Does anyone have the actual factory torque value for the wheel lug nuts on a 2000 Outback Wagon (aluminum wheels) ?

Do 80ft-lbs.

I'm pretty sure the book says 58 to 72 ft-lbs. I torque mine ('02 obw) to about 65-67.

the dealer here uses 85ft lbs and recheck after 200mi or so..especially for alloy wheels

i always thought alloy wheels were so to be 75-82 ft pound

 

if you get this wrong on a SVX, it will ruin you hub/bearings....

Alloy wheels on my Impreza, require 75 ft-lbs. I regularly do them at 80. My impact tool torque stick is for 75, and I use a torque wrench to 80.

I keep a cheap (Harbor Freight?) clicker torque wrench set between 80-85 lbs for all aluminum wheels.

 

And it's been set there for years so it may be a little shy of the setting. B ut they "feel good" when they click.

Thanks for all the feedback. I have been using 72 ft-lbs with a "clicker" torque wrench.

 

What are the feelings about the possibility of causing brake rotors to warp by over tightening the lug nuts ?

 

My understanding is that it's a distinct possibility. In fact, I feel fairly certain that the front brake rotors on my wifes 2000 OBW are now warped because the guy at the local garage where I get it inspected did the usual over tightening with his handy air wrench. The rotors are less than a year old and were fine before the inspection.

Thanks for all the feedback. I have been using 72 ft-lbs with a "clicker" torque wrench.

 

What are the feelings about the possibility of causing brake rotors to warp by over tightening the lug nuts ?

 

My understanding is that it's a distinct possibility. In fact, I feel fairly certain that the front brake rotors on my wifes 2000 OBW are now warped because the guy at the local garage where I get it inspected did the usual over tightening with his handy air wrench. The rotors are less than a year old and were fine before the inspection.

Yes absolutely

Bad mechanics bad practice using an air wrench on wheel lugs

Too mich torque results in warping the wheels(alloy is soft) or the rotors warping due to stretching of the lug studs

Um, its not really over tightening unless its pretty significant like over 100ft-lbs. It is more the fact of the lugs not being tightening equally in a star pattern.

Um, its not really over tightening unless its pretty significant like over 100ft-lbs. It is more the fact of the lugs not being tightening equally in a star pattern.

 

I would expect that the local shop mechanic would at least know enough to tighten in a star pattern, but if he tightens one to 100 ft-lbs and then the next, and so on... I would think that could distort the hub and/or rotor.

 

Unfortunately, I'll be changing the front brake rotors again on my wifes 2000 OBW some time in the next 2 weeks. The next time I take it to be inspected I am going to specifically tell them NOT to over tighten the lug nuts. Sheesh.

I would expect that the local shop mechanic would at least know enough to tighten in a star pattern, but if he tightens one to 100 ft-lbs and then the next, and so on... I would think that could distort the hub and/or rotor.

 

Unfortunately, I'll be changing the front brake rotors again on my wifes 2000 OBW some time in the next 2 weeks. The next time I take it to be inspected I am going to specifically tell them NOT to over tighten the lug nuts. Sheesh.

 

what brand of rotors are you using? there have been reports of cheap rotors warping right out of the box.

what brand of rotors are you using? there have been reports of cheap rotors warping right out of the box.

 

agree on that even rockauto had a notice on the cheapos which they have not sold.....there are inferior stuff out there......

Warp brake rotors due to overtightened lugs? I would think not. The rotors would need some sort of source of pressure and/or a bit of heat to warp. I don't see where that pressure could come from, so it would be then obvious that they would need heat to be warped. Well, heat doesn't come from over-tightening lug nuts.

what brand of rotors are you using? there have been reports of cheap rotors warping right out of the box.

 

I will admit I think i chose a cheaper (not cheapest) replacement rotor. I think they were Centric rotors that I got from thepartsbin.com. They were about $45.00 each.

 

I moved up a little with the new rotors. Still not the most expensive, but more expensive than the Centric. This time they are Brembo and were about $66.00 each. I think the most expensive ones were about $80.00 each.

 

I guess we'll see...