What Should a 1/2 Inch Lug Nut on a Trailer Wheel be Torqued To

Question:

How much torque do these little wheels need? I started to torque them at 75ft lbs like you would must lug nuts and it smashed the dimples flat. Is that normal? The value stems face out right? So I didnt put them on backwards I hope.

asked by: Curtis

Expert Reply:

The valve stems do face out so that is good. You should be using 1/2"-20 lug nuts for tire and wheel combo # AM30120. For a 1/2 inch lug nut, you will want to torque each nut down to 75 to 85 foot pounds. You will want to avoid using an impact wrench or any other tool that cannot provide measured force. Use a torque wrench for accurate results.

Make sure that the torque wrench you are using is calibrated correctly. If enough pressure was used it could dent in the raised areas around the lug nut holes. You might want to take the wheel and tire to a shop and have them inspect it to make sure there isn't any damage that would compromise the structural integrity of the wheel.

expert reply by: Michael H