oh and to answer your question about the tires, you would feel it all the time if it were the tires. it could be flat spots, if the truck sat up for a long period of time immediately before the install. also could have some tread separation, if the tires are older or dry rotting.

 

On a related note-Where the ^&*#! can you rent a torque wrench that will go to the required 295#? Not exactly a household tool. I can't find anybody who has one to rent that goes over 250#. FWIW-I'm in Gwinnett County, GA (just in case there's somebody from my area who knows a specific place).

 

For the lug nuts? The torque for the lugs isnt 250 ft pounds, according to the Chilton's its 150 ft pounds.

 

^^^^ acording to ford, Discount tire. Sears and Wall Mart also. @ 250 you could warp the roter or more likely break a wheel stud and god help you if you had to change a tire with the factery lug wrench.

 

I torque to 165. They're not coming loose

 

Sorry for the confusion. The spindle nut the holds the hub on, not lugs. I'm guessing that the studs would twist off before 295#

 

Sounds like you're getting ft lbs and N m's mixed up. Even so, 295 newton meters is still too high for Ford specs.

 

Why torque to 165 when the specs call for 150 all you are doing is stretching the studs which will eventualy cause them to weaken and fail. they will not come loos at the recomended torque

 

The large nut in the center of a 4x4 with a unit bearing does not hold the wheel on. all it does is hold the stub axle in place inside the hub. the bearing is non adjustable and is bolted on with 3 bolts. If you remove the axle nut for any reaso it should be replaced with a new one and not reused. if your truck does not have a unit bearing then the spindle nut sets the bearing preload and is not more than finger tight.

 

My apologies. Didn't mean to jack your thread. Mine's RWD. I've looked at many threads/posts and it's definitely a 295# torque (400 Nm). The spindle on the 2WD holds the (integrated) hub/rotor. Later models and 4WD are different.