C6 Corvette General Discussion General C6 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Feral Industries

wheels - Torque specs ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 10:39 AM
  #1  
killain's Avatar
killain
Thread Starter
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,122
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Default wheels - Torque specs ?

Hay, How much of the C6 Corvette, (or any year corvette) do you check with a torque wrench ? Like do you torque the wheel lugs, and how far do you go with torque settings ? What needs torqueing and what doesn't ?

Thank you !
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 11:01 AM
  #2  
919cw313's Avatar
919cw313
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 2,694
From: New Mexico
2018 C6 of Year Finalist
Default

I guess it depends on what you're taking apart?

Yes, I check the wheels with a torque wrench, had to replace the axle nuts once, checked those too. Drain plug, no. I can't think of much else that would get touched on the average C6.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 11:21 AM
  #3  
BadAV's Avatar
BadAV
Race Director
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,045
Likes: 3,587
From: Central MO
Default

Originally Posted by 919cw313
I guess it depends on what you're taking apart?

Yes, I check the wheels with a torque wrench, had to replace the axle nuts once, checked those too. Drain plug, no. I can't think of much else that would get touched on the average C6.
Spark plugs and brake hardware to name a couple more common items.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 11:28 AM
  #4  
919cw313's Avatar
919cw313
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 2,694
From: New Mexico
2018 C6 of Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by BadAV
Spark plugs and brake hardware to name a couple more common items.
Yeah, didn't think about brakes. Assuming people follow the owner's manual and change spark plugs at 100k, many will never get replaced.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 11:45 AM
  #5  
Dutch08's Avatar
Dutch08
Drifting
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 392
From: Atlanta - - - - - Save the manuals
Default

Originally Posted by 919cw313
I guess it depends on what you're taking apart?

Yes, I check the wheels with a torque wrench, had to replace the axle nuts once, checked those too. Drain plug, no. I can't think of much else that would get touched on the average C6.
I do all my own work. I have never found any original bolt or nut that has worked loose. I use blue Loctite and a torque wrench on everything I have loosened and never had a problem with that either. Always use a torque wrench on wheel lug nuts NOT AN IMPACT GUN.

Last edited by Dutch08; Jan 17, 2021 at 11:46 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 04:30 PM
  #6  
wjnjr's Avatar
wjnjr
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 1,153
From: Klein TX
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

These cars have lots of threaded aluminum parts and plastic parts with pressed in threaded inserts. In fact, bolts threaded into steel or iron are the exception, not the rule. There is a whole section in the shop manual covering how to install Heli Coils in stripped aluminum threads.

Use a torque wrench on everything to minimize unpleasant surprises and excessive cursing
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 04:33 PM
  #7  
Dano523's Avatar
Dano523
Race Director
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,631
Default

Torque wrench on everything.
Hence rim lug nuts are torque to 100ft lbs and if you go over, you start to peen the rims.

Large bolt on the brake brackets are 135ftlbs, and just getting to that torque requires a 1/2 torque wrench to start with.

Spark plugs, 11ft lbs on a dead cold motor, and if you go over that torque, or try to torque to that on a hot motor, your going to strip the threads out of the heads channels.

Simply, you are bolting into aluminum channel threads/ down on aluminum parts, and if you are playing the lets tighten until you feel something give, you have already started to strip out the threads- peen/mushrooming a part.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 05:47 PM
  #8  
killain's Avatar
killain
Thread Starter
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,122
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Default

All VERY GOOD ADVICE. So much of the se Corvettes are built like a airplane in materials and construction that using a torque wrench is MANDATORY ! I have a 3/8" & 1/2" tongue wrenches so I'm am going to make sure I check everything. How tight do you tighten a fastener before you set to it with a torque wrench ?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 07:41 PM
  #9  
wjnjr's Avatar
wjnjr
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 1,153
From: Klein TX
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Just snug is OK.

You might want to get a good 1/4" drive torque wrench too. The little stuff is easiest to strip.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2021 | 10:07 PM
  #10  
Keppler's Avatar
Keppler
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,360
Likes: 543
From: Sarasota FL
St. Jude Donor '25-'26
Default

I properly torque all fasteners that I need too doing maintenance or replacement of parts.

