Lug Bolt Lube

[Fred Munro]

----- Original Message -----
From: <quk at isham-research.freeserve.co.uk>
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 12:54 PM
Subject: Lug Bolt Lube


> All torque specifications are for dry bolts.  There is one case
> on record of the manager of a bus garage being charged with
> manslaughter after greased wheel bolts backed out on a bus
> with fatal consequences, but the charge was eventually
> dropped.  All lug bolts removed in my workshop go into the
> degreaser.  How a bolt tightened to specification (110 NM -
> 80 lb ft) can present a removal problem is utterly beyond me.
>

Hmm, try soaking the assembly in salt water for 6 months, Phil, and you will
see the light.
I've had to beat (admittedly non-Audi) wheels off hubs with a sledge hammer
because the wheel centre was corroded onto the hub, and this is after using
a 2 foot breaker bar with cheater to remove the corroded lug bolts.
If you ever hope to change a flat in the Canadian climate, the wheel bolts
and hub centering ring better have anti-seize on them. It's the first thing
I do with a new car after an unfortunate but formative experience with my
first auto ('63 VW bug) that involved a flat tire, a cross lug wrench, and
the car battery. I've never had a problem with a properly torqued, lubed
wheel bolt backing off.

Fred Munro
'94 S4