Date:         Mon, 30 Mar 1998 20:32:18 CST
Reply-To:     Joel Walker <JWALKER@UA1VM.UA.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Walker <JWALKER@UA1VM.UA.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Lug Nut Torque?
Comments: To: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
In-Reply-To:  <Vanagon%1998033007304467@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Mon, 30 Mar 1998 10:22:03 EST Sean Bartnik said:
>> 123 ft lbs?  I haven't checked the Bentley yet, but I agee that sounds way
>> too high.
>
>It's not.  Bentley says 125 ft-lbs.

ok, folks. on MY bentley, the July 15, 1991 Edition, covering
1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,
1986,1986,1988,1989,1990,1991
including Diesel, Syncro and Camper
on the BACK cover, it says:
Front Suspension     Group 40
tightening torques
wheel lug bolts
    1980 to Nov. 1984 ............  170 Nm (125 ft-lb)
    from Nov. 1984 ...............  180 Nm (133 ft-lb)
<no mention of wheel lug nuts on the Rear Suspension>

however, inside the Bentley, it says:
Group 40 Front Wheel Suspension, Shafts and Axle
Page 40.2 Front Suspension (up to Oct. 31, 1984)
(in picture) 170 Nm (123 ft-lb).

and on Page 40.7 Front Suspension (modifications from Nov. 1, 1984)
(in picture)  180 Nm (133 ft-lb).

and in Group 42 Rear Wheel Suspension, Shafts and Axle
Page 42.2 Coil Spring, Axle Shaft, Rear Suspension
(in picture) Lug Nuts 180 Nm (133 ft lb)

but in the Appendix (after Group 97, Electrical System), it says ...
Vehicle Care
Do-It-Yourself-Service
Page 22
Step 8 (middle column)
"* Correctly tightened nuts or bolts should have a torque of 130 ft-lbs/
180 Nm. This torque can be obtained with the lug wrench by any person of
average strength. ..."

-------------------------
so ok, that's Bentley. now what do the Owners Manuals say??

1980.    page 55.
"Correctly tighted nuts or bolts should have a torque of 108 ft-lb/15 mkg.
This torque can be obtained with the socket wrench and breaker bar by any
person of average strength. ..."
         page 58.
"After rotation adjust tire pressure and torque wheel nuts diagonally to
123 ft lb /17 mkg (Please refer to "Changing a wheel" on pages 49-51)."
<"Changing a wheel is actually on pages 53-55. Joel>

1981.     page 55:  108 ft-lb / 15 mkg
          page 58:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
1982,     page 55:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
          page 58:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
1983,     page 69:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg ** Water-cooled **
          page 75:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg ** Water-cooled **
1984,     page 69:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
          page 75:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
1985,     page 69:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
          page 75:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
1986,     page 77:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
          page 83:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
1987,     page 99:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
          page 108: 123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
1988,     page 99:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
          page 108: 123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
1989,     page 99:  123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
          page 108: 123 ft-lb / 17 mkg
1990,     page 115: 130 ft lb / 180 Nm
          page 127: 130 ft lb / 180 Nm
1991,     page 115: 130 ft lb / 180 Nm
          page 127: 130 ft lb / 180 Nm

so ... in ALL those OM's, not ONE word is mentioned about Syncro's being
any different from non-Syncros, or even about the Alloy Wheels being any
different torques from the steel wheels!!! go figure.
the Camper Supplement booklet says nothing about wheels or torques. the
Syncro Supplement booklet says nothing about them, and the Wolfsburg
Limited Edition / Carat booklet says nothing as well.

i figure the 108 ft-lbs in the 1980 and 1981 booklet are misprints ...
since the VW Repair book (pre-Bentley) for 1980,1981 (the big blue book)
says 123 ft-lbs on the back and on page 40.2 and page 42.2.
(this is Repair Manual, Type2 25, Vanagon. from Volkswagen of America, Inc.
<NOT Robert Bentley> part number W42-020-123-1, First Edition, 9/80.
that's the ONLY edition i know of ... a year or so after i bought this one,
the Bentley book came out>

so who's right? well, i figure the most commonly used one is 123 ft-lbs.
i don't know why the 1990 and 1991 would need 130 ft-lbs. anybody know
any severe differences in their suspensions or wheels??

anyhoo, i've been using 123 ft-lbs (i use a torque wrench to set them,
especially after any ham-fisted tire place has touched the bus!!) since
my 1980 bus ... on my 86 bus and my 88 bus and my 91 bus and my 87 camper.
and so far, i've never had a wheel come off :) and i've never had a lug
nut or lug bolt loosen on me. at all.

hope it helps.
joel