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Ford lug nut torque chart (F-150, Explorer, Escape, Mustang)

Current Ford trucks and the Mustang share one value: 150 ft-lb (204 N·m) on M14 x 1.5 studs. That covers the F-150 since 2015, the Mustang since 2015 and the Explorer since 2020. The Escape is the exception at 100 ft-lb (135 N·m) on M12 x 1.5 studs.

By the Torque Reference editors 4 sources cited Last reviewed Method
Contents5 sections

Key takeaways

  • F-150 2015–2025, Mustang 2015–2024, Explorer 2020–2026: 150 ft-lb (204 N·m), M14 x 1.5 ⁠1 ⁠2 ⁠3
  • Escape 2007–2024: 100 ft-lb (135 N·m), M12 x 1.5 ⁠4
  • Older Explorers and Mustangs on 1/2 x 20 studs are 100 ft-lb (135 N·m)
  • Ford: retighten within 100 miles (160 km) after any wheel disturbance ⁠1

Ford lug nut torque chart

VehicleLatest torqueLatest year checkedManual rows
Ford F-150also Ford F-150 Lightning150 ft-lb204 N·m202513
Ford Explorer150 ft-lb204 N·m20268
Ford Escape100 ft-lb135 N·m20249
Ford Mustang150 ft-lb204 N·m20247

Latest value shown; older generations differ, so open the vehicle page for its year. Every value is quoted from the manufacturer’s owner’s manual.

How the Ford models compare

The table above shows the latest manual we checked for each model. Across the line-up it comes down to two studs:

  • M14 x 1.5, 150 ft-lb (204 N·m): F-150 from 2015, including the Raptor and the F-150 Lightning ⁠1. Also the Mustang from the 2015 S550 ⁠3 and the Explorer from the 2020 redesign ⁠2.
  • M12 x 1.5, 100 ft-lb (135 N·m): the Escape, in every manual from 2007 to 2024, including the 2020+ hybrid and plug-in hybrid ⁠4.

Older cars are where the Ford numbers split. The Explorer up to 2019 and the 2005–2014 Mustang used 1/2 x 20 studs at 100 ft-lb (135 N·m). The F-150 before 2015 used a coarser M14 x 2.0 thread. Its manuals print 150 ft-lb (200 N·m), with 148 lb.ft in the 2014 edition. The 2003 seven-lug Heavy Payload F-150 is 100 ft-lb (135 N·m) on M12 x 1.75. The 2004 Escape and 2004 Mustang guides print ranges (84-114 and 88-108 ft-lb) instead of single values.

So “Ford lug nut torque” has no single answer. A 2018 Explorer and a 2020 Explorer differ by the full step from 100 to 150 ft-lb.

What every Ford manual says

Ford’s thread note is the same in every edition we read: torque specifications “are for nut and bolt threads free of dirt and rust.” The current re-check sentence is “Retighten the wheel nuts to the specified torque within 100 mi (160 km) after any wheel disturbance” ⁠1. Some 2000s guides said 500 miles instead. None of the Ford owner’s manuals list an oil drain plug or brake caliper torque. For the tightening order see the lug nut tightening guide.

Sources

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  4. 4

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