According to the latest TSB, the specified lug nut torque has been increased from 65-87ft-lb to 108ft-lb to counteract the clicking noise that some of us have been reporting on tight turns.

Datsalotta torque!

 

Still way less than the ~700 yard-tons that most tire places crank them up to with their super air-wrenches. A friend of mine had the tire place snap a stud off once tightening up the wheel. Then they tried to tell him it would be OK with just three lugs (a 4 lug wheel).... they didn't want to pay for it!

 

The torque has always been 108, I made sure they torqued to 108ft/lbs but the noise continued. the fix was sanding with 100 grit paper. This issue happened to me about the 3-4 months back and the fix was the same. Interesting about what the "field manual" says, but I got 108 ft/lbs from somewhere but can't remember, must have been somebody on this forum.

EDIT:
Geez, I guess I must have some psychic ability, I always knew it was 108 but can't find any references to it anywhere... oh well.. took forever for that TSB!

 

Uh, wait just a moment...

The fix is to sand off the anti-corrosion coating, and not replace it with anything. What's wrong with this picture? Glad they don't salt the roads in California.

 

108 is a little on the high side, but I had a Pontiac Fiero Formula (88... the last year, the only *good* year) that spec'd out 100 for what I'd guess would be the same lug bolt diameter. If they weren't torqued to 100, they would loosen up gradually over time. My guess was that it was due to relatively poor aluminum that expanded and contracted too much with heat, but that was just a hunch...

Could be a similar problem with these Mazda wheels.

As for removing the anti-corrosion coating... I don't know that's the best solution. I'd actually consider putting anti-sleaze on the surface between the rotor hub and the wheel surface.

 

brothervoodoo,

The range in zee Owner's Manual is 88-118 N.m or 65-87 ft-lb. You were probably thinking of the mid-point of 108 N.m which was suggested by some.

Just to be complete, the new numbers in Service Bulletin 02-002/04 are 147 N.m or 108 ft-lb for those hearing the clicking noise.

Wow, that's almost 25% more than the hi side of the original range ..........

rx8cited

 

But I really like my psychic theory...

 

I had guy snap lugs on a car of mine three times. The first time, I had him drill the bolt out and told him not to do it again. The second time he broke two of them and then put the hub cap on thinking that I wouldn't check . . . silly rabbit. He spent over twenty hours fixing it that time, and I never went back. He then stretched the lugs on a friend's pick-up. Some guys are so addicted to their air guns that they don't give a damn how much it costs them. Crazy.