The only ones I over torque is the sway bar end link nuts.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2021 | 10:46 AM
  #11  
Dutch08's Avatar
Dutch08
Drifting
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 392
From: Atlanta - - - - - Save the manuals
Default

Originally Posted by Keppler
I properly torque all fasteners that I need too doing maintenance or replacement of parts.

The only ones I over torque is the sway bar end link nuts.
That piqued my interest! Front, back, or both, and why?
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2021 | 10:59 AM
  #12  
itsonlyairandfuel's Avatar
itsonlyairandfuel
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,266
Likes: 549
Default

Because that is what the cool guys do. Best to torque to spec then recheck, if they move do another recheck later.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2021 | 12:54 PM
  #13  
FatsWaller's Avatar
FatsWaller
Safety Car
Conversation Starter
Photoriffic
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 2,338
From: Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario
Default

Keep in mind that the torque specs are for dry threads. If you put any kind of lubricant on the threads, and that includes paint, calculating the correct torque becomes pretty complicated. It's really easy to overtorque a bolt if you lube the threads. I've got good 1/2 and 1/4 " torque wrenches and I use them, especially on anything to do with brakes, suspension, wheels, and steering.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2021 | 01:15 PM
  #14  
killain's Avatar
killain
Thread Starter
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,122
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Default

Now I'm wondering if my harbor fright TW is up to the job ?
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2021 | 01:29 PM
  #15  
Spaceme1117's Avatar
Spaceme1117
Safety Car
10 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,669
Likes: 1,849
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
Default

Originally Posted by killain
Now I'm wondering if my harbor fright TW is up to the job ?
The HF Icon torque wrenches are really good and I have seen tests against SnapOn's and the HF Icon was more accurate and repeatable.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2021 | 01:59 PM
  #16  
BadAV's Avatar
BadAV
Race Director
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,045
Likes: 3,587
From: Central MO
Default

Originally Posted by Spaceme1117
The HF Icon torque wrenches are really good and I have seen tests against SnapOn's and the HF Icon was more accurate and repeatable.
I saw the same. One note, for those who don't know - NEVER use a torque wrench to loosen fasteners (will destroy the calibration) and always store the wrench on zero.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2021 | 02:44 PM
  #17  
wjnjr's Avatar
wjnjr
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 1,153
From: Klein TX
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Originally Posted by Spaceme1117
The HF Icon torque wrenches are really good and I have seen tests against SnapOn's and the HF Icon was more accurate and repeatable.
Several years ago, just to find out for myself, I took a set of 1/4, 3/8, & 1/2 HF torque wrenches to a friend of mine who owns a calibration lab. That was not the case.

BTW, store your torque wrench on the lowest setting, not 0.

Last edited by wjnjr; Jan 18, 2021 at 02:51 PM.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To wheels - Torque specs ?

Old Jan 18, 2021 | 04:35 PM
  #18  
killain's Avatar
killain
Thread Starter
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,122
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Default

I have a Tektron 1/2 Torque wrench, any good ? I'm looking for a electronic 3/8 now !

Last edited by killain; Jan 18, 2021 at 05:15 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2021 | 08:55 PM
  #19  
Keppler's Avatar
Keppler
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,360
Likes: 543
From: Sarasota FL
St. Jude Donor '25-'26
Default

That piqued my interest! Front, back, or both, and why?
For my HPDE track car I burned through a few sets of GM sway bar links (rears only). They started knocking. One new rear set lasted less than 100 miles. In one link, the original to the car, it was obvious that the link failed. Rotating the link by hand I could feel the action was rough.

I read on this forum that the bolt hole clearance could be part of the knocking problem. The bolt could be slipping within the bolt hole. True or not I am not sure.

I bought the Moog sway bar links and over torqued the nuts by 15% and all is fine.

Last edited by Keppler; Jan 18, 2021 at 10:18 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2021 | 05:42 AM
  #20  
rybern's Avatar
rybern
Melting Slicks
Veteran: Navy
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 574
From: North AL
Default

I have Tekton 3/8 and 1/2" torque wrenches. They are great and seem to be nicer than the HF wrenches IMO. The Kobalt wrench has a nice feel too but the numbers are hard to read because of the shiny chrome finish. The Tektons are very easy to read.

Another torque wrench tip. In addition to NEVER losen a bolt, ALWAYS return the setting to the lowest number when your done. I see folks all of the time that don't do this and over time, the spring inside can become weak which will throw the calibration off.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:51 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE