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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Wheel bolt torque?!?

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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 08:51 PM
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Unhappy Wheel bolt torque?!?

I was going to change my front brake pads tonight ('85 F350, crew-cab diesel dually, 8 lug steel wheels) so I broke out the impact gun (300 ft. lbs.). The lug nuts just sat there and laughed at me. Then I took out the 2' breaker bar and a 3' cheater pipe. My breaker bar was bending as if I had a giant fish on the end of my pole...

WTF?!? How much torque should these bolts have? How the heck is a "regular" backyard mechanic supposed to remove 'em?

Thanks in advance,

D. Ocean
 
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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 11:15 PM
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Do just what you are doing with the breaker bar, use your foot to apply pressure and strike the socket with a hammer. Use an impact socket if you have one, or if not, hit it with a brass hammer. The torque and the shock together will break it loose.

When you go back together, clean and lube the threads. I don't know the torque spec for your truck, but I would use about ninety five lbs.
 
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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 11:42 PM
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Ninety Five lbs. sounds good. But, whomever installed the lugs must've tripled that.

What about heat? Can I hit 'em with a propane torch without fear of blowing up the tire?
 
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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 11:51 PM
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use some PB blaster... Seriously good stuff

douse the lugs every hour if you can.. if not stuff BP soaked rags around them


Its some seriously good stuff imho. You didnt get your truck serviced at a wallmart or discount tire, did you?

most times if you ask them what kind of torque wrench they have, theyll stop and stare at you with a funny look... then lie, or desperatly go digging for one

bummer, If its taking that much work to get them off, Id restud it too... just to be safe
~Nate
 
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 12:29 AM
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Try the shock treatment first. (Never failed for me, long experience.) If that doesn't work right away, do the PB Blaster thing or use Liquid Wrench and don't rush it.

If you resort to heat, be careful you don't cook your bearings.
 
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 03:43 AM
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My 83 Ford Spec book (I would believe 85 to be the same) calls for from 175-260 ft/lbs for the dually. You should be able to verify that in the Owners Manual.
 
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 03:52 AM
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yes the spec is around 175 ft pounds.
 
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 07:46 AM
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Yeah...I have them soaking in PB Blaster and AeroKroil. Just got the truck two days ago, so I have no idea who maintained it and where.

260 ft./lbs? I believe it...
 
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by srercrcr
My 83 Ford Spec book (I would believe 85 to be the same) calls for from 175-260 ft/lbs for the dually. You should be able to verify that in the Owners Manual.
Is it the same spec, front and rear on the dually? 175 sounds like a lot for the fronts.
 
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 04:14 PM
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Front and rear....minimum 175, maximum 260.
 
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 08:31 PM
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Thanks, all. I put some "grunt" into the breaker bar and they finally cracked.

I'll never complain about the price of a brake job again...
 
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