Honda Car Forum

Just wanted to double-check this. I have never tightened the lug nuts
on tires using any method other than "as tight as you can get them",
using either a wrench or an impact gun. Since I am worried about the
potential of warping the rotors, I bought a torque wrench and today I
replaced the wheels on my 06 Civic Si.

The specs I found said 80 ft/lbs. This is what I did. It really
doesn't seem all that tight, though. Is this the right torque, or was
I mislead? Last thing I want is a wheel coming off at speed, and I DO
like to drive hard... ;-)


--
Joe - Linux User #449481/Ubuntu User #19733
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

On Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:54:15 -0500, Joe
<joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> wrote:

>Just wanted to double-check this. I have never tightened the lug nuts
>on tires using any method other than "as tight as you can get them",
>using either a wrench or an impact gun. Since I am worried about the
>potential of warping the rotors, I bought a torque wrench and today I
>replaced the wheels on my 06 Civic Si.
>
>The specs I found said 80 ft/lbs. This is what I did. It really
>doesn't seem all that tight, though. Is this the right torque, or was
>I mislead? Last thing I want is a wheel coming off at speed, and I DO
>like to drive hard... ;-)


Lug nuts have no bearing at all on rotors. Torque for lug nuts is for
1. Safety
2. Alloy rims and safety

Joe <joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> wrote in
news:slrngv2vhn.rka.joe@barada.griffincs.local:

> Just wanted to double-check this. I have never tightened the lug nuts
> on tires using any method other than "as tight as you can get them",
> using either a wrench or an impact gun. Since I am worried about the
> potential of warping the rotors, I bought a torque wrench and today I
> replaced the wheels on my 06 Civic Si.
>
> The specs I found said 80 ft/lbs. This is what I did. It really
> doesn't seem all that tight, though. Is this the right torque,



It is the correct torque. 80 ft-lbs puts a LOT of clamping force on the
wheel.

Too many clueless people seem to think the "correct" torque is the figure
where they need to jump on the ratchet to achieve it.




> or was
> I mislead? Last thing I want is a wheel coming off at speed, and I DO
> like to drive hard... ;-)
>


At 80 ft-lbs you will have no problems with wheels coming loose. Nor will
you have problems with studs snapping off.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

On 4/24/09 3:54 AM, in article slrngv2vhn.rka.joe@barada.griffincs.local,
"Joe" <joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> wrote:

> Just wanted to double-check this. I have never tightened the lug nuts
> on tires using any method other than "as tight as you can get them",
> using either a wrench or an impact gun. Since I am worried about the
> potential of warping the rotors, I bought a torque wrench and today I
> replaced the wheels on my 06 Civic Si.
>
> The specs I found said 80 ft/lbs. This is what I did. It really
> doesn't seem all that tight, though. Is this the right torque, or was
> I mislead? Last thing I want is a wheel coming off at speed, and I DO
> like to drive hard... ;-)
>

80 ft/lbs has been the correct torque for Honda wheels for as long as I can
remember.

On 2009-04-24, Clete <lecllaij@halifax.ca> wrote:
> On Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:54:15 -0500, Joe
><joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> wrote:
>
>>Just wanted to double-check this. I have never tightened the lug nuts
>>on tires using any method other than "as tight as you can get them",
>>using either a wrench or an impact gun. Since I am worried about the
>>potential of warping the rotors, I bought a torque wrench and today I
>>replaced the wheels on my 06 Civic Si.
>>
>>The specs I found said 80 ft/lbs. This is what I did. It really
>>doesn't seem all that tight, though. Is this the right torque, or was
>>I mislead? Last thing I want is a wheel coming off at speed, and I DO
>>like to drive hard... ;-)
>
>
> Lug nuts have no bearing at all on rotors. Torque for lug nuts is for
> 1. Safety
> 2. Alloy rims and safety

I am pretty sure you are wrong on this. I have read many reports, as
well as talked to several mechanics, who have stated that over-torque
on lug nuts on single thickness (non-ventilated) rotors will cause
warping.

I am no expert, by far, but I have already seen a difference. The
front wheels were making noise when torqued up, and the noise has
disappeared at 80 ft/lbs.

--
Joe - Linux User #449481/Ubuntu User #19733
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

On 2009-04-24, Tegger <invalid@invalid.inv> wrote:
> Joe <joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> wrote in
> news:slrngv2vhn.rka.joe@barada.griffincs.local:
>
>> Just wanted to double-check this. I have never tightened the lug nuts
>> on tires using any method other than "as tight as you can get them",
>> using either a wrench or an impact gun. Since I am worried about the
>> potential of warping the rotors, I bought a torque wrench and today I
>> replaced the wheels on my 06 Civic Si.
>>
>> The specs I found said 80 ft/lbs. This is what I did. It really
>> doesn't seem all that tight, though. Is this the right torque,
>
>
>
> It is the correct torque. 80 ft-lbs puts a LOT of clamping force on the
> wheel.

Thanks Teg. It just FEELS to light... ;-)

>
> Too many clueless people seem to think the "correct" torque is the figure
> where they need to jump on the ratchet to achieve it.

It's the way most of us were taught by Dad... ;-)

>
>
>
>
>> or was
>> I mislead? Last thing I want is a wheel coming off at speed, and I DO
>> like to drive hard... ;-)
>>
>
>
> At 80 ft-lbs you will have no problems with wheels coming loose. Nor will
> you have problems with studs snapping off.

Exactly what I needed. As always, appreciate the good info.

