I bought myself a fancy new torque wrench today and was wondering what setting I should use for the wheels on the MINI. I have done a quick search and the best I could find was in post #13 of THIS THREAD which suggests a figure of 88 ft lbs.

Does anyone know if this is a measure specified somewhere or a an educated guess?

TIA

Cheers Liam

 

The BMW factory torque requirement is 120 Nm +/-10 Nm.

(1 Nm = .7376 ft.lb)

Multiply 120 by .7376 to get torque in foot-pounds: 88.5 ft.lb.

The factory torque requirement allows for a 10 Nm variation in either direction. (110 Nm to 130 Nm range).

10 Nm equals 7.4 ft.lbs, so the range of variation in ft.lbs is 81.1 ft.lb to 95.9 ft.lb, with the recommendation being 88.5 ft.lb.


By the way, here's a handy link that does lots of conversions for you:

http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/torque

 

P.S. While you have your sporty new torque wrench handy, check your spark plug torques: 20ft.lb.

 

It's specified in the owner's manual.

 

the problem with torque wrenches is range; typically the lowest 15% of full scale reading is not to be trusted. so if your wrench will read out 120 ft-lbs, don't trust it at around 20 ft-lbs or less. you really need two, one for the hump bolts and one for the little ones. If you have a typical click-type, be sure to relax the setting between uses so it doesn't take a set and lose accuracy.

 

Thanks for the tips.

Haha, I figured it would probably be in the manual, but it was easier to ask here.

 

i always use 95 for lugs and 22 for spark plugs (ft. lbs.). it has not failed me or any customers yet, hope this helps.

chad

 

i always have mine set on 90 ft. lbs.... also, when you store the wrench between uses, dial it back to zero. finally, every 2 years, get the wrench calibrated.

 

I always torque mine to 40 ft/lbs in a crisscross pattern first (to make sure the wheel is seated against the hub) and go back to the required 88.5 ft/lbs in a crisscross.

And don't forget to remove the 88.5 ft/lbs from the wrench when you are finished - if you don't, the wrench will "learn" the setting and it will throw the calibration.

 

any recommendations on an inexpensive torque wrench that I could buy at my local AutoZone.....I only intend to use the torque wrench to change my wheels

 

I would think that when it comes to a tourque wrench, do not go cheap. I'd buy a Craftsman or something equal to it.

JUst my 2cents
Cheers
Shawn

 

+1 on the Sears recommendation. Just watch the ads - they seem to go on sale regularly. Then you can tell the wifey you bought two of 'em 'cause they were on sale !

 

From my previous experience, Sears torque wrench is not ideal for torquing wheels, especially they allow people to return/exchange them. There's no way to tell whether the product has been abused (mis-used) and returned, so the calibration could be off. I had one failed on me after using it 2 times with a broken lock collar and another will oil leaking out from internal mechanism and I do take extreme caution (care) with my own tools. I ended up keeping a 3/8" Craftsman for smaller nuts and bolts and buying a Snap-on 1/2" for wheel torquing. It was at least shipped to me brand new without other customer opening it.

Well, it's more expensive. So on a more economical sense, I would go with Craftsman too. At least Sears stand by their own products.

 

I know many people prefer the "click" type wrenches.

I prefer a beam type wrench. I can watch the torque value climb as I tighten the fastener. Some times the value will stop rising before you get to the "set point". That can tell you about the fasteners yield, or some other part giving.

I put a new head on one of my cars, and the bolts were supposed to go to a value, then turn an additional 90 degrees. The torque abruptly stopped rising 15 pounds before it hit that value! It might have been the calibration of the wrench, or bad bolts, or a misprint in the value, but had I just been tightening waiting for a "click" I would have snapped the bolts.

Does anyone know the proper value for a lubricated wheel lug?

The 88 ft pounds listed in the manual is for a Dry bolt. A bolt with lubricated threads should go to a lower value, to avoid over tightening.

I use antisieze on my bolt threads but not the seat.

I remember one of my cars said 75 dry or 55 lubed, but I have not seen similar values for the MINI.

John

 

Another tip: Never use a torgue wrench for breaking loose your lug nuts. Use a breaker bar. Torque wrenches aren't meant for loosening nuts.

 

Humm Never thought about that. I usually loosen with power bar but, I'm sure I have used the torque wrench at some point. Wonder how much that would throw off the calibration of the wrench

 

does one use the torque wrench on the wheel nuts with the wheel in the air or on the ground after you hand tighten the bolts?

 

You can tighten them while the tire is still in the air. They will not rotate if your car is in park/gear and the emergency brake is applied (hopefully it is).

 

I like this Sears torque wrench (online/catalog only, not in stores):
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944600000

It's specifically intended for use on wheels. It's quite long and has a protective rubber boot around the head to resist being dropped, etc. It's the one I use at the track.

Neil
05 MCS
96 M3

 

i use the torque wrench while the car is on the ground. 90lbs/ft

 

I'll do a half torque with the wheels off the ground just to seat the wheels. Drop the car & do a final torque. Also don't store your torque wrench with it set at your wheel torque. Back it off when you put it away & it will stay calibrated much longer.

Chuck

 

so we must be right....
happy new year!!

 

I get the impression that I've repeated what has already been said here. Note to self >> Read the whole thread before posting! DOH!!!

Chuck

 

theres been no statements made about setting torque while wheels are in the air & then again full torque while on the ground

 

i found a dis-contnued Snap-on click style torque wrench, 120-ft-lbs or so, that does not use a loaded spring that you have to un-load after using. (don't you love cranking it from 15 to 90 ft-lbs, and then un-cranking it again!%$#@). This wrench has a little wheel on the side which rotates a dial...you can leave it at 90 with no ill effect.