Bronco Wheel Torque Specs

Wheel torque is the amount of force needed to properly secure your wheels to your truck. This is measured in something called “pound-feet” (lb-ft or ft/lbs). The manufacturer, in this case, Ford Motor Company, has determined a specific rating for each model year based on wheel side, the number of wheel studs, and the size of those studs. An example of this would be for a 2021 Bronco Badlands/Sasquatch; the wheel torque would be within a range of 80-105 lb-ft. of torque. This would all be the same figure for two-wheel or four-wheel drive applications.

To ensure the correct amount of torque for each wheel, your local trusted professional or experienced go-getter will use a torque wrench or even a torque stick to achieve the proper specs when installing or reinstalling a set of wheels. The torque wrench is preferred because of its accuracy and adjustability, greatly reducing the chances of improper installation and incorrect torque being applied. So, to answer the question of “what torque should lug nuts be” on the Ford Bronco, see our chart above!

Now that we know what wheel torque is and what specifications the manufacturer recommended for each model year Bronco from the OBS platform to the current 6th Generation models, let’s examine just how to torque your wheels.

Removal of your lug nuts does not have to be in any particular order. Break the lug nuts free while the wheels are still on the ground. This will make your job much easier. Once your Bronco is safely secured on jack stands, remove the lug nuts with a cross lug tool or your lug wrench, one at a time, from your wheel. Remember the old adage, righty tighty, lefty loosey!

Now that the wheels are removed, you can perform whichever service is needed, whether that is repair, replacing your tires, or upgrading to a new set of aftermarket wheels! When it comes time to reinstall the wheels, pay close attention when threading on the lug nuts. You do not want to cross-thread the lug nuts on the wheel studs, so thread your lug nuts by hand before using your power tools. Once you have verified that the threads are not damaged and have hand-spun on the lug nuts, you can use your wrench or impact tool to snug them up. Once each wheel has been reinstalled, lower the car to the ground and grab your torque wrench. Torque each lug nut in an alternating or star pattern. This will ensure that pressure is dispersed evenly across the wheel hub to help prevent possible damage!

That damage that could result from incorrectly installing the wheels with proper torque includes but is not limited to damage to your brake rotors, lug nuts, wheel studs, or even improperly balanced wheels!

Brake rotors undertake a lot of abuse from daily driving. As a result, they get quite hot, and if torque is not evenly spread across the lugs, different pressures can cause the rotors to warp, resulting in vibration in your steering wheel. The only way to fix this is to replace the rotors and correctly torque the lug nuts. This can also lead to imbalanced wheels. With excessive torque on the wheel hub, one portion of the wheel may not be torqued with the same pressure, which will cause the wheel to spin erratically. Because of this, tire damage can also occur over time if correct torque is not performed.

Damage to the wheel studs and lug nuts can happen by either overtightening or under-torquing your wheels. For example, if you were to overtighten your wheel studs, they could break, or the lug nut could end up stripping threads. While each of these does not sound like a major issue, they can lead to significant safety issues if multiple wheel studs or lug nuts become damaged. Under torquing, wheels can also result in stripped wheel studs and can also damage lug nuts due to the wheel vibrating or wobbling while driving.

Though often overlooked, proper wheel torque is a paramount detail that you do not want to ignore. Educating yourself with the proper knowledge can save time and money and keep you and others safe on and off-road. Whether you have a pristine 1992 white Bronco or a Ford Mustang, make sure you or your qualified technician torque your wheels to manufacturers' specifications with proper tools like a torque wrench!