--
Joe - Linux User #449481/Ubuntu User #19733
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

On 2009-04-24, E. Meyer <epmeyer50@msn.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> On 4/24/09 3:54 AM, in article slrngv2vhn.rka.joe@barada.griffincs.local,
> "Joe" <joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> wrote:
>
>> Just wanted to double-check this. I have never tightened the lug nuts
>> on tires using any method other than "as tight as you can get them",
>> using either a wrench or an impact gun. Since I am worried about the
>> potential of warping the rotors, I bought a torque wrench and today I
>> replaced the wheels on my 06 Civic Si.
>>
>> The specs I found said 80 ft/lbs. This is what I did. It really
>> doesn't seem all that tight, though. Is this the right torque, or was
>> I mislead? Last thing I want is a wheel coming off at speed, and I DO
>> like to drive hard... ;-)
>>
>
> 80 ft/lbs has been the correct torque for Honda wheels for as long as I can
> remember.
>

Hey, this is my first Honda. While I've had it since new, I've never
changed a tire on it before...

Hell, this is my first car with alloy wheels... ;-)


--
Joe - Linux User #449481/Ubuntu User #19733
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

Joe <joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> wrote in
news:slrngv49n9.u2g.joe@barada.griffincs.local:

> On 2009-04-24, Tegger <invalid@invalid.inv> wrote:
>> Joe <joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> wrote in
>> news:slrngv2vhn.rka.joe@barada.griffincs.local:
>>
>>> Just wanted to double-check this. I have never tightened the lug
>>> nuts on tires using any method other than "as tight as you can get
>>> them", using either a wrench or an impact gun. Since I am worried
>>> about the potential of warping the rotors, I bought a torque wrench
>>> and today I replaced the wheels on my 06 Civic Si.
>>>
>>> The specs I found said 80 ft/lbs. This is what I did. It really
>>> doesn't seem all that tight, though. Is this the right torque,
>>
>>
>>
>> It is the correct torque. 80 ft-lbs puts a LOT of clamping force on
>> the wheel.
>
> Thanks Teg. It just FEELS to light... ;-)




That's why people break fasteners (I'll turn the wrench juuuust a little
more...).

You need to learn the "feel" that comes with approaching correct torque.
There's a sudden ramp-up in turning effort that is your clue.



>
>>
>> Too many clueless people seem to think the "correct" torque is the
>> figure where they need to jump on the ratchet to achieve it.
>
> It's the way most of us were taught by Dad... ;-)




My dad was a mechanical engineer. I still have his old beam-type torque
wrench.




>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> or was
>>> I mislead? Last thing I want is a wheel coming off at speed, and I
>>> DO like to drive hard... ;-)
>>>
>>
>>
>> At 80 ft-lbs you will have no problems with wheels coming loose. Nor
>> will you have problems with studs snapping off.
>
> Exactly what I needed. As always, appreciate the good info.
>


You're welcome.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"Tegger" <invalid@invalid.inv> wrote in message
news:Xns9BF7AFE4EB32Dtegger@208.90.168.18...
> Joe <joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> wrote in
> news:slrngv49n9.u2g.joe@barada.griffincs.local:
>
>> On 2009-04-24, Tegger <invalid@invalid.inv> wrote:
>>> Joe <joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> wrote in
>>> news:slrngv2vhn.rka.joe@barada.griffincs.local:
>>>
>>>> Just wanted to double-check this. I have never tightened the lug
>>>> nuts on tires using any method other than "as tight as you can get
>>>> them", using either a wrench or an impact gun. Since I am worried
>>>> about the potential of warping the rotors, I bought a torque wrench
>>>> and today I replaced the wheels on my 06 Civic Si.
>>>>
>>>> The specs I found said 80 ft/lbs. This is what I did. It really
>>>> doesn't seem all that tight, though. Is this the right torque,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> It is the correct torque. 80 ft-lbs puts a LOT of clamping force on
>>> the wheel.
>>
>> Thanks Teg. It just FEELS to light... ;-)
>
>
>
>
> That's why people break fasteners (I'll turn the wrench juuuust a little
> more...).
>
> You need to learn the "feel" that comes with approaching correct torque.
> There's a sudden ramp-up in turning effort that is your clue.
>
>
>
>>
>>>
>>> Too many clueless people seem to think the "correct" torque is the
>>> figure where they need to jump on the ratchet to achieve it.
>>
>> It's the way most of us were taught by Dad... ;-)
>
>
>
>
> My dad was a mechanical engineer. I still have his old beam-type torque
> wrench.
>
>
Still have mine.. was using it back in the 60s when I bought it at Sears.

>
>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> or was
>>>> I mislead? Last thing I want is a wheel coming off at speed, and I
>>>> DO like to drive hard... ;-)
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> At 80 ft-lbs you will have no problems with wheels coming loose. Nor
>>> will you have problems with studs snapping off.
>>
>> Exactly what I needed. As always, appreciate the good info.
>>
>
>
> You're welcome.
>
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"tww1491" <twaugh5@cox.net> wrote in
news:OurIl.49248$Ji5.41370@newsfe21.iad:

>
> "Tegger" <invalid@invalid.inv> wrote in message
> news:Xns9BF7AFE4EB32Dtegger@208.90.168.18...


>>
>>
>> My dad was a mechanical engineer. I still have his old beam-type
>> torque wrench.
>>
>>
> Still have mine.. was using it back in the 60s when I bought it at
> Sears.
>
>


Dad's old beam-type is the "DURO" brand, No. 8099½ (no I'm not kidding;
there really is a one-half symbol in there), made by Duro Metal Products of
Chicago. The unit calls itself a "Tension Indicator". Reads up to 100 ft
lbs.

Here it is:
<http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/torque_wrench_comparing_2.jpg>


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/