How-To: Torque Wheel Nuts Properly With Torque Sticks - Capri Tools

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$0.00 0 NEW 6 & 7mm Impact Sockets View nowHome / How-tos Guide / How-To: Torque Wheel Nuts Properly with Torque Sticks

Step 1: Select A Torque Stick With 20% Lower Torque Than Your Final Wheel Torque

Start by using a breaker bar (not a torque wrench) to break loose the wheel nuts. The long handle on a breaker bar allows you to generate a larger amount of torque with the same amount of force, enabling you to break loose very tight wheel nuts.

Next, you’ll need to select the proper torque stick. To do this, make sure you first know the wheel torque of your vehicle. This can be found in your vehicle manual. Select a torque stick rated approximately 20% lower than the wheel torque you need.

Torque sticks are used as extensions on air impact wrenches to stop applying torque when they reach a specified flex point. By choosing a torque stick with a lower torque than the wheel torque of your vehicle, you’ll avoid over-torquing the wheel nuts and potentially damaging your wheel.

Step 2: Apply Torque On A Wheel Nut With A Quick Tap

Once you select the proper torque stick, attach it correctly to the air impact wrench along with the proper socket. Make sure to calibrate the air impact wrench to its proper setting.

When tightening the wheel nuts with the air impact wrench, use only a quick tap—don’t continue to apply torque. Hammering the air impact wrench into the nuts will likely over-torque them, even with a torque stick.

Step 3: Torque The Wheel Nuts In A Star Pattern

It’s important to torque each wheel nut in a star pattern. Start by tightening any wheel nut, then tighten the wheel nut directly opposite from that one. Tighten the nut opposite that one and keep going until all the wheel nuts are tightened. By using this “star pattern,” all the nuts will be evenly torqued and eliminate vibration.

Step 4: Always Finish Tightening the Wheel Nuts With A Torque Wrench

To finish tightening the wheel nuts, use a torque wrench. Set the torque wrench to the proper wheel torque of the vehicle (using the vehicle manual as a reference). Then, hand torque each wheel nut again using the star pattern.

The torque wrench will click when each wheel nut is properly tightened. Do not continue tightening the nut after you hear the click—on some cars, exceeding the torque value will ruin the wheel nuts.

Credit: Faye Hadley, Pistons and Pixie Dust

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Tag » How Do Torque Sticks Work