Word of Caution--Check your Lug Nut Torque
#1
Word of Caution--Check your Lug Nut Torque
A few weeks back, I found a stick-on wheel weight lying on my garage floor inside of my right front wheel. I took the car to a tire shop soon after to have it re-balanced, even though I had no symptoms of an out-of-balance wheel/tire.
Fast forward to today, I found a lug nut lying in my driveway, checked my car, and found a lug nut missing from the right front wheel. I put it back on, pulled out my torque wrench set to the F-Type spec of 92 ft./lbs., and then checked all the other lug nuts on that wheel. ALL OF THEM were loose, so I jacked the car up, backed them all off, re-seated the wheel on the hub, and torqued them back down to 92 ft./lbs. I then checked the other 15 lugs on every other wheel, and they were all exactly the right torque spec, but none of them had been removed by the tire shop.
In the past, I've not trusted tire shops to appropriately torque the lugs whenever I've had wheel/tire work, so I've always checked, and usually everything is good. For whatever reasons, I didn't do that this time. I did give the tire shop the appropriate spec.
If you don't have one, get a torque wrench and check! My experience today could have been ugly.
Fast forward to today, I found a lug nut lying in my driveway, checked my car, and found a lug nut missing from the right front wheel. I put it back on, pulled out my torque wrench set to the F-Type spec of 92 ft./lbs., and then checked all the other lug nuts on that wheel. ALL OF THEM were loose, so I jacked the car up, backed them all off, re-seated the wheel on the hub, and torqued them back down to 92 ft./lbs. I then checked the other 15 lugs on every other wheel, and they were all exactly the right torque spec, but none of them had been removed by the tire shop.
In the past, I've not trusted tire shops to appropriately torque the lugs whenever I've had wheel/tire work, so I've always checked, and usually everything is good. For whatever reasons, I didn't do that this time. I did give the tire shop the appropriate spec.
If you don't have one, get a torque wrench and check! My experience today could have been ugly.
#2
#3
That's why I posted my experience here. Complacency/laziness can hurt you. I suspect many here don't even own a torque wrench and have never changed a tire.
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TR64ever (05-01-2017)
#6
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#9
It's an issue when a wheel has been removed later that you haven't checked yourself. That was my mea culpa.
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#12
Hmmm; my dealer had my wheels off and I expect they are a bit more diligent than ma and pa tire shop.....but maybe I should check anyway. Hoist and torque wrench in hand!
thanks for the reminder Foosh....hope you're enjoying that 'vette. I have two friends with them now (both C7 Z06's) and they love them.
Cheers,
Dave
thanks for the reminder Foosh....hope you're enjoying that 'vette. I have two friends with them now (both C7 Z06's) and they love them.
Cheers,
Dave
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Foosh (11-29-2016)
#13
My dealer "threw in" a set of security wheel lugs....when I set about removing them prior to a track day I had a hell of a time removing one of them.....only to find when installing the normal lug nut with my torque wrench the stud twisted off ( at less than 92# ) resulting in a replaced wheel hub....and me not having the car available for the 2 day track event. Can only quess how they put on the security lug.
I have a set of torque sticks and use a 80# stick with my trusty Harbor Freight impact wrench followed by a proper torque wrench....not sure how many tire shops even both with a torque stick/ torque wrench.
I have a set of torque sticks and use a 80# stick with my trusty Harbor Freight impact wrench followed by a proper torque wrench....not sure how many tire shops even both with a torque stick/ torque wrench.
#15
Jag lugs seat flat with washers (known as Mag Style) vs most that are acorn style and seat in at an angle. Perhaps that has something to do with them coming loose easier.
Plus lug nuts get dirty/greasy over time. Perhaps every year or two replacing them make sense. http://www.ebay.com/itm/282123646623...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Plus lug nuts get dirty/greasy over time. Perhaps every year or two replacing them make sense. http://www.ebay.com/itm/282123646623...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
#16
Hmmm; my dealer had my wheels off and I expect they are a bit more diligent than ma and pa tire shop.....but maybe I should check anyway. Hoist and torque wrench in hand!
thanks for the reminder Foosh....hope you're enjoying that 'vette. I have two friends with them now (both C7 Z06's) and they love them.
Cheers,
Dave
thanks for the reminder Foosh....hope you're enjoying that 'vette. I have two friends with them now (both C7 Z06's) and they love them.
Cheers,
Dave
The following 2 users liked this post by Foosh:
Burt Gummer (11-30-2016),
DPelletier (11-30-2016)
#17
Jag lugs seat flat with washers (known as Mag Style) vs most that are acorn style and seat in at an angle. Perhaps that has something to do with them coming loose easier.
Plus lug nuts get dirty/greasy over time. Perhaps every year or two replacing them make sense. 20 pcs Black Mitsubishi Mag Style Lug nuts 12x1.5 fits OEM wheel fits Lancer EVO | eBay
Plus lug nuts get dirty/greasy over time. Perhaps every year or two replacing them make sense. 20 pcs Black Mitsubishi Mag Style Lug nuts 12x1.5 fits OEM wheel fits Lancer EVO | eBay
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Mbourