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21mm. For what it's worth, that Milwaukee High-Torque impact is awesome, but way overkill. I keep this Milwaukee M12 Fuel 1/2" Stubby impact in the truck, along with Sunex flip impact sockets (which give me 6 common sizes in a thin wall impact socket). Takes care of everything. That 12v impact has 250 ft/lbs of torque, PLENTY to remove lug nuts and reinstall them. I carry torque sticks as well in 5 increments. Also keep a Milwaukee M12 digital inflator, tire plugs, Center cap tool, etc etc but that's not the point!
I can never remember what size socket to use on the lug nuts. So I wrote it on the wheel with a Sharpie under where the wheel cap goes. I also wrote how much to torque the lug nuts down to.
I can never remember what size socket to use on the lug nuts. So I wrote it on the wheel with a Sharpie under where the wheel cap goes. I also wrote how much to torque the lug nuts down to.
I like that! Nice tip. Hope you don’t mind if I steal it?
I also use a sharpie to write date and mileage on oil filters when I do oil changes and writing dates on batteries when I replace them. . An old habit from working on aircraft.
I can never remember what size socket to use on the lug nuts. So I wrote it on the wheel with a Sharpie under where the wheel cap goes. I also wrote how much to torque the lug nuts down to.
I’ve learned similar useful tricks-of-the-trade from our older son who’s an independent mechanic. I use a silver Sharpie to make notes on black surfaces.
I ordered a lug nut flip socket set from Amazon and received it today. The 21mm fits real snug. I just checked the torque on my 3000 mile 3 month old F350. They were all torqued at factory to 140 Ft-Lbs.
I also ordered and received a 100 Ft-Lb torque stick to use with my 18v Makita impact wrench. The 100 Ft-lbs will work as a final torque for my 5th wheel lugs and a way to quickly get the truck lugs snugged on the truck before using the hand torque wrench.
I ordered a lug nut flip socket set from Amazon and received it today. The 21mm fits real snug. I just checked the torque on my 3000 mile 3 month old F350. They were all torqued at factory to 140 Ft-Lbs.
The wheel lug but torque setting according to the manual is 165 ft-lbs. I checked my lug nuts right after getting the truck and found them much looser than 165 ft-lbs. I don’t know what they were set to. I just torqued them to 165. The 140 you discovered sounds about right. I find if interesting that Ford would set the torque 15% below the value stipulated in the manual. Someone on this forum suggested that the lugs on my truck had loosened in 500 miles, which happened to be about the mileage when I checked them. Based on your findings Flyct, I’m now fairly certain that Ford purposely sets the lug torque 15% low. Therefore they ought to advise having your lug nuts retorqued IMMEDIATELY after driving the truck the first time. I’d like to know the thought process behind the decision to set the torque low. Me, I’ve never set my lug nut torque low for ANY reason.
Torque to break a fastener free is not the same as the torque setting when the fastener is assembled. That out of the way, it’s likely the wheels and to a lesser degree the studs take an initial set. This is common and the reason aftermarket wheel manufacturers recommend retorquing after ~100 miles.
Torque to break a fastener free is not the same as the torque setting when the fastener is assembled. That out of the way, it’s likely the wheels and to a lesser degree the studs take an initial set. This is common and the reason aftermarket wheel manufacturers recommend retorquing after ~100 miles.
Billy,
When tightening, with the torque wrench set to 140 Ft/lbs I was getting nut movement before wrench would click. I set final torque to 160 ft=lbs and will double check with another torque wrench later this eeek and run them up to 165 ft/lbs.
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