Do you need a torque wrench for your lug nuts?

[alkemyst]

So out of those 60+ mechanics (and you) no one had custom wheels?

also by your own analogy...so that sniper can control the fps of the bullet?

hate to break it to you, but the only tools that are over-rated are shit tools maybe you are used to using.

also you little torque test is great for one example. Not all wheels torque the same.

Really depends on size and number of studs as well as wheel composition.

I think it's amazing you worked at a Firestone and still didn't know how to properly tighten lugs.

When I was 16 I was fully restoring a 1966 Mustang and already had basic mechanics down.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
So out of those 60+ mechanics (and you) no one had custom wheels?

also by your own analogy...so that sniper can control the fps of the bullet?

hate to break it to you, but the only tools that are over-rated are shit tools maybe you are used to using.

also you little torque test is great for one example. Not all wheels torque the same.

Really depends on size and number of studs as well as wheel composition.

I think it's amazing you worked at a Firestone and still didn't know how to properly tighten lugs.

When I was 16 I was fully restoring a 1966 Mustang and already had basic mechanics down.

Yeah, I'm sure MAC and Snap On are shit tools. They're only the best you can buy.
ALL impact guns are over-rated. ALL, without exception. There is no regulation, no standard that everyone goes by. I had a Chicago Pneumatic gun I bought from the MAC guy for years that would remove stuck bolts the other guy's supposedly heavier-duty Ingersoll-Rands would not. Now I have a similar CP 1/2" gun that is pitiful in comparison.
Then again, I don't have the air pressure like back then, either. Many variables.

Not too many customers that bring their cars into a dealership have custom wheels...at least not in the late 80's to late 90's. We didn't sell tires until probably at least the mid-90's, much less wheels. (other than stock replacement stuff....they sell everything there now)

No, not all wheels torque the same, but when you're dealing with one brand only, there's not much difference.

My Firestone days were back in the mid-80's. Things were different back then.

Glad to hear you were "fully" restoring a car at 16...although I seriously doubt you were doing much besides helping someone.

If you want to go that route though, my first car was a 1978 Jeep CJ-7. My dad owned a body shop and I rebuilt it the summer before I turned 16....from a rolled-over, total loss.
I took it from crunched to paint to decals to replacing the transmission, as I recall.

Ironically, I'm currently restoring my 1981 CJ-7 I've had since '86...took that one down to the bare frame.

And of all us techs at that dealership, yeah, some of the techs had aftermarket wheels. Don't recall anyone using a torque wrench on their own stuff, either.....I suppose they could have. The aftermarket wheel industry wasn't really rolling like it is now, though. You didn't have 17's, 18's, and 20's, and even bigger...at least not all over the place like they are now.

 

[Orsorum]

Lindsay Funke: I'm going to see if I can get a wrench to strip my nuts.

 

[alkemyst]

most 'restorations' I have seen look just as bad as buying a beater to begin with. I was doing most of the work on mine...I had been 'helping' for a lot longer.
Link

 

[slag]

I have a simple 60 gallon vertical single stage compressor at home (oiled), that does fairly well. I know on my impact wrench if I use the 2nd setting (out of 4 settings), it will torque my lugnuts to right at 105 lbs/ft. Of course, you cant sit there and let it chug away for more than about 2-3 seconds before its at the right torque, but yeah, I've used it enough to know when its right.

Never done complete restorations like you guys have, but yeah, in my garage ive done complete engine swaps, clutch/tranny replacements, in frame piston swaps, and pretty much everything else, so I do have at least a little experience. Can't wait to teach my boys how to use tools properly and to be able to fix things on their own.

I'm not a big fan of air ratchets though. Loud as hell and relatively slow and they are still too bulky to be really useful.

 

[alkemyst]

what vehicle you torquing to 105lbs?

 

[BaDave]

Most pros will do the job right an torque the wheels to spec. No if ands or butts.Most dealerships pay flat rate so i can see why you would just use a impact gun.

 

[slag]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
what vehicle you torquing to 105lbs?

My car and my truck. Book calls for up to 87 lb/ft for my car iirc and 98 lbs/ft for my truck.

105 wont hurt anything.

 

[bruceb]

Torque sticks do a good job if the shop has them and picks the
correct one for each car. I personally use a torque wrench when
I replace my wheels. Especially if they are mag type wheels.
And if I need my tires replaced, I go to a shop called Euro Tire
in Fairfield, NJ .. They specialize in tires and high performance
cars and alignment. And they do use a Torque Wrench to tighten
the wheel nuts.

 

[alkemyst]

87 lbs seems high for a car as well...it can hurt if your manual calls for 65lbs and you are almost going double. You can break a stud as well as pull them through the backing plate.

 

[helpme]

Originally posted by: slag

Originally posted by: alkemyst
what vehicle you torquing to 105lbs?

My car and my truck. Book calls for up to 87 lb/ft for my car iirc and 98 lbs/ft for my truck.

105 wont hurt anything.

SRT-4 actually calls for 100 ft/lbs

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: helpme

Originally posted by: slag

Originally posted by: alkemyst
what vehicle you torquing to 105lbs?

My car and my truck. Book calls for up to 87 lb/ft for my car iirc and 98 lbs/ft for my truck.

105 wont hurt anything.

SRT-4 actually calls for 100 ft/lbs

There are many cars that take 100+, but the thing is just because another car does, doesn't mean all do.

A lot of imports take lower and use 'skinnier' studs. These can break/pull out when trying to torque them to higher specs.

My Nissan calls for 72-85ish.

 

[Howard]

Looks like it might come in handy to diet until I'm 100lbs...

 

[SuperSix]

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
Torque stick > torque wrench. Not all shops use them though, because they are kind of pricey and you need a variety of them to do different cars.

QFT - and I'm not talking Harbor Freight gimmicks either.