I pulled the drivers side duals off my F350 using an inherited impact gun that is at least 60 years old and popped the nuts very easily. When I checked the specs in my owners manual to put the wheels back on my owner's manual said 150 to 165 ft. lbs torque. There is no way that the lug nuts were over 60 lbs when I pulled them. Is there some other spec for the aluminum wheels on my Lariat. I put them back on tight enough to hold but I'd like some reassurance as to what is correct before I torque them to the manual's spec.

Thanks for your help.

CLPF350

 

Yes, 150 - 165 # is the correct torque range. It won't hurt aluminum wheels if done correctly. That is not a category, correct, done at the local tire shop. Whole other story. This is what I do most of it applies to your truck. Use a good torque wrench, the one I use is an Armstrong 25 to 250 #. There is a way that you can use a lower range torque wrench and lubricated threads to put the equivilant or 165# on but heck, if you have one of these trucks you need a big torque wrench anyway.

1. Jack the applicable corner up and take off the wheel, check behind it for any burrs,dirt, stray cat or anything else that will keep the wheel from going on flush.

2. Put the tire/wheel on the studs. Put a drop on oil on the swivel washer seat of the lug nut, not the threads of the stud. This will lubricate the swivel and allow it to turn on the wheel side washer has small cleats that hold the wheel contact roll. With the stock lug nuts don't worry about turning the bottom of the lug nut and grinding out aluminum it will turn in the washer seat, thus the oil.

3. Torque the lugs in a crossing pattern to 50% of final torque ( just my preference) let the jack down and final torque the lugs to 165#.

Takes me about 30 minutes to rotate tires and torque the wheels.

 

Oneof6:

Thanks for the reply. I'll follow your advice and torqe the wheels to Ford specs. I'm going to use a torque wrench to pull the passenger side duals. I'm curious to see what they are torqUed to. Maybe my inherited impact gun is a lot better than I think it is.

CLPF350