Community Forums

dwaugh10 · 03-02-2020, 12:01 PM

What are folks using to check the lugnut torque on the 22.5 inch tires?

cvbdsl · 03-02-2020, 12:12 PM

I use a tire shop. They have the tools and most provide a certification slip (at least where I live). Trying to find a torque multiplier and long handled wrench are not worth it in my opinion.

Chris

**Lt Dan** · 03-02-2020, 12:51 PM

You can't check it with ordinary tools. The average is about 450 ftlbs and requires heavy duty air tools or a torque multiplier.

Dav L · 03-02-2020, 01:31 PM

To check torque, you need a torque wrench (not an air impact)
To apply torque, you can use a torque multiplier (not an air impact) or a long bar.
To remove lugs, you can use a heavy duty air impact (or long bar) if breakaway torque is not of interest (typically not).
To put on lugs quickly (not to torque) use an impact in a Star Pattern. Followed by torque wrench to torque to spec (typically 450ft lbs).

CountryB · 03-02-2020, 02:31 PM

You must use a torque wrench to get the proper nut torque. Do not try to use an impact gun or torque multiplier - those are not accurate enough.
I use this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dav L · 03-02-2020, 03:12 PM

With this you can use a long breaker bar, a torque multiplier or a torque wrench (redundant)
https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-20743A-.../dp/B009GLITFW

the meter would go close to the lug nut. Any socket adapter, multipliers etc would go after that for most accurate. And no, you can't use an air impact with the meter...

I have also used a lighter duty torque wrench to a multiplier and just increased the wrench setting by 10% (45lbs at the lug nut, and divided by the multiplier of the torque multiplier...) to make up for the losses inherent in the multiplier. And make sure that all is "straight" and parallel to the lug stud. ie: nothing is on an angle that puts more torque loss in the system.

Sundancer268 · 03-02-2020, 03:35 PM

A cheap 600ftlb wrench I purchased on E-Bay. Might not be the most accurate, but it is consistant and I consider that more important to keep from warping the rotor disks. If I didn't have the wrench, I would have to drive almost an hour to get to a truck repair facility. Not worth it and the wrench has paid for its self in my book.

Dutch Star Don · 03-02-2020, 03:46 PM

Many are telling you what is needed to measure torque, a pretty common sense answer. But....I think your question is....what ARE YOU USING to measure torque. I'm guessing you want to check the torque on your new motor home. The honest reality, I bet less than 1% of RV owners check their torque on a new motor home, with 22.5 rims, even after a shop using large air tools does wheel work. I've had a DP with 22.5 tires for 16 years and I never checked the torque. I've also never seen a DP have it's wheel fall off or a rim ruined from not being torqued Just not an issue.

I've pulled several wheels off at home and just used a 6' breaker bar to reinstall the lugs, no torque wrench was used. I've been doing that 16 years and 130K miles.

I wouldn't worry about your new coach.

asuperheat · 03-02-2020, 04:47 PM

I use a Milwaukee high Tq 18 volt impact with a Tq limiting extension and double check it with a 600 ftlb Tq wrench. The Tq limiting extension works well and is pretty accurate.

Dav L · 03-02-2020, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Many are telling you what is needed to measure torque, a pretty common sense answer. But....I think your question is....what ARE YOU USING to measure torque. I'm guessing you want to check the torque on your new motor home. The honest reality, I bet less than 1% of RV owners check their torque on a new motor home, with 22.5 rims, even after a shop using large air tools does wheel work. I've had a DP with 22.5 tires for 16 years and I never checked the torque. I've also never seen a DP have it's wheel fall off or a rim ruined from not being torqued Just not an issue.

I've pulled several wheels off at home and just used a 6' breaker bar to reinstall the lugs, no torque wrench was used. I've been doing that 16 years and 130K miles.

I wouldn't worry about your new coach.

Me too Don, but a LOT of forum users have no idea what 450fl lbs is to apply. Most have never had to play with that tight of a bolt. It's in the 0.05% category. So, for newbees that don't have a calibrated wrist, using a torque wrench once will help understand.

Ray,IN · 03-02-2020, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

What are folks using to check the lugnut torque on the 22.5 inch tires?

The tire shop used one with a 5' handle to torque mine. Then 50 miles later they did a repeat.

dwaugh10 · 03-02-2020, 06:53 PM

I guess I was thinking of using a lower cost torque multiplier and a torque wrench. Sounds like the multiplier ratios is not well controlled, so final value is off. But then, how far off is acceptable?

Sundancer268 · 03-02-2020, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

I guess I was thinking of using a lower cost torque multiplier and a torque wrench. Sounds like the multiplier ratios is not well controlled, so final value is off. But then, how far off is acceptable?

I believe consistency is more important than accuracy. To many people leave their wrench at the set point instead of resetting to the minimum and that ruins the accuracy but the wrench stays consistent just not torquing as high as it should and in most cases the wheels don’t fall off

Dav L · 03-02-2020, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

I guess I was thinking of using a lower cost torque multiplier and a torque wrench. Sounds like the multiplier ratios is not well controlled, so final value is off. But then, how far off is acceptable?

See post 6. The multiplier will tell you the multiplication ratio and also should tell you the loss factor (the ~10%).

the math: If end torque is 450, then the target is 450+45 or 495. If the multipler is 4:1 then 495/4 = 124. That is what torque should be displayed on the medium duty torque wrench to get the lug nut to 450.

If the lug nuts have been loosened, the tighten in a star pattern. Drive 50 or so miles and retorque.

And to Don's point, it would be handy to try to tighten the lug without the muliplier and with a large breaker bar just to "feel" how tight 450lbs is without the multiplier or torque wrench. You don't want to overtighten. Just until the nut barely moves post torquing. Do that a few dozen times across years and you'll "calibrate" your wrist