I have misplaced my torque wrench, and I'm planning to just hand torque the lug nuts on my 99' Maxima with the stock 5-spoke wheels. Is hand torquing it sufficient torque so that the wheel does not come flying off? I was told not to do this, and simply to go to a shop so they can tighten it with their tools... I have a impact gun myself, however, I don't want to over torque it with that and have some other problems from over torquing.

Roughly how much torque on average is hand torquing with a "X" lug nut wrench it going to give?

 

Well let's say you want around 80 lb-ft, so thats 80lbs of force on a standard 1 foot long lug nut wrench. Do you have a bathroom scale? Put your hand on it and push down until it says 80 lbs. Practice a few times until you remember the feeling. Then apply the same strength on the lug nut wrench.

It really depends on how "precise" you want to be. When I didn't have my torque wrench, I just tightened it until it felt good.

 

..^..^..^.... What he said..

It's more important to have them all the same torque, than to try to have an exact torque, if you have to do them by hand. Helps reduce rotor warping, I find.

 

I found that "goodntight" (German torque spec) with the standard lug wrench is 90-100lbs/ft. You don't need a shop to tighten the lugs, you can get them plenty tight with the lug wrench.

 

Also torque them in a star fashion, not clockwise. It spreads force during the process, and it also help preventing rotor warp.

 

i work at the walmart tire express place, and we get out info from the makers of the car, nissan calls for 80-85 pounds, and what he said ^^^ start pattern, because if you don't,...... put it this way , its not pretty

 

I torque mine to 87 lb-ft. Don't worry too much. Just tighten them until they feel tight enough and you should be fine.