wheel bearing torque

[RavoHimself]

alright. i usually just go by feel when doing my wheel bearings, but since i have wheels with low back spacing i figured i want to actually torque them down. i know the inner is 35 ft, back 1/4, then 16 in. what about the outer one. i know a lot of people recommend a higher torque for the outer to prevent it loosening up. how many ft lbs is this because i have had it loosen?

 

[RavoHimself]

factory is 150 ft lbs. is the higher one 200?

 

[Heavyfire14]

are you talking about wheel berrings or the lug nuts? the wheel berrings use inch pounds not foot pounds. the lugs go by foot pounds and the "universial" torque for wheel lugs is 100 ft lbs but could be more or less

 

[martin]

I tighten the outer locknuts as tight as I can (within reason) but probably over 200, never had a problem

 

[pillen140]

sometimes if you go too much, the center ring with the tab and the holes stretches and the tab gets a little chewed up. you can prevent it though by puttiing pressure on the top of the ring (above the tab) and pressing down with a screwdriver or something similar.

 

[legoms013]

are you talking about wheel berrings or the lug nuts? the wheel berrings use inch pounds not foot pounds. the lugs go by foot pounds and the "universial" torque for wheel lugs is 100 ft lbs but could be more or less

The outer spindle lock nut torque spec is 150 ft lbs. Many go tighter with larger tires ect. I usually go about 180, though I have heard of other people suggesting 200 or even higher.

The inner spindle lock nut that butts up against the outer wheel bearing is 35 ft lbs, then back it off and back to 16 in lbs (I usually just do what ever takes the slop out of the rotor).

 

[RavoHimself]

i do the inner one by hand. my dad showed me how he has done it for ever and he has never had problems. spin in the direction of travel and tighten, back off, spin again and tighten untill you feel it bottom out. it gets it right about 16" lbs. i just wanted to do the outer one to spec because both of them have come lose when i did it by hand. using the torque wrench today after doing it by hand i figured they were only at about 100 lb/ft. so i went to 150. i can always go more the next time i grease them if its not enough

 

[4x4junkie]

I tighten mine (outer) to ~250 ft-lbs. Never had one loosen on me.

 

[Heavyfire14]

hmmmm mine is also 2wd though. so nevermind. 4wd's must be differnt.

 

[RavoHimself]

theres 2 spindle nuts. the inner is only torqued to 16 lbs/in. but the outer one locks it in place and gets torqued to 150+ lbs/ft

 

[Heavyfire14]

oooo ok i see. haha

 

[lone-wolf]

Good thread. Old, deserves a bump.

 

[niterider]

inner to spec, crank outers high

i just saw that i've been doing my inner to 35 in. lbs not ft. lb then 16 in. just found a bearing lose again but they are not damaged. doing brakes today so i'm happy i found this. i've had a bearing go before but saved the spindle on my 96. its tough to torque the outer nut over 190 with a locking nut spanner wrench. i had to work at it. i have low backspace wheels also. really need to use Ford locknuts and washers. i wiped out the washers from mile marker when i changed my hubs.

 

[Hillbilly_Devil]

BUMP! Great thread!