Wheel lug nut torque

Jetta Knight

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The 2013 owners manual calls for 103 ft/lb of torque for the wheel bolts. This seems a bit high. I have always used, as per the manuals, 88 to 90 ft/lbs of torque on my other VW's. Far be it for me to question VW but I have enough history with the company to be skeptical. Any thoughts?
 

Salsaman06

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2013 Passat TDI SEL (sold back to VWoA Dec 21, 2016)
The 2013 owners manual calls for 103 ft/lb of torque for the wheel bolts. This seems a bit high. I have always used, as per the manuals, 88 to 90 ft/lbs of torque on my other VW's. Far be it for me to question VW but I have enough history with the company to be skeptical. Any thoughts?
FWIW the factory shop manual states the 103 value as well. (Actually it says 140 Nm which converts to 103.26 ft-lbs)
 

PaulB

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My Sprinter van calls for 175 ft-pounds on the lug nuts! Apparently they can make these strong enough to take the torque.
 

vw_norm

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When I rotated the wheels for the 10K service, I tightened and hand torqued each one to spec - 103 ft-lb, with my clicker-type torque wrench. Not applying enough torque is not worth having your wheel bolts loosen while driving. Nothing but bad things will happen.
 

VernK

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2012 Passat 2.5L Gas
And apparently there was a misprint in early manuals, and the torque was spec'd too low (I think the 80-90 lbft*number)

Yours
Vern
 

50pascals

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I have always torqued that size stud / lug to 85 ft-lb without any problems. On literally dozens of cars. 103 is fine and all, I wouldn't lose any sleep over 85 or 90.
 

JM Popaleetus

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Shouldn't be an issue. 100lb-ft isn't an issue for really any car.

The Jetta with its 89lb-ft is almost low.
 
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JdC Machine

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'13 Passat TDI SEL
I wouldn't be worried about 100-103ft.-lbs. As JM said above, 100ft.-lbs. is about what most passenger cars require for lug nut torque.

You think 103ft.-lbs. is high? How does 300ft.-lbs. on the 5/8" studs on my 1990 1-ton Dodge make you feel? :D
 

JM Popaleetus

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I wouldn't be worried about 100-103ft.-lbs. As JM said above, 100ft.-lbs. is about what most passenger cars require for lug nut torque.

You think 103ft.-lbs. is high? How does 300ft.-lbs. on the 5/8" studs on my 1990 1-ton Dodge make you feel? :D
Porsche has you beat with the 400lb-ft that their center locking system uses:

 

Jetta Knight

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Thanks for all the input. I was wondering about the numbers since hearing of situations of cracked wheel hubs with over-torque. They must be grossly over-torqued to have that occur.
 

740GLE

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I just tossed the summer shoes on and had them at my typical 90-92. 600 miles since and they are still on with no signs of backing out.

Also remember who here has verified their torque wrench has been calibrated recently?
 

VernK

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2012 Passat 2.5L Gas
Me! Just so happens I have a calibration tool so I can check my wrenches at 50 & 100 lb ft. I check when I remember. My 3/8 SnapOn is dead accurate, my 1/2 Craftsman is right at 50 and 2 lbs low at 100.

Yours
vern
 

Jetta Knight

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2001 Jetta TDI Auto - Sold, 2006 Jetta DSG - Sold, 2009 JSW DSG SOLD, 2013 Passat SE DSG
Actually, even if your wrench is not their brand, Snap-On will check it in their truck for you. Those Snap-On guys that have the route are very friendly and always looking for future business. Just Google them and meet them at one of their stops. I did it and they could not have been more accommodating.
 

VernK

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2012 Passat 2.5L Gas
I had it checked in the summer of 2009 or 10 while the SnapOn guy was fixing the ratchet. Not that it can go wrong as long as I don't drop it, it's just a little torsion bar inside a tube. The tube has witness marks for 0, 50 & 100 and there is datum line on the bar. It was actually made about 25 years ago by a aircraft company I was did work for, they made a bunch for the assembly line and I managed to score one for myself.

Yours
Vern
 

no-blue-screen

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Going to revive this thread from the archives so to speak. I had a relative help me rotate my tires after 37k. I hope to get another 37k out of these tires.

Set the torque wrench to 140 newts and the car rides great. I rotated front to back and not in the X pattern.
 

jrm

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Jul 24, 2013
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Oregon
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2013 Passat SE with nav (totaled)
yup, good thread to bring back as evenly torqued lugs keep your rotors nice and happy. Uneven torque and a hot rotor will warp them quick.
 
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