2024 Maverick XLT Wheel Lug Torque

[BERNIE GDOWSKI]

I just purchased a new 2024 Ford Maverick XLT this Monday. After 1oo miles, I checked my wheel lug nuts, as suggested in the owner’s manual calling for 148 Ft/lbs. of torque. Does that sound very high to anyone? If you had a flat, could you remove 148 Ft/Lbs. lug nuts of torque with that behind the seat emergency jack handle? Also, I checked the door placard for tire pressures which calls for 35 PSI… and the factory/dealer put 40 PSI all around. I am a real believer in Factory Specifications. Any thoughts about the wheel torque?

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[mcluvin]

I just purchased a new 2024 Ford Maverick XLT this Monday. After 1oo miles, I checked my wheel lug nuts, as suggested in the owner’s manual calling for 148 Ft/lbs. of torque. Does that sound very high to anyone? If you had a flat, could you remove 148 Ft/Lbs. lug nuts of torque with that behind the seat emergency jack handle? Also, I checked the door placard for tire pressures which calls for 35 PSI… and the factory/dealer put 40 PSI all around. I am a real believer in Factory Specifications. Any thoughts about the wheel torque?

I keep a breaker bar in the truck. There's a thread somewhere here where seemingly knowledgeable folks discussed the torque specs and quality of the OEM lug nuts. The tires are inflated to 40+ PSI for the train ride. The prep person probably never lowered them. Congratz on your new truck!

 

[Toddman45]

35 psi and 148 ft lbs is correct.

 

[ThisWas]

I had not one but two flat tires in a month, both while driving down a busy highway. I had no trouble removing lug nuts with the factory-supplied folding lug nut wrench. (My XL has steel wheels, if that makes a difference.) I can't remember if I needed to step on the end of the wrench to loosen any of the nuts. Both flats were in snow tires that I mounted myself using a torque wrench set to 148 lbs.

Edited to add: why don't you test the wrench now? You'll also want to watch a YouTube video about how to change a tire on a Maverick if you're a 1st-time truck owner as I am.

 

[icegradner]

Does that sound very high to anyone? If you had a flat, could you remove 148 Ft/Lbs. lug nuts of torque with that behind the seat emergency jack handle? Also, I checked the door placard for tire pressures which calls for 35 PSI… and the factory/dealer put 40 PSI all around.

To answer the first question about the torque spec, guys at the tire shop and dealership don't even blink an eye when it's mentioned. It's what Ford has recommend since the Maverick first came out, it hasn't changed.

Second question, yes you can easily get them off with the included tools in the truck. I was able to get them past factory spec when tightening them too, so be careful. I use a torque wrench and a beaker bar when doing my tire rotations, but the factory tools are up to the task.

As for the PSI, yes they are shipped from the factory at 40 PSI for shipping purposes, the dealer should have dropped them to 35 PSI as part of the pre-sale inspection. Make sure you check fluids too, some people have reported that dealers techs didn't check very carefully during the pre-sale inspection.

 

[BERNIE GDOWSKI]

I will check all the fluids and add a breaker bar behind the seat. (I am a senior citizen.)
Much appreciated Icegradner!

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I will check all the fluids and add a breaker bar behind the seat. (I am a senior citizen.)
Much appreciated Icegradner!

Same here.

I went ahead and I checked my lugs months ago they were pretty tight. It also reminded me to put my four-way lug wrench and well used homemade breaker bar in my truck.
Thank You

 

[mcluvin]

I will check all the fluids and add a breaker bar behind the seat. (I am a senior citizen.)
Much appreciated Icegradner!

I keep a Cordless air compressor in my vehicles. I can usually limp my way to a tire repair shop vs actually having to change a tire.

 

[inline_five]

I just purchased a new 2024 Ford Maverick XLT this Monday. After 1oo miles, I checked my wheel lug nuts, as suggested in the owner’s manual calling for 148 Ft/lbs. of torque. Does that sound very high to anyone? If you had a flat, could you remove 148 Ft/Lbs. lug nuts of torque with that behind the seat emergency jack handle? Also, I checked the door placard for tire pressures which calls for 35 PSI… and the factory/dealer put 40 PSI all around. I am a real believer in Factory Specifications. Any thoughts about the wheel torque?

The max torque for M14x1.5 @ grade 10.9 bolt is around 140-150 ft-lbs. What an engineer on here surmised is when the Ford engineer responsible for lug torque spec'd it, they simply took the max torque it could safely handle and put that down as the spec.

When I rotated my tires, I put anti-seize on the threads (gasp!) and torqued to 100 ft-lbs. Adding anti-seize will give a higher clamping force for the same torque due to less friction.

Of course, I understand that the spec is 147 and no anti-seize whatsoever or some such. I've been doing this on my vehicles for decades, with no ill effects.

 

[2lbgill]

35 psi and 148 ft lbs is correct.

try keeping the tires at 40 psi you might get surprised

 

[Oscarcat]

Tire pressure: I had a '22 EB and when my ordered '24 hybrid arrived I noticed on the drive home from the dealer that it rode like a buckboard compared to the '22. The tire pressure was 45 psi from the factory.

When I had my tires rotated at Discount Tire I asked them to torque to 100. They would not do it [liability] so I did it with my torque wrench at home. I used a 1/2" drive socket with a breaker bar, lead pipe, and reset the torque. Since I drive on paved street and freeways I am confident 100 psi torque works safely for my driving situation.

 

[BERNIE GDOWSKI]

The max torque for M14x1.5 @ grade 10.9 bolt is around 140-150 ft-lbs. What an engineer on here surmised is when the Ford engineer responsible for lug torque spec'd it, they simply took the max torque it could safely handle and put that down as the spec.

When I rotated my tires, I put anti-seize on the threads (gasp!) and torqued to 100 ft-lbs. Adding anti-seize will give a higher clamping force for the same torque due to less friction.

Of course, I understand that the spec is 147 and no anti-seize whatsoever or some such. I've been doing this on my vehicles for decades, with no ill effects.

 

[BERNIE GDOWSKI]

The max torque for M14x1.5 @ grade 10.9 bolt is around 140-150 ft-lbs. What an engineer on here surmised is when the Ford engineer responsible for lug torque spec'd it, they simply took the max torque it could safely handle and put that down as the spec.

When I rotated my tires, I put anti-seize on the threads (gasp!) and torqued to 100 ft-lbs. Adding anti-seize will give a higher clamping force for the same torque due to less friction.

Of course, I understand that the spec is 147 and no anti-seize whatsoever or some such. I've been doing this on my vehicles for decades, with no ill effects.

Thanks "INLINE_FIVE". Some great feedback and thoughts to consider. Much appreciated

 

[MetalsGeek]

I believe tires are shipped over pressure, perhaps to prevent flat spots from sitting.
I agree the specified lug nut torque seems unnecessarily high. That number is probably related to the ratings for that stud size more than the Maverick's actual design loads. I would tell you what I do, but don't want to be deluged with snarky comments by armchair mechanics.
One morsel of trivia everyone should know is that the tailgate needs to be closed to lower the spare tire. I cannot imagine how the geniuses at Ford assumed you would never have a flat while carrying a sheet of plywood or drywall, but they did.

 

[BERNIE GDOWSKI]

That tip about closing the tailgate to lower the spare is priceless.
Much appreciated Mr. Metalsgeek!

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