dg144

What torque should the wheel lugs be tighened to?

Short-Throw

100 ft/lbs

outnumbered

If tracking, check periodically during the event.

Short-Throw

But not when they're hot!

rcr162

Corvette wheel stud size is M12 X 1.5

Correct torque is 80 ft. lbs.

Here is a chart from Tire Rack.

Stud Size Typical Torque Range
12 x 1.5 mm 70 - 80
12 x 1.25 mm 70 - 80
14 x 1.5 mm 85 - 90
14 x 1.25 mm 85 - 90
7/16 in. 70 - 80
1/2 in. 75 - 85

HIRISC

With due respect - Tire Rack info is not correct for Vettes.

Torque for lug nuts is 100 ft lbs as Short Throw indicated.

From the 2007 Owners Manual - Page 428

2KZ28CAM

RTFM! J/K.

rcr162

The owner's manual is wrong. Their lawyers told them to make sure the wheels don't fall off the car, thus the excessive torque figure. The correct amount of torque for that fastener is 80 ft. lbs. I would never go higher than 90 ft. lbs.

HIRISC

Why not?

USA1C5

100 is correct, I think the chart don't apply to aluminium wheels, it may be correct for steel wheels.

805Z06

same

rcr162

100 ft lbs will stretch a 12 mm stud. When overtorqued, the wheel studs stretch. They will get weaker and weaker each time they are stretched, and eventually break. If the wheels are only removed rarely, such as to replace tires or brake pads, it might not be a problem. If the wheels are removed frequently, such as for cleaning, there is a significant risk of broken wheel studs.

80 or 90 ft. lbs is plenty tight enough. I would rather use a little less torque and not have wheel studs snapping off.

Ranger

Hi rcr,

I've not had any issue with the wheel studs on any of my Corvettes.

I follow the manufacture's spec of 100, hand-torqued in a three step 30-70-100 following a star pattern so that no two lugnuts are tightened in sequence.

On the last three cars, Z06s all, I've had the rear wheels on and off the car at least 100 times, swapping with drags radials for the drag strip. Never broken a wheel stud or had any hub issues.

Ranger

Greg Gore

Think of a bolt or a stud as a spring which stores a force applied to in the form of stretch. Stretch is actually what you want; it is what develops the clamp load which keeps your assembly together. Yield is what you don't want; it is the result of stretching the fastener more than it is designed to handle. Proper tightening values can only be recommended from an engineering study of the fasteners characteristics. Engineers will assign a torque wrench value for tightening the fastener after determining the amount that results in the desired amount of stretch. Size and length of the fastener and its material and thread pitch and presence of lubricant all cause the stretch number to vary and engineering will take all of this into account when they decide a torque wrench specification.

CodyC6

Any relation to the Gore family at Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, VA.

Greg Gore

Not that I know of, name is fairly uncommon.

USA1C5

My mothers maiden name is Gore, from Virginia.
By the way I'm 8'Jr. Fan.

davidfarmer

Just checked the service manual, and it also says 100ft-lb. I personally torque to 90-92ft-lb. I think for a street car, 100ft-lb is fine, but if you track your car, the constant over-torqueing (I personally agree that 100 is too much) will eventually cause them to fail due to fatigue.

We had a Lexus that called for 78ft-lb, which I think is too low, but 90 "FEELS" just right for me, and I've never had one come loose in 20years of racing Vettes. I have seen friends brake studs by over-torquing, however!

gonzalezfj

Dave, you have to TRUST the engineers...

Frank Gonzalez

davidfarmer

Frank....I am an engineer, and I've had more failures due to GM mistakes (2 engines failed due to back lifter guides, numerous brake failures, clutch failures in the original Z06 era etc) than I have from trusting my instincts.

Let me re-iterate....I've personally seen studs brakes at 100ftlb, while I've NEVER had one come loose at 90ft-lb.

The original poster needs to decide where he falls in line.