Wheel nut Torques

Baggy · Post by **Baggy** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:02 pm

Gurus

For the S1, recommended wheel nut torques are 85 Nm.

I assume this is for clean lightly oiled threads.

Mine have been previously copperslipped (not a bad idea considering no of times I've heard of the locking key shearing).

Is the FF of coperslip higher or lower than oil & should I increase, lower or leave as is the torque wrench setting.

mac · Post by **mac** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:58 pm

In the absence of any Guru's I'll have a stab at answering, but this is really a question for the yahoo group.

AFAIK - Torque settings are based on clean dry threads. The presence of any liquid, even oil, alters the amount of torque due to the incompressable nature of the liquid.

As for the factors involved, that is way out of my league and I too use coppaslip on my bolts.

Cheers

Mac

alicrozier · Post by **alicrozier** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 1:30 pm

Dunno what the coefficient of friction of copperslip is, I'd imagine it's pretty low. In theory a low friction lubricant would result in a much higher bolt preload for the same given torque. It's all a bit of a guessing game though and recommended torques will be for an average friction etc.

I'd hesitate to recommend using a lower torque, give 'em a wipe and use standard torques. I put copperslip on the wheel hub face but not on the threads.

Cheers,
Ali

Baggy · Post by **Baggy** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 1:45 pm

That's basically the question.

Is using Copper slip overstressing the bolts.

I'm thinking like you Ali (don't want to rush into lowering the torques unless based on some pretty concrete info).

Also 85Nm is pretty low so even with copper slip, I suppose it's pretty unlikely that you'd overstress them.

Leave as is then

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:01 am

Anyone know what the torque setting for the S2 splines are?? changing the pads just now and can't find the setting anywhere!

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:53 pm

The_Rossatron wrote:Anyone know what the torque setting for the S2 splines are?? changing the pads just now and can't find the setting anywhere!

105 Nm according to service manual..

HTH

John

Michael · Post by **Michael** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:58 pm

Lets do a poll!!!

Has anyone actually lost a loose nut...ever?? More to point have they ever experimented with light hand tightening and its been secure for ages...lets generate our own evidence base...

Or lets experiment....

robin · Post by **robin** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:02 pm

hand tight works for a while but not long ...

Robin

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:16 pm

Michael wrote:Has anyone actually lost a loose nut...ever??

I've not actually lost one, but I had a car which had bolts with 'washers' on them which could come loose if not checked and cause weird vibrations as if the drive shafts were loose and about to fall off

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:06 pm

Coppaslip the centre ring of the hub that locates the wheel, leave the bolts dry. Torque values are generous anyway, they have to be, but as Ali says the torque value will be lower for a lubed bolt for the same preload.

Remember though, while preload is important, one of the other considerations is not coming undone. There is no locking mechanism on those bolts apart from the friction in the threads. I would not lube them at all. Overstressing the bolts is possible, but unlikely at these relatively low torque values IMHO. Yeild strength on a M10 bolt is pretty high.

While at my last unit we had a bus that lost both wheels from one of its rear axels due to torque not being checked for a year.

TBH I am always more worried about damaging the alloy wheel of the threads in the hub, if you are worried then check the torques now and then, but there are plenty of elises running about with 80-85Nm wheel bolts without problems.

my 2p

Rich

Post by **simon** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:37 pm

The_Rossatron wrote:Anyone know what the torque setting for the S2 splines are?? changing the pads just now and can't find the setting anywhere!

It's in your handbook!!

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:55 pm

simon wrote:
The_Rossatron wrote:Anyone know what the torque setting for the S2 splines are?? changing the pads just now and can't find the setting anywhere!
It's in your handbook!!

Unfortunately mine turned into a paper machÃ© rock solid lump from being sat at the side of the seat during the rainy season

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 11:56 pm

Actually anyone know how much a new handbook is? Can you even buy them from Lotus? Been scouring ebay for ages but no luck...

woody · Post by **woody** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:51 pm

I'd go with richard on this one as well; i never lube any wheel bolts.

On a similar note, i've just flown back into Edinburgh Airport, near where there was an old shape Polo on the hard shoulder resting on three wheels and a brake drum.... with the driver searching through the bushes on the embankment

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:17 pm

I think a poll would be good as to who actually torques their wheel nuts and who uses the old ebow torque guage.