Check your lug nuts!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 143
Likes: 53
Check your lug nuts!
Hi All-
I just got some wheel locks and had the occasion to loosen a lug nut.
It was pretty loose. Maybe 90-100 ft lbs. None of the others were up to Spec.
The Manual advises rechecking them after the first 100 miles or so, do it.
Torque Spec is 140 ft. lbs.
BTW, McGuard 24215 is identical to the factory lock and way cheaper.
I just got some wheel locks and had the occasion to loosen a lug nut.
It was pretty loose. Maybe 90-100 ft lbs. None of the others were up to Spec.
The Manual advises rechecking them after the first 100 miles or so, do it.
Torque Spec is 140 ft. lbs.
BTW, McGuard 24215 is identical to the factory lock and way cheaper.
Popular Reply
Jul 3, 2020, 12:20 AM
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,724
Likes: 5,601
From: AZ
I understand 100 lbs is sufficient and it is important to re-torque after 100-200 miles anytime wheels are removed and reinstalled. I had some aftermarket no name black lug nuts installed on our Z and the top popped off of two of them at 110 lbs. Bought higher end lug nuts and zero problems at 100 lbs.
CAD CTS V called for 110 lbs but that was after a recall replaced the original lugs and nuts.
CAD CTS V called for 110 lbs but that was after a recall replaced the original lugs and nuts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,055
Likes: 864
From: So Cal
I understand 100 lbs is sufficient and it is important to re-torque after 100-200 miles anytime wheels are removed and reinstalled. I had some aftermarket no name black lug nuts installed on our Z and the top popped off of two of them at 110 lbs. Bought higher end lug nuts and zero problems at 100 lbs.
CAD CTS V called for 110 lbs but that was after a recall replaced the original lugs and nuts.
Correction.... as pointed out in a number of posts that follow, the C8 torque is 140. I would think this would definitely eliminate the “click” “click” “click” that both the C7’s and CTS V would often have with tight turns when cold.
CAD CTS V called for 110 lbs but that was after a recall replaced the original lugs and nuts.
Correction.... as pointed out in a number of posts that follow, the C8 torque is 140. I would think this would definitely eliminate the “click” “click” “click” that both the C7’s and CTS V would often have with tight turns when cold.
Last edited by B747VET; Jul 4, 2020 at 04:26 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,724
Likes: 5,601
From: AZ
I understand 100 lbs is sufficient and it is important to re-torque after 100-200 miles anytime wheels are removed and reinstalled. I had some aftermarket no name black lug nuts installed on our Z and the top popped off of two of them at 110 lbs. Bought higher end lug nuts and zero problems at 100 lbs.
CAD CTS V called for 110 lbs but that was after a recall replaced the original lugs and nuts.
CAD CTS V called for 110 lbs but that was after a recall replaced the original lugs and nuts.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 286
Likes: 122
From: Bakersfield California
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
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From: Central Illinois
This is pretty common, when I checked all the lugs on my wife's Jeep Grand Cherokee after about 100 miles they were all loose. After I retorqued them to 140 they have held just fine.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: AZ
studs are now 14mm up from 12 or 12.5, thus the increased torque is not hard on the stud. Back when we had steel wheels (the Iron Age) torques was 50-60 #-ft.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Bonneville Salt Flats
As noted, this is hardly an issue with just GM vehicles, and it hasn't just started happening. That's why new owners are "officially told" to check them in short order and correct as necessary. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2019
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From: Southeast Michigan
Just checked mine. 9/10 on the left were at 140 ft/lb, only about half on the right side were tightened to specification. Fairly common with aluminum wheels. Decades ago when I worked in a tire shop, we made customers initial the R/O indicating they would check/retorque at 50 miles or bring the car back so we could do it.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2013
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Just checked mine. 9/10 on the left were at 140 ft/lb, only about half on the right side were tightened to specification. Fairly common with aluminum wheels. Decades ago when I worked in a tire shop, we made customers initial the R/O indicating they would check/retorque at 50 miles or bring the car back so we could do it.
@jagamajajaran have someone at the plant check the torque machine.
Last edited by RapidC84B; Jul 4, 2020 at 12:42 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 2,256
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From: Southeast Michigan
This is just not accurate with modern wheels. I change wheels and tires constantly on a racecar. Torque to 100 (C5) and they stay there. They take an extra smidge once you get the car down and roll it once, but they don’t back off 30% ever. For a HPDE weekend in my C7 I’d check every morning and they don’t move at all.
@jagamajajaran have someone at the plant check the torque machine.
@jagamajajaran have someone at the plant check the torque machine.
What’s inaccurate? Not saying there isn’t a snafu at the factory, but it’s fairly standard to suggest/require a retorque. I’d guess mine weren’t out of spec by 30%, either. Admittedly, I didn’t get the torque value for the ones that weren’t tightened to spec, I set the wrench at 140 and hit them all.
https://www.continental-tires.com/ca...orquing-wheels
https://blog.tirerack.com/blog/yokoh...operly-torqued
https://info.kaltire.com/why-re-torq...of-retorquing/
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: AZ
This is just not accurate with modern wheels. I change wheels and tires constantly on a racecar. Torque to 100 (C5) and they stay there. They take an extra smidge once you get the car down and roll it once, but they don’t back off 30% ever. For a HPDE weekend in my C7 I’d check every morning and they don’t move at all.