Just rotated the tires on the old horse trailer and got to wondering if i'm using the right amount of torque for the lug nuts.

It is a pair of 6-bolt 5200lbs electric drum brake drop axles, though they are down-rated to 4000lbs (ish) and use 7.00x16 LRD bias ply tires. they are also lug centric, if that makes a difference.

i've always tightened them to 100 ft-lbs, and never had one try to come loose, but i was just wondering if anyone knows a better number to shoot for.

thanks!
Mike

 

Go to the link below as it s good reference to all kinds of bolt patterns and stud sizes

Bolt Pattern Guide and Lug Nut Chart

 

I read somewhere 110 lbs for my car lugnuts, so thats what I use on my trailers. 100 is in the ballpark, though. Are they steel rims?

 

If you're torquing them to a measured 100 ft./lb. and re-checking them periodically, you're doing about 1000% better than the average Joe. Find something else to concern yourself with and rest easy. 100 pounds is enough.

 

thanks for the link Gearitis!

lots of good information in there. Odd, that if you go by that chart i am actually over-torquing them.

As was said above, seems like there are much greater things to worry about.

I guess what got me started thinking about it was my 2010 F150 at work specs out 150 ft-lbs for the wheels. both being a 6-bolt pattern, i was just wondering if 100 ft-lbs is enough .... never had an issue, just over thinking it i suppose

thanks for the help!

mike

 

The 6 lug nuts/wheel on my 5er are 1/2-20 and they are torqued to 100 lb ft. These wheels are for all intent, a standard 6 lug wheel and similar to what was supplied on some Chevies.

 

Also this sight has helped me a few times, along with my click type torque wrench. If I change a tire for someone or remove a wheel I usually try to torque it back on to be sure(: 100 ft pounds according to my own opinion and just like what the other guys say your doing 10 x what the average guy does to secure his wheels
Wheel Torque Chart - Discount Tire

 

that's a great link! thanks!

after one has a wheel work loose because they weren't torqued properly, one tends to put just a little more thought into it.

that's how i found out that torque sticks do not work well with an electric impact. I changed the wheels on my escort and grabbed my 85 ft-lb torque stick and hammered them home, feeling that was good enough, i walked away from it. after not too many days i started hearing a very funny sound ... after ignoring it for far too long (cauz i stopped giving a crap about that car), i could have removed the lugs with my fingers.... that odd sound was the wheel rocking on the studs .... oops!

so in case anyone was wondering, torque sticks do not work well with an electric impact. They work great to make sure you do not over-tighten them, but you NEED to torque them afterward.

 

I was actually wondering about that. I use my 3/8 cordless snap-on to remove car wheels all the time and it makes everything a lot easier on the hands!!! Got quite into using power tools when I can. Don't have a garage or a compressor so cordless is a good option. I get the lugnuts snug with my impact (10 to 20 ft pounds if that) then I go and torque them with a torque wrench. The guys at work think there is something wrong with me because I torque wheels by hand but rotors are easy to warp!!! Ouch!! People don't believe me till they do it them selves.