'99 Ford Explorer 4.0 SOHC
What is the proper wheel lug nut torque for factory alloy wheels? I can't find this info in my owners manual. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

On my 97, if I recall correctly, it is 100 ft-lb. Others I am sure will chime in as well.

 

From the Ford service manual for my '98:

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Tighten the lug nuts in sequence to 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).

CAUTION: Failure to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern can result in high rotor runout, which will speed up the development of brake roughness, shudder and vibration.

************************************************** ******

The manual does not include this step, but I follow the star pattern in three stages (50, 75, 100). It is much less likely to damage the rotors.

 

Always been the way I do it also...

 

Also what I was taught to do...

-JB

 

Hi all,

I realize that this is an old thread, but I hope someone is still paying attention, I need a little help.

I've been doing my own work on my ford SUV for many years, any time I've had to remove the tires I've always done it by hand...

well, times are changing, I am sick of that and recently purchased a 70 pc air tool kit from advanced auto parts, this kit includes a 1/2 inch impact wrench, however the kit DOES NOT (???) include a user manual.

so my question is this.. the air impact wrench (mechanics choice) has 4 torque settings (1-4), I have no idea what each setting is, does anyone have any idea, what setting should I use when tightening my lug nuts? Also, as an aside, the unit has an oil port blocked by a set screw, should this port be filled with oil before using?

anyone with any ideas please help,

Thanks,

JJ

 

and I always set the **** at 2. Then when I'm done with tightening the lugnuts with the impact, I snug them up with a half inch drive ratchet. I have not checked that torque with a wrench, but with all the wheels I've tightened over the last 10 years (been doing car repair part time) I've never had any come loose this way, or had any rotors warp.

The third setting on the **** seems too tight to me.

For oil, I just put a few drops down the air line coupling on the impact wrench once in a while. My impact wrench is probably 12 years old and still works fine.

Ryan.

 

Welcome to the forum!

Your request really is not related to the old thread you posted to, in the future please start a new thread if you search and a recent thread doesn't already exist.

The torque setting 1 is the lowest setting, setting 4 is the highest. But, these don't correspond to a particular torque value. Additionally, the longer you let the impact hammer, the more torque it will apply up to its physical limitation (and supplied air). Applying torque solely with an impact is too inconsistent. You need to also purchase a torque wrench to properly torque the lugnuts using the star pattern as suggested in the posts above. You could start the lugnuts by hand to make sure they are not cross threaded, then use the impact set on 1 or 2 to spin the lugs most of the way on, but stop as soon as the impact starts to hammer. Once you have all 5 snug, use the torque wrench to properly torque them in the star pattern as well.

As for the oil port, you probably only will need to use that if the impact sits for several months without use. Typically 5 drops of air tool oil in the air nipple will be sufficient just prior to use. You shouldn't need to remove the fill plug.

-Rod

 

Rod,

Thanks for the info and the welcome, I appreciate your help and will follow your suggestion regarding any future posts to the forum.

JJ