meowza22

Hey Everyone,
I'm new here, but I'm really desperate, so I'm jumping in with both feet. My husband's 2004 F150 Lariat, 2WD has been shuddering when coming to a stop, so he decided to have the rotors turned. After removing the brake assembly, we have found out that the rotors do not get turned on this model, that it is a 'disposable unit', as one man put it. We have purchased the new rotor assembly and I was sent to the internet to look up the torque value for the spindle nut (the one that can't be reused because it has a nylon locking thing...whatever) and after a LOT of searching, I came up with three sources that said 295 lb-ft, including an exploded view of the front disc brake assembly that clearly states this, and it was taken from the 2004 F150 workshop manual. Dear Husband had a cow, saying that he thought this was too high. He has talked to all the guys in the neighborhood, and they think the same thing. The Ford house is closed today, so I can't get this confirmed. What say anyone here? I don't want him driving off into the sunset, or anywhere else, for that matter, and having the spindle nut shoot off and kill someone or whatever too much torque will do to a spindle. I really need to know the answer, as he thinks I am a goddess since I was taught how to change the oil and tires on my car at the tender age of 15, lo so many years ago. I really want to maintain my goddess status. Help me, please??
Thanks,
Wanda

rtg143

The spindle nut is definitly 295 ft. lb.

luckythirteen13

tell your husband and all the rocket scientists in the neighborhood its 295ft/lbs and that your were right. i just did my rotors for the same reason your doing yours, bought a chilton book just for the torque numbers and it confirms 295lbs

meowza22

Thank you, thank you, thank you! My Goddess title has been retained and bragging rights in the neighborhood have been achieved!

jhelrey

I know my 97 is 250 so the number is right.

Have fun torquing it up to 295... 250 was bad enough.

Code 7

Yours must be a 4WD. Her husbands truck is a 2WD. When Ford came up with the very bad idea of using ball bearings in the front hubs they also came up with the idea to toque them to 295 ft lbs. Whatever engineer figured that one out should have been taken out and horse whipped.

Code 7

Wanda, you can also tell your husband that the rotors ARE NOT disposable, unless they are too worn to be turned without reaching the minimum thickness that is molded into the rotor. They do need to be turned ON THE TRUCK. Ford has used a lathe that turns them on the vehicle for many years now. They put pretty crappy rotors on 'em so they may not have been able to turn them without going out of specs but they are not "disposable". They used to have to replace 'em if the wheel bearing went bad because Ford didn't service the bearing, but now they are actually serviced. Most people (with enough cash) chose the easy way out and just replace 'em, but they're a little pricey, as you have discovered. Curious as to where he came up with a torque wrench that went to 300 lbs. Normally that's a 3/4 in. wrench which is also KINDA PRICEY (except for Harbor Freight).

meowza22

Wow, Code 7! You have really helped, too! We have a store called Steve's Wholesale (really doesn't have wholesale prices, but a good selection of tools) and found the torque wrench. He had to get a reducer also. And yes, they were pricey. Harbor Freight's wrench only went to 250. That is incredible that a rotor can be turned ON the truck! Man, I am sooo old school! Gotta get with the times. Maybe if we hadn't been doing this over the weekend, we could have avoided some of this trouble, but I think it would have cost just as much, if not more to take the truck somewhere and pay them to turn them. At least we know they are new and we have a clean slate. Y'all have been really great here and I will visit often. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP!

jhelrey

My Honda was the same way... had to turn on the car.

Code 7

Hi Wanda, I must say for a woman you may be behind the times, but not out of touch with automotive things. No wonder your husband figured you were a "keeper"! Concerning the H.F. torque wrench- the 3/4 in DOES go to 300 ft lbs. I have thought about buying one, but haven't needed it yet so have put it off. Sells for $75. on sale currently. Comes in 2 different handle lengths, maybe a 30 and 36, I'm not sure. I have both metric and American in 3/4 in sets but have not yet had to torque with them. You're probably thinking of the 1/2 in torque wrench. Most only go to 150 ft lbs but they do have them that go to 250. I wouldn't want to try to pull 300 lbs with a 1/2 in torque wrench.
Yep, Ford has done rotor turns on the vehicle for maybe 20-25 years at least, I'm not sure.
Enjoy the new brakes and do come back and visit. Your alertness is refreshing. Your husband was right, you are a "keeper".