bluesuby Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 I'm going nuts with the wheel lug nuts coming loose. Stock wheels and lug nuts on an 05 LGT. The lug nuts were initially torqued to to 70 lb/ft. After experiencing some issues, they were retorqued to 74 lb/ft. After driving some 500 miles I experienced noise and stopped to check. Same issue, 3 of 5 loose on the left front, 2 of 5 loose on the front right. Rears seem to be ok. So I'm thinking. If there is a weak link with either the lug or the nut subject to distortion due to age, I'm guessing the lug itself is a lot harder because it bears the stress, and the nut could have be damaged by tire shops gunning it on. My first attempt for a fix will be taking the 4 pristine nuts returned to me when Subaru fitted McGard locking wheel nuts and installing the new old nuts on the left front. I'm also going to attempt to use Loctite blue threadlocker (non-permanent) on the right front. If everything remains good I'll probably replace all the lug nuts and apply some loctite as insurance. A trusted mechanic tells me me that 70-74 lb/ft is kind of light. He has torqued wheel nuts to 100 but some of his work is heavier American cars with beefier lugs. Any thoughts or cautions are welcome. I need to get this fixed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinkly Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 I wanna say 90+ is where ours are supposed to be. Maybe 96? So yeah, 70 seems pretty low. My ford focus was around 100 as well. Sent from my XT1028 * Build Thread * 26.53 MPG - 12 month Average * Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesuby Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 I wanna say 90+ is where ours are supposed to be. Maybe 96? So yeah, 70 seems pretty low. My ford focus was around 100 as well. Sent from my XT1028 All I can say is "Thank you Haynes manual". Still looking for comments and help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dispatch20 Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 A quick Google search tells me the FSM says about 72'ish ft-lbs. I guess I usually use a little more. I don't think people usually have an issue with loosening wheel lugs even at these torques. Are you sure your torque wrench is calibrated properly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesuby Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 A quick Google search tells me the FSM says about 72'ish ft-lbs. I guess I usually use a little more. I don't think people usually have an issue with loosening wheel lugs even at these torques. Are you sure your torque wrench is calibrated properly? Torqued them twice with 2 different wrenches. Some Google searches show torque values all over the place, with a Discount Tire chart showing 90 lb/ft. I think I'll try that first. There are some postings about lug nuts falling off or coming loose, so although the number is small I'm not alone with this. Funny. Years ago I didn't pay any attention to using a torque wrench. Just tightened to grunt factor and never had issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellesedil Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 The 5th gen Legacy torques lugs at 89 ft/lbs. No idea if that's applicable to an '05, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 You might want to look at the inside surface of the wheels. Are they flat and clean ? I have always put anti-seize on all the lug nuts and torque them to 80ftlbs. I also torque the nuts once then a second time before I drive the car. You are doing the torque in a cross pattern not in a circle, right ? 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subiebeast22 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 +1 for 80 ftlbs that's what I've always set mine to and I've never had one come loose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I will say that a few of these cars seem to have an issue with lose lug nuts. My ski buddy had an 05 OBXT and he had lose wheels a few times over the years. He traded it on a 2014 OB. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grovlet Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Maybe a new set of lug nuts would help - Is it possible the threads got spread a little and are not mating tightly with the wheel studs? If that doesn't work new studs too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesuby Posted May 27, 2015 Author Share Posted May 27, 2015 Since torquing them to 90 (per the Discount Tire chart) no more issues, although I will be checking them regularly. I don't know where the 70-72 info is coming from, but that seems to be a contributing factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesuby Posted May 27, 2015 Author Share Posted May 27, 2015 And thank you all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OBPLGT721 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Since torquing them to 90 (per the Discount Tire chart) no more issues, although I will be checking them regularly. I don't know where the 70-72 info is coming from, but that seems to be a contributing factor. Thats good news. The torque should be 89 ft/lbs (but srsly, 90 ft/lbs ain't gonna destroy/damage anything). However, older foresters and a couple of older subies (forgot the model names ) are the ones that I know of that require 70 - 72 ft/lbs of torque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-3-2-4 Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 I too normally set to 85 Ft.lb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrD123 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 05 service manual says 81.1 ft-lbs, 08 and 09 manuals say 88.5 ft-lbs, and all of the 5th generation ones say 88.5 ft-lbs (owners manual rounds to 89 ft-lbs, though) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnyJagaru Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 I didn't think it was possible for lugnuts on the right side of the car to come loose? I tighten mine with an impact gun. You can tell when they stop turning by watching and then stopping at that point. I've never lost a wheel, or had one come loose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesuby Posted August 25, 2015 Author Share Posted August 25, 2015 They can. Believe me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fedaykin Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 I tighten mine with an impact gun. Brutal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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