Your Mustang is your pride and joy. And whether you've just added a new set of cool Velgen Wheels or
completed a routine tire rotation, understanding the importance of torque and Mustang wheel torque specs
are vital. Wheel torque affects the safe operation of your Mustang and the proper functioning of its
equipment. In this article, we'll review this topic, one that's essential for all Mustang owners whether
you rely on a professional mechanic or you're an amateur grease monkey. First, let's understand what torque is. When it involves your car's wheels, torque is the measure of the
force applied to a lug nut during the tightening process—it's measured as pound feet (lb-ft). Each
vehicle needs a specific amount of torque—determined by the manufacturer—to keep the wheels secure. A
torque wrench or ratchet, which enables a mechanic or experienced do-it-yourselfer to correctly tighten
your car's lug nuts, can be adjusted to apply a precise amount of torque. This reduces the risk of
improperly torquing the lug nuts. We'll get into more specifics later on, but too much torque can result
in damage to your Mustang and too little torque can cause the wheels to loosen and even become detached
from the car. It's also important to know that Mustang wheel torque specs can change from model year and generation.
For example, 2010 Mustang
wheel torque specs require 100 lb-ft while 2015
Mustang wheel torque specs
call for 150 lb-ft. Here's a chart with modern Mustang torque specs.
While lug nuts may not be as exciting as a supercharged Predator V8 or a quad
exhaust setup, these
simple
components are arguably the most critical part of your Mustang for one simple reason—lug nuts keep
your
wheels connected to the car. While some European brands use lug bolts, we'll focus our conversation
on
lug nuts. We're here to talk about Mustangs after all. If you've ever had to change a flat tire or perform a wheel swap, you know that removing lug nuts is
a
relatively easy process. For single tire removal, you set the parking brake and probably used the
Ford-supplied jack that came with your Mustang. A few counterclockwise turns of a lug or socket
wrench
and off come the lug nuts. More involved wheel activity might involve an impact wrench and jack
stands.
Of course, most professional mechanics will use a hydraulic lift for wheel work. Securing lug nuts requires more attention and care. It begins with ensuring that stud threads are
clean.
Oily and dirty threads can not only affect how easily the lug nuts go on but can also cause the lug
nuts
to loosen over time. Your Mustang owner's manual will recommend an alternating pattern for
installing
the lugs—this ensures that pressure is evenly distributed across the front of the wheel mount area.
Using a torque wrench, you or a mechanic will tighten the lug nuts to the manufacturer's
specifications.
For example, the current S550-generation Mustang requires 150 lb-ft of torque for each lug nut.
Remember
that a roadside flat tire replacement should be followed up by a visit to a mechanic who can
re-tighten
the lug nuts to proper torque specifications. Improper wheel torque can cause several complications for your Mustang including some safety
problems:
You've probably heard the high-pitched whir of an air impact wrench if you've ever spent any time in
an
auto service shop. It makes the mechanic's job quicker and easier. And, in many cases, the faster a
mechanic works, the more money he makes. So, the temptation to use an air impact wrench can be
great.
If you remember one thing from this article, it's this—an air impact wrench should never be used to
torque down wheel lug nuts. This technique is OK for the initial lug nut installation, but the final
torquing step should be performed using a torque wrench or ratchet that's designed specifically for
this
task. Keep this example in mind. A typical air impact wrench generates 900 lb-ft of torque. In the case of
a
2005 Mustang, Ford recommends using 100 lb-ft of torque to properly secure the car's lug nuts. You
can
do the math and imagine how easy it would be to over-torque this pony car's wheels using this tool.
How
easy would it be for the next person to remove these wheels? What if you had to change a flat tire
during a roadside emergency? If you have a trusted mechanic or are able to properly torque Mustang wheels on your own, then accept
your good fortune. If you are still searching for a reliable service technician, then consider these
two
tips next time you need tire or wheel service. Watch how the mechanics in a shop work with wheels. If lug nut installation by air
impact wrench is not
followed by a final installation with a torque wrench or ratchet, then move on to the next shop. Ask to confirm the torque specifications for your Mustang. Your owner's manual
details
what the correct
torque specs are for your Mustang wheels. Having this information in hand, ask the shop to verify
what
torque info they have for your car. This will double-check that the shop has the right figures and
will
show you consider correct torque specs to be important. Source: Ford, Mustang Specs, ASE, MotorWeek 19 Inch vs 20 Inch Mustang Wheels Mustang Flow Form vs Forged Wheels Mustang Progressive vs Linear Springs1979-2023 Mustang Wheel Torque Specs
What Is Wheel Torque?
Mustang Wheel Lug Torque Specs
Body Style
Model Years
Wheel Lug Torque Spec
Fox Body
1979-1993
80-105 lb-ft
SN95/New Edge
1994
80-105 lb-ft
SN95/New Edge
1995-2004
85-105 lb-ft
S197
2005-2014
100 lb-ft
S550
2015-2023
150 lb-ft
Click the image to download our all-in-one Steeda Lug Nut Torque Spec
Guide!
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Mustang Wheel Torque: The Right Tools And Techniques Are Essential
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