much. I actually use 80 ft/bls for easy to remember.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by lammydi

90 ft/lbs might be a little too much.

It's not.

[njerald]

Originally Posted by witxp

Hi everyone,

And just wondering how many people on this board actually takes out the torque wrench to torque their wheels?

Thanks

All the smart ones do..............

76 ftlbs for the '07's

[Engineer2048]

I use a torque wrench on all my vehicles, including the ones with steel wheels.

[johnnyzee]

always, especially on aftermarket wheels. also, i re-torque them after a week or so after putting them on. i torque to 80 lbs.

[TRD VVTi]

Always make two rounds with the torque wrench and tighten the lug nuts in the star pattern.

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

Always make two rounds with the torque wrench and tighten the lug nuts in the star pattern.

+1

[clarkgrizwald]

what the hell are you guys talking about? is the lbs your talking about how tight the lug nuts are? what is the aadvantage to this??

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by clarkgrizwald

what the hell are you guys talking about? is the lbs your talking about how tight the lug nuts are? what is the aadvantage to this??

On the torqure wrench, it has the metrics of lbs/ft. So yes, the higher the number the tighter you will tight the lug nuts.
Advantage would be:
If you over-tighten the lug nuts then it could lead to damage/broken lug nuts and warp/bend the rotor.
If you under-tighten the lug nuts then your lug nuts could be too loose from the wheel rods which will cause your wheel/tire to came off your car as you drive!
So yeah...buy those torque wrench at Kragen, Autozone....
I don't trust anyone else but myself to tighten the lug nuts on my car. That's why I do my own rotation (I also don't want people to scratch my rims)
Here is an image of a torque wrench. You can turn the black handle to the correct setting so as you tighten the lug nut it will make a rachet noise when the correct lbs/ft has been reach.

[njerald]

Originally Posted by clarkgrizwald

what the hell are you guys talking about? is the lbs your talking about how tight the lug nuts are? what is the aadvantage to this??

So your rotors don't warp, or your wheels fall off from loose nuts or from broken studs by being too tight.

[Rapid Roy]

Yep, if you see the tire shop you just pulled into using an impact wrench to tighten lug nuts, drive right back out.

[clarkgrizwald]

oh . i thought torque wrenches were the ones with compressed air that make that cool sound when you use them. is that a impact wrench?