On Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:05:30 -0500, Van Chocstraw
wrote:

ransley wrote:
On Nov 4, 4:26 pm, "Ed Pawlowski" wrote:
This was posted on another newsgroup but is of interest for many here alsohttp://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/brochure/info/tmpInfoWheelTo...

If your car is in the garage attached to your house, the post is ON topic.

Have you ever seen anyone work on your car check lug nut torque? The
only thing I have ever seen is an air impact wrench blasting them
tight.

I use an impact wrench and recheck with a tire wrench. I have a torque
wrench but it's not that critical. Mine never come off. Too loose they
come off, too tight and you break off the stud, it's not rocket science.


I fear you are underestimating the problem. You may be able
to get accurate torque using your method, but many people can not.

Improper torque can damage the rotor or the wheel. It can
cause the loss of a wheel (usually only when someone leaves them
finger tight). It can cause an accident in some cases.

I recommend using a known good torque wrench to tighen the
lugs. It is not hard to do, so why not. I had some work done at a
national chain tyre center and was very supprised and pleased to watch
them use the air wrench to snug the lugs, but then use a real torque
wrench to tighten them. Usuall I end up redoing them as soon as I get
home.