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Rotate tires -- torque and lugnut question

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by KrisTheFrog, Aug 19, 2013.

  1. KrisTheFrog

    KrisTheFrog New Member

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    I have a brand-new torque wrench. It is time to rotate my tires.

    So, I find that 21mm is the socket size for lug nuts? Are they pretty much the same across the board for all Japanese models?

    Can I use an extension handle and still be accurate on the torque?

    In the past I always stomped and jumped up and down as hard as I could on the stubby Toyota lug wrench and figured that was tight enough.
     
  2. vskid3

    vskid3 Active Member

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    I don't see why not, it'll just be easier to go too far after it clicks. 76 ft-lbs is what I found for the correct torque. Torque wrenches are usually long enough that you shouldn't need any more length to do 76 ft-lbs.
     
  3. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    Yes, I use a short extension (about 5") with my torque wrench when I'm torquing up my lug nuts. I usually use 70 to 75 ft-lbs.

    Then it sounds like a good thing that you've now got yourself a torque wrench. That past "stompy" method is a terrible way to torque up those nuts. For one thing it's likely to over-torque them, but in addition it unnecessarily places a lot of shear and bending moment on the studs. I've seen people snap studs off using that method.

    Generally I both remove and replace my wheel nuts with an x-brace, and then just use the torque wrench to do the final tensioning.
     
  4. KrisTheFrog

    KrisTheFrog New Member

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    Thanks for the replies! I actually have a 1/4-inch torque wrench, a 3/8-inch and now the 1/2-inch.

    I originally bought Harbor Freight for the 1/4 and 3/8 back in April. But the "spring button" that holds the socket on the wrench was "stuck" inside on the 3/8" and the 1/4" did not click at all.

    So, I returned them and ended up buying some Texton brand. They both work great. But, knowing I have to rotate the tires, bit the bullet and bought another Harbor Freight wrench -- the half-inch -- last week when they had it on super-duper, extra special $10 price.

    I only plan to use it on tires, so I figure it does not have to be too accurate.

    BTW -- my stomping and jumping did snap a stud on my old Corolla years ago. Denny, my mechanic thought it extremely funny. At that time I probably weighed 120. I may be a few pounds heavier, but since I don't bicycle as much, I may not have as much leg strength as I used to have.

    Anyway, Patrick here on the board has been telling me to get torque wrenches for years -- and while they may not be the best, I do finally have at least a couple that seem to work. I'll see how it goes with the new Harbor Freight tool this weekend.
     
  5. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    Sounds like they're fairly low quality then. Hopefully the new one is better.

    I'm also of the mind that if you only use a tool occasionally you can often get away with the cheap stuff. My 1/2 torque wrench is some cheap made in Taiwan thing too, but I've had for about 25 years and it still works. I only use it a couple of times a year, mostly just to the rotate tires these days, but in the past I have used it to replace/re-tension heads. I even set it up in bench vice earlier this year and checked the calibration with a spring gauge. Even after 25 year it was still fairly accurate.

    BTW. With these "micrometer" style clicker wrenches it's important to remember to wind them back to zero after usage to avoid having them go out of calibration.