Lug Nut Torque Specifications on a KIA Sorrento

Torque is defined as a measure of the force required to turn an object such as a bolt or a flywheel. Torque is measured in foot-pounds, inch-pounds or in the metric equivalent of Newton-meters. A torque of 90 foot-pounds means that if you had a wrench that was 1 foot long and applied a force of 90 pounds perpendicular to the wrench, you would get 90 foot-pounds of torque. When talking about automobiles, torque is often associated with engines. In this instance, torque is the force that gets a vehicle moving from a complete stop and helps to pull it up steep hills.

When a specific torque is required to tighten a bolt, a torque wrench is needed. There are three types of torque wrenches: beam, click and dial. Beam-type torque wrenches have two beams attached to the socket. A lever beam applies the force and an indicator beam points to the torque on a scale on the lever. Click-type torque wrenches use an indicator on the handle that can be set to a desired torque; once the desired torque is reached the ratchet moves freely, and a spring causes the wrench to make a clicking noise. Dial-type torque wrenches have a display on a dial or a digital readout on the handle. The display indicates the torque as the wrench is turned. Dial-type torque wrenches are the most accurate and the most expensive. You can find torque wrenches in auto parts or hardware stores.

The lug nut torque for all Kia Sorentos is 85 foot-pounds. You can find the torque specification in the maintenance section of your owner's manual or at any service garage. You should always torque lug nuts in a star pattern when replacing a wheel, rather than torquing them in order around the wheel. Tighten one lug by hand, skip the next and tighten the third, then the fifth, then the second, then the fourth. Then torque them all in the same pattern: First, third, fifth, second, fourth.