proper lug tightening

[DrLove'sKuDang]

i know this has got to the the most rookie question, but im still having problems. i know the proper tightening patter and all, and i use a torque wrench and tighten to stock spec(80lb/ft). but for some oddass reason ive stripped 3 studs in the past 6 months.

i do have one specific question. while the car is in the air, am i supposed to tighten it fully and then lower the car or... tighten to maybe just 60lb.ft and then drop the car and then tighten it all the way?

ive read that im supposed to do the second... but every time im at a shop for a tire mounting or anything that requires taking off the wheels... they always fully tighten the lugs and then i just drive off. and of course i know im supposed to retorque after 25 miles or so. but still, they tighten them all the way while still in the air, which isnt what ive been told to do. so what is the proper way?

[phonts69]

i think if in the air, a torque gun can be use because its not gonna turn the wheel when u use it. if u use a torque wrench the the air it'll turn the wheel.
thats why i tighten alittle in the air and torque on the ground, coz i gots no gun.

[DrLove'sKuDang]

well if its the fronts im doing, i can put it in gear and the wheels wont move.

one more thing i just thought of. does it matter that ive been using my wheel locks on the steelies? my wheels use the tuner(conical) type lug... what kind is supposed to be used on stock steelies?

[accordztech]

any on steelies i think...but i torque with a torque wrench to 82 ft/lb

[93accordEX]

technically you should torque on the ground. shop = you do whats fastest. I mean technically you shouldn't use an impact at all even if you have those torque stick things.

[accordztech]

what i do is use a impact gun to get the bolt snugg so i can put the wheel down to the floor..which is like spin till it stops..which is only very loose still..then torque it and then drive and then come back and torque again.

[cokinut]

impact gun/air gun on your wheel locks is a no no. you can easily strip your key and then your SOL. I always hand torque mine down because i've come across a couple of my friends cars who tightened their wheels down with an air gun and those f*ckers were hard to break loose.

oh, and i torque them on the ground.

[Andrew]

If you're only tightening the lugs in the air a little bit, so that the wheel still has wobble room you will damage the studs when you go to tighten everything up on the ground. What will happen, in this instance, is that the wheel, with the weight of the car on it, will drag along the stud threads as you tighten the lug down. This strips the studs. You should make sure that the studs are hand tight (with your lug wrench), so that, without exerting significant force, they are "tight." Then put the car on the ground and torque up to the reccomended weight.

If you encounter resistance to putting the lug on, then back it off and start over... it is possible to crossthread. The effect I described in the previous paragraph could be duplicated if you don't hold the wheel against the hub while you're putting the lug on; just try not to ever let the wheel drag along the studs.

Finally, shops tend to do things quickly and without reserve for correct procedure. If the guys there find that they can put wheels on in the air, thus skipping the 2 step method, they will. They're not always a good guide for your own actions.

[accordztech]

i dont tighten with my torque gun. what i do is put the lug on and press the ON botton on the torque gun and it will go in, then tap the on button so its slightly slightly snug.

the reason i dont put it on the ground and then put the lug on is that the tire may not be even and just as ANDREW said if u feel some tightness or resistance back off.

but when i bring it down from the jack, i just lightly set it on the ground and not fully on the ground so at least i can tighten the lugs with my torque wrench a little more. then when its on tehg round i tighten more then drive then torque it to spec

[Andrew]

Originally posted by accordztech
the reason i dont put it on the ground and then put the lug on is that the tire may not be even and just as ANDREW said if u feel some tightness or resistance back off.

but when i bring it down from the jack, i just lightly set it on the ground and not fully on the ground so at least i can tighten the lugs with my torque wrench a little more. then when its on tehg round i tighten more then drive then torque it to spec

w00t! My name is in caps, I must be special!

That last part you mentioned is a good point. It's not a bad idea to keep the weight off the wheels until they're torque'd down, ACCORDZTECH.

[Later2u]

I snug them with the wrench in the air then drop the wheel until it touch's the ground then I torque them down. Never had one come off in over 25 years.

Carefull on how much you torque them because you can warp the rotors.