Rear wheel nut torque

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
User avatar

Topic author
Oldav8tor
Posts: 1930
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Juhl
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
Location: Thumb of Michigan
MTFCA Number: 50297
MTFCI Number: 24810
Board Member Since: 2018

Rear wheel nut torque

Post by Oldav8tor » Tue Jan 15, 2019 11:47 pm

I know that Henry didn't specify a torque value for rear wheel nuts other than "really tight." I've done some research and found 70 ft-lbs, 120 ft-lbs and 200 ft-lbs suggested in early posts. Anyone care to chip in with your recommendation?
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor

User avatar

JP_noonan
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:44 am
First Name: John
Last Name: Noonan
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Runabout
Location: Norton,Ma.

Re: Rear wheel nut torque

Post by JP_noonan » Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:31 am

Tim, i usually start out at a minimum of 75 lbs, then tighten up to the next nut notch which might end up at 100 lbs.+ or-. Opinions may vary, but 200 lbs. seems very excessive to me.
Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6463
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Rear wheel nut torque

Post by Steve Jelf » Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:46 am

Isn't that one of the places where you're supposed to turn it until just before it breaks? :D
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring


Mindless Automaton
Posts: 125
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 1:47 am
First Name: Kep
Last Name: Kerensky
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 23 truck, 26 bug
Location: Northland
Board Member Since: 2011
Contact:

Re: Rear wheel nut torque

Post by Mindless Automaton » Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:54 am

I use 70ft/lb. The reproduction nuts are made of cheese & don't handle much more than 90. Old orig' ones are tougher but mostly all gone. Anything too tough & the axle threads would strip right off so... cheese nuts it is!

User avatar

JohnH
Posts: 344
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:57 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Hunter
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Geelong Tourer
Location: Blue Mountains, Australia
Board Member Since: 2002
Contact:

Re: Rear wheel nut torque

Post by JohnH » Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:15 am

I presume we're talking about axle nuts, and not the nuts used to secure the rims to wheel. In that case, I start at 110 ft. lbs. and hope a castellation lines up with the hole before I get to 140 ft. lbs. Original and repro nuts and axles seem fine with that. After the car has been driven for a while, I recheck the nut is tight enough - if driven around with it loose, the taper of the axle and hub, as well as the key-way will wear.
I have seen where the axle nuts were done up with an ordinary shifting spanner hand tight; the assumption was the key was all that was necessary to keep everything in position. The result was the most elongated keyway I have seen.

User avatar

TWrenn
Posts: 3389
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Wrenn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
Location: Ohio
MTFCA Number: 30701
MTFCI Number: 24033
Board Member Since: 2019

Re: Rear wheel nut torque

Post by TWrenn » Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:12 am

I've had previous cars that I brought home and pulled the wheels for a check-up only to find the rear nuts were barely beyond snug. Thank God for cotter pins! I use a 2' breaker bar on my socket and yank and tug until my back and/or shoulder hurts like heck and the cotter hole is exposed. Havent lost a wheel yet! Just sayin' :D


Scottio

Re: Rear wheel nut torque

Post by Scottio » Wed Jan 16, 2019 10:29 am

lol. Thats a great one. Tighten it till a shoulder or back goes pop then install the cotter pin. :lol: :lol: :lol:

User avatar

TFan
Posts: 325
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:24 pm
First Name: Jim
Last Name: Riedy
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 26 Roadster
Location: Sandusky,Ohio
MTFCA Number: 25079
MTFCI Number: 18732
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: Rear wheel nut torque

Post by TFan » Wed Jan 16, 2019 10:57 am

I always heard "tighten till failure then 1/4 turn" . Jim
Back road kinda guy stuck on the freeway of life.

User avatar

CudaMan
Posts: 2385
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
MTFCA Number: 30944
MTFCI Number: 23667
Board Member Since: 2013

Re: Rear wheel nut torque

Post by CudaMan » Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:10 am

I use JP's method - 70 ft-lbs, then pull more as needed to get the castellations to line up. :)
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)


Jim, Sr.
Posts: 166
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:13 pm
First Name: Jim, Sr.
Last Name: Rodell
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 coupe, 1926 touring
Location: Wisconsin
MTFCA Number: 2406
MTFCI Number: 22213

Re: Rear wheel nut torque

Post by Jim, Sr. » Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:03 pm

Here is the wrench that Ford supplied for the job when our Model T's were new.
This is an original 5Z-248 rear axle Ford wrench. It has a 21 inch long heavy pipe handle.
I have never used it, because i'm afraid I would strip the axle or nut.
DSC08382.JPG
Attachments
DSC08385.JPG
DSC08383.JPG
1922 Coupe , 1926 Touring


mtntee20
Posts: 527
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:51 pm
First Name: Terry & Sharon
Last Name: Miller
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1920 Center Door, 1920 TTWood cab Farm Truck with cable dump grain bed, 1920 TT C-Cab with express bed, 1927 Wood body Dairy Delivery truck
Location: Westminster, CO
MTFCA Number: 32583
Board Member Since: 2017

Re: Rear wheel nut torque

Post by mtntee20 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:38 am

So, if my calculations are anywhere near correct, using this wrench, a person would need to push with just over 45 lb. of pressure on the end of the wrench, to get 70 lb/ft of torque on the axle nut. Seems logical. But, if a person really leaned on the wrench, with his body weight, you could get well over 100 lb/ft torque. I'm still confused. I think I will shoot for the 70 - 100 lb/ft zone and to the next castlelation for the cotter pin. Sure don't want that nut loose.

Thanks for the photo. I didn't know Ford had a special wrench for the axle nuts.

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic