Lug nut torque

[CATMdude45]

Anyone know what the original torque specs were on a 69 bronco lug nut? I torque mine to 100 foot pounds but had one wheel loosen up…,,

 

[DirtDonk]

Well, that was not the fault of the lug nut torque then. Something else going on.
Maybe that stud is compromised. Maybe 100 is too much? But I don’t think so.
That 100 pounds is a good general torque which I think the half-inch studs can handle.
The original was probably more like 85 pounds, but I’m just throwing that out there from the top of my head. Someone here will know.
I ran mine at 75 pounds for over 30 years and never once had one come loose.

 

[DirtDonk]

What kind of wheels?

 

[Yeller]

Here’s the chart I’ve used forever. 100 is on the high side but not that high, I can promise the tire store is that or more with the kid jumping on the torque wrench. My first question would be, sure you have the correct lug nut for the wheel? Also unless they have been changed how many times has that 50ish year old wheel stud been torqued? Unless you’ve personally changed the tires since new it probably has been over tightened in its past and stretched.

 

[CATMdude45]

What kind of wheels?

They are the original steel

 

[CATMdude45]

Here’s the chart I’ve used forever. 100 is on the high side but not that high, I can promise the tire store is that or more with the kid jumping on the torque wrench. My first question would be, sure you have the correct lug nut for the wheel? Also unless they have been changed how many times has that 50ish year old wheel stud been torqued? Unless you’ve personally changed the tires since new it probably has been over tightened in its past and stretched.

That could have been the problem as the studs were loose when i took the rim off… i drove about ten miles before i figured out the loose lug nuts, i have since replaced studs with disk breaks so it should be fine now

 

[Yeller]

Should be. Sometimes when you change studs it is necessary to retorque after a few miles, sometimes the studs aren’t quite pressed in all the way. Same with new wheels, the lug nut seats need to finish setting.

 

[badandy73]

90 ft-lbs per the manual I do believe, probably 95% of the EB's out there have had them torqued to 100 without issue for decades.

 

[DirtDonk]

Regarding the chart above, GM actually uses 105lbs for 14mm stud on passenger cars and trucks. Or at least they did for aluminum wheels in both my ‘96 and ‘04 owners manuals.

 

[Yeller]

Regarding the chart above, GM actually uses 105lbs for 14mm stud on passenger cars and trucks. Or at least they did for aluminum wheels in both my ‘96 and ‘04 owners manuals.

That makes sense, 14mm is larger than 1/2” and slightly smaller than 9/16”

 

[Broncobowsher]

Are they new studs? Or newly installed press fit?
The lugnuts may have loosened up as the studs seated in a little more.

 

[73azbronco]

I remember 75ft/lbs from the 70's, but if you had new studs, That would be torque required to seat stud, then losen and retorque to spec.

 

[CATMdude45]

Are they new studs? Or newly installed press fit?
The lugnuts may have loosened up as the studs seated in a little more.

No it was original I had taken wheels off to repack front bearings, put everything back together drove to a car show and back rechecked and everything was loose on drivers side

 

[DirtDonk]

Have you had that wheel off since to inspect the backside? Maybe there is a crack, or maybe was some debris or something built up between it and the brake drum/rotor that might have come free and allowed some slop.
Grasping at straws here.

Is it remotely possible that out of the four wheels, you accidentally left one untorqued?

 

[CATMdude45]

Have you had that wheel off since to inspect the backside? Maybe there is a crack, or maybe was some debris or something built up between it and the brake drum/rotor that might have come free and allowed some slop.
Grasping at straws here.

Is it remotely possible that out of the four wheels, you accidentally left one untorqued?

I didn’t find anything but I have since completed a disk break conversion and swapped out that rim due to some oblong holes….
Ian’s I can’t say for positive I did or did not torque them but since I only worked on the front bearings I would think I did both at their same time lol