Bolts have specific tolerance levels determined by material, size, and torque capacity. PSI tables guide technicians to prevent overtightening. Torque wrenches measure PSI and prevent overtightening. Head and lug bolts have specific torque requirements.
Bolts are designed to securely fasten objects together. Each bolt has specific tolerance levels before failure. This tolerance level is determined by the material composition, width, depth and size of a bolt. Too much stress on a bolt will cause it to break. The pressure that is exerted on a bolt is called a torque. Each bolt has a specific torque capacity that defines how much pressure it can withstand.
A bolt’s burst pressure is represented in a formula known as pounds per square inch (PSI). Each bolt is designed to support a specific torque tolerance in PSI before it fails. This is identified as the pressure of one pound of force placed on one inch of area of a bolt.
There are publicly available specification tables that document the PSI capacity of bolts. These specifications are based on bolt material, number of threads, and overall dimensions. The tables are to be used as a guide for a technician to ensure that overtightening does not occur.
A torque wrench is a special tool designed to measure PSI placed on screws or bolts. This wrench is equipped with special springs that do not allow the bolts to be overtightened. The torque wrench operator sets the pressure specification before tightening a bolt. When torque capacity is reached, the wrench prevents the operator from adding pressure to the bolt.
A car engine is a piece of precision mechanical engineering. There are hundreds of bolts in a car engine. Many of these bolts have capacity requirements that vary depending on their location in the engine. Precision tightening is typically required in the areas of heads, crank, intake and transmission. These parts receive the greatest stress during normal operations. A mechanic will use a torque wrench to torque critical areas of an engine.
Head bolts are the bolts that hold the heads onto an engine. These bolts ensure that the heads remain secure when the piston explodes against the wheel cylinders. Every automobile has a specific torque capacity for an engine’s head bolts. This specification is based on the engine size and bolts used for tightening.
Lug bolts are used as a fixture for attaching wheels to an automobile. These lugs are designed to ensure that the wheels remain securely attached to the car. Lug bolts have a specific torque tolerance depending on wheel size and number of lugs. When replacing wheels it is important to check that the torque specification has been set. This reduces long-term stress on the lug bolts. Most automobiles require a minimum of 50 foot pounds of PSI.
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