I recently had the wheels off my 1 ton Ford to fix a leaky brake caliper, and to bleed the system. I sprayed the studs with WD40 when I put the wheels back on, and torqued them down to spec. A week and a half later, I happened upon a sale on tires and decided to get the tires on the truck replaced. When I went to pick it up, the tire shop told me that they had to spend 15 minutes on each wheel cleaning the WD40 off the studs. The tire shop manager told me that lubes like WD40 cause the nuts to become overtorqued, and that the best thing to do is just to clean up the threads with a wire brush, and at the most, use dry graphite.
Has anybody ever heard this one? I have used WD40 for years, and I have never had a problem with getting the lug nuts off, or damaging studs or wheels from overtorqueing them.
2007-06-12 14:57:37 · 8 answers · asked by nyninchdick 6 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The tire shop is right, to a certain extent. Use of WD40 will throw the torque setting off when tightening. It even says so on most car manuals. You haven't had problems getting the lug nuts off or having the lug nuts become damaged because Ford has high torque specs for its trucks and large cars - usually over 100 ft-lb. Using WD-40 is more troublesome for import cars (European and Asian) whose torque specs are 60 to 70 ft-lbs. Having each lug nuts torqued at the same torque setting is just as important as having them torqued at the proper spec. This is because the lug nuts should be torqued evenly so that the rotor doesn't vibrate or move vertically while braking. By doing so, you minimize rotor warping and scoring. So clean the threads with a wire brush next time.
2007-06-12 16:10:14 · answer #1 · answered by Spee 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah any type of lube on threads will through the torque off. It's not really the problem with getting the lug nuts off. All torque really is is the pressure the lug nuts have against the bolts.
2007-06-12 20:19:20 · answer #2 · answered by craigcnnll 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You sprayed the squeaky wheel, but you didn't say you tightened it, so it must not have been tight. If your mate really wanted to be particular, he would lube the fasteners (nuts&bolts), then tighten with a torque wrench to the recommended value. By the way, if you over-tighten you actually decrease clamping force. You may also strip the threads or break the bolt.
2016-05-18 22:26:20 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not good to oil down or lubricate wheel lugs. it will throw the torque off. just clean them with a wire brush next time
2007-06-12 15:02:23 · answer #4 · answered by rtharp8 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know ...I used to work in a truck shop and when I started there when I was 23 I was told to use Antisieze lube on evertything.It's not wd-40 but it is a lube....more like a grease.
2007-06-12 15:44:20 · answer #5 · answered by justin c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not too sure what he was talking about, but I's imagine wd-40 isn't the wisest thing to put on wheel studs and lugs (fear they'd loosen, if anything).
The lugs wouldn't tourque itself - if anything any nut on a bolt will work itself lose (the path of least resistance)
I have the guys use the graphite, to help prevent the studs from getting rusted/stuck on...
2007-06-12 15:02:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
they are full of crap.i used wd40 alot of times and i never had trouble getting the nuts off. i just spray the nuts and use a 4 way wrench and tighten them and when i want them off,they just come right off,no problem here using wd40.
2007-06-12 15:51:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I will agree with the shop on this one. don't put oil on the nuts and studs. Wire brush them and use graphite if you want. good luck.
2007-06-12 15:13:38 · answer #8 · answered by Fordman 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