Ok, this is sorta a dumb question, but the only work ive ever need done on a car are regular service and i've never done it myself.

I had to take a wheel off today to get a rock that was jammed in between the rotor cover and rotor, my question is, when I put the wheel back on do the lugnuts need to be at any particular torque or should I just get them as tight as I can. If they need to be at a particular tightness what is it? Thanks.

 

I believe it's 100 inch pounds. Best practice is to tighten them progressivly, in a star pattern.

 

How about 100 ft lb.

"As tight as I can" depends on how strong you are and what kind of wrench you are using. If you're big and strong & have a big wrench, you could break the studs.

 

Im average strenght and just got them as tight as I could without really yanking it hard.

Im due for tire rotation in a few hundred miles so maybe ill just get it done early since I dont have a torque wrench.

 

Two good grunts with a standard sized breaker bar is all that is necessary.
First you hand tighten all of the nuts with the wheel still off of the ground and give them all a quick little snug with the wrench. The factory lug wrench works just fine. After putting the wheel back on the ground just tighten in a star pattern. Do the pattern twice. Just a good grunt on the last pass is all that you will need to safely tighten the wheel.
Anywhere you get the car serviced they are going to use an impact gun to install the wheels. I guarantee it. Who the hell knows what they are actually set to?

 

Ideally, they should be torqued to the value in your owner's manual. I had a problem with vibration on another car, and turned out that the shop who mounted my tires used an imapact wrench and unevently tightened the lugs. This actually deformed the rotors and caused vibrations. If you use the factory wrench and use normal strength with out extra leverage, you should get close.

 

90 Foot Pounds has for ever been the rule. I like 100 better, its easier for an old man to read. And I have always placed a little bearing grease on new threads.

 

A lot of tire shops are now torquing to 105 lb/ft. Aluminum alloy wheels can be distorted or cracked if you tighten the lug nuts incorrectly and just "reef on 'em". And fluctuations in temperature can cause lugs to loosen if they haven't been torqued down enough - and alloy wheels are more susceptible to thermal expansion than steel wheels. A decent adjustable torque wrench and socket can be found for $35.

 

Bolt size Wheel lug nut torque*
--------------lb.ft.--------- N•m
1⁄2 x 20----- 100 -----------135
* Torque specifications are for nut and bolt threads free of dirt and
rust. Use only Ford recommended replacement fasteners.

My wrench is better than good quality and cost $38 on sale.