Torque wrench question

[tomsmith]

Switched my all seasons to winters today and was thinking of something so figured I'd ask the folks here.

When tightening lug nuts, do you tighten until the first click and then stop? Or the 3rd-4th click? Or do you tighten until it clicks and the socket doesn't turn anymore?

I used to be a 3-4 click guy but I realized even after the 4th click, the socket still turns a few degrees. Does that mean the torque hasn't quite been reached, or am I over-torquing it?

btw, it's a 2006 300C (5.7l HEMI) so its 100lb/ft and i have wrench set to 100 on the dot.

 

[twiggles]

1 click for me

 

[readhead]

One and done.

 

[JDishong]

First off, your going to be OK if you are within +/- 10 % anyway but it does sound like you might need to read up on the proper use of a torque wrench.

1st click is the correct click and how you apply force is the important factor. Ideally, you will apply "steady" force orthogonal to the wrench direction. Using "jerky" movements is not the proper technique. If you go back to "re-check" the nut, it should click with no additional rotation if forces are being applied the same.

 

[sensei_]

one click is all that is required. i dont retighten to double check because i trust my torque wrench (deflecting beam vs micrometer).

 

[Baada]

From an accuracy standpoint in a pure single bolt/nut situation with no gaskets or soft material in the joint one click is all it takes. Generally, if the torque wrench is even remotely accurate, going until another click or three shouldn't turn the fastener anymore because the static torque to initiate movement will be higher than the dynamic torque was when it clicked the first time when it was moving.

Now when you are doing lug nuts there is going to be some slop in the system if you didn't pretighten all the lugnuts before torquing them down. So if you are seeing movement on the 2nd or 3rd click then something in your is relaxing or centering itself and you are removing the slop.

 

[Alaric.H]

I do not feel confident with click type torque wrench's I use dial type and I know its right. But I do have a couple click types for certain jobs.

 

[AV tinker er]

I have had several inspectors (I work on aircraft) that had different opinions on this subject. When torquing a nut with a given range, say 100-115 inch lbs I usually aim for the middle due to torque wrench inaccuracies. However you are right that continuing to "click" can apply more torque than desired. Easy way to test is to see what torque the wrench does not break at when removing the nut. Example: torque to 80 ft lbs click three times and see if your nut will break at 80 ft lbs or if it takes 81 or more ft lbs.

 

[thightower]

I had a Ariel compressor class a couple years ago. The instructor showed us the torque increases with every click. He was using a digital torque meter to show us. So the first click is the actual torque, each additional click increases the torque on the fastener.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

If you follow thru the click at all, the torque wrench becomes "solid" and you are applying torque above the setting. Ideally, you should stop pushing/pulling the moment it begins to break and not follow thru. This was demonstrated to me on a torque wrench calibration device in a calibration room. This is especially important with low range inch pound torque wrenches. At 40 lb/in on a small clicker, the slightest follow thru beyond the initial "break" was overtorquing.

Charles

 

[tomsmith]

Thanks for the info everyone, some really good information here.

I went back this morning and loosened all the nuts and then re-tightened them to the first click. I left my micrometer torque wrench to 100ft/lb.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Thanks for the info everyone, some really good information here.

I went back this morning and loosened all the nuts and then re-tightened them to the first click. I left my micrometer torque wrench to 100ft/lb.

You worded that badly. You make it sound as if you stored the torque wrench after you finished with it, with it still set to 100 lb/ft, which is a big no-no for a micrometer type torque wrench.

Charles

 

[tomsmith]

Lol, yep, my bad. I meant I set my torque wrench to 100ft/lb when I re-tightened the nuts.

I always set the torque wrench to 20ft/lbs once I'm done working with it for the exact reason you mentioned.

 

[lt1driver]

0 when I am finished.

 

[pmason0]

I normally do 1 or 2 clicks, I'm always changing tires on the race car.

 

[sdguy55]

I almost always do 1 click, ratchet a tooth in reverse and then check the torque again. If im dealing with a very 'squishy' gasket i find it almost always turns a little bit more.

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[coljar]

I run the "star pattern" with the torque wrench and then go across each lug one more time.

 

[lilscorpion]

2 clicks. I understand that I might go over a few ft/lbs but don't care. I run the alternating pattern twice to make sure I didn't inadvertently miss one. Doing the pattern twice helps me feel more confident that I didn't miss. In all my years I've never had an issue so it's now more likely a habit than necessary.