[VaSteve]

Every time I torque down my nasty old lugs I think of buying new ones and that fancy soft socket to tighten them with.

Won't the soft socket in some way throw off the torque wrench? If not, why not. Help me get my small mind around this.

[Charlie Stylianos]

The 'soft' material has elastic properties (it will deform a bit under load, then retain its shape when the load is lifted). Some of the torque applied is used to deform the plastic, when the plastic has deformed to its max the remaining torque is transferred to your lugs. The material used is pretty hard so I wouldnt think the difference in torques is going to be significant.

For the track, get some steel lugs to put your mind at ease.

[cmartin]

Why not use steel lugs? Stronger, better suited for the track and wont make you cry if you sratch one.

Oh yeah, if there is any give in the socket it wont matter one bit. When was the last time you had your torque wrench calibrated?

[turbo23dog]

What torque do you use on an SC?

[Marc A]

94

[}{arlequin]

Originally Posted by Charlie Stylianos

The 'soft' material has elastic properties (it will deform a bit under load, then retain its shape when the load is lifted). Some of the torque applied is used to deform the plastic, when the plastic has deformed to its max the remaining torque is transferred to your lugs.

huh? what's that you are saying? one-point-twenty-one-jigawatts?
it's all buzzes and pops from here...

sounds like you're writing a manual or reciting new engineering knowledge that you've been tested on

[Charlie Stylianos]

Some of the torque applied is used to deform the plastic, when the plastic has deformed to its max the remaining torque is transferred to your lugs.

Upon further pondering, I don't know if this is correct. The material accepts said force, then what happens, it just disappears? Another suspicion is that the material will transfer its 'internal' torque to the lugs. So depending on the elastic properties of the material, it could just be a time difference. Softer material will take longer to deform, then transfer, and vise versa. I'll get to the bottom of this. Yes, I'm neurotic.

[Parenn911]

Originally Posted by Charlie Stylianos

Upon further pondering, I don't know if this is correct. The material accepts said force, then what happens, it just disappears? Another suspicion is that the material will transfer its 'internal' torque to the lugs. So depending on the elastic properties of the material, it could just be a time difference. Softer material will take longer to deform, then transfer, and vise versa. I'll get to the bottom of this. Yes, I'm neurotic.

You're also a dorki wuss!
Steve, as long as you don't let Emery torque your lug nuts you'll be ok.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by cmartin

Why not use steel lugs? Stronger, better suited for the track and wont make you cry if you sratch one.

Not everything I do with the car is for the track! I some times use it to pick up girls - don't tell my wife.

Originally Posted by cmartin

Oh yeah, if there is any give in the socket it wont matter one bit. When was the last time you had your torque wrench calibrated?

It hurts my mind what I think up in the garage sometimes. There's only one other room where I think better.

[Trak Ratt]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

Not everything I do with the car is for the track! I some times use it to pick up girls - don't tell my wife.

Ok, now we know what the problem is

Use a regular socket for the last push, just be carefull.

It hurts my mind what I think up in the garage sometimes. There's only one other room where I think better.

Ok, now we know what the 2nd problem is