Is it a bad idea.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
Originally Posted by Patches
In my opinion it is a bad idea. I would tighten them as best I could and then drive to a local wheel shop and ask them to torque them properly for me even if it meant paying them. Cheap insurance . . . 
Even when I have my wheels being handled by a shop I get them put on by hand and torqued. I've never had a problem at a shop about this.
I hated it when someone would use an air wrench and put them on too tight so I always watch.
I'm always checking the torque on all lug nuts at a track anyway.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,683
Likes: 144
From: Memphis Tennessee
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
Craftsman Beam Torque Wrench
Sears item #00944642000 Mfr. model #44642
Beam-type. Separate English and Metric scales. Graduated indicator tip offers line-on-line reading to help eliminate parallax error. Torque accurate to 4 percent. $29.99
You can't swing $29.99 to do it right?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: Boston MA
Originally Posted by BigJoe
Remember the proper torque is not so much so the wheel will stay on, but to distribute the forces evenly on the brake rotor. If you get all the studs tightened to the same torque you should be OK, but if not you could get the dreaded warped rotor...
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Kenosha WI
Always use a torque wrench. There is no way you would be able to get them right by just wrenching it. Remember, you can easily overtighten the lugs wrenching without one. A broken stud is no fun. Trust me. And as mentioned, check them again. I always check in 50 miles.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 0
From: Georgetown (Sun City) Texas
Originally Posted by canadianguy
To take off/put back on, my tires by hand. This means I can only estimate the tourque, or tighten as tight as I can. I have done this with many other cars, but this is not just any other car.
Buy a torque wrench at Sears and torque them to 100 ft/lbs.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 14,616
Likes: 219
From: Ohio
Originally Posted by mjallen40
Always use a torque wrench. There is no way you would be able to get them right by just wrenching it. Remember, you can easily overtighten the lugs wrenching without one. A broken stud is no fun. Trust me. And as mentioned, check them again. I always check in 50 miles.
Torque wrenches are cheap insurance.
Interesting note...I torque first to 60, then 80, then 100.
The jump from 80 to 100 is less than a quarter turn...doesn't take much.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,536
Likes: 24,826
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Ideally, you should progressively tighten them down using a torque wrench going from 60, to 80 then 100 ft lbs. I have on occasion tightened them down using a four way lug wrench and have had no problems. I have heard that tightening them down too much can lead to warped rotors.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
Originally Posted by canadianguy
See how useless I am, I never knew of this tool. I thought I would need to buy a hydraulic tool. Thanks, off to sears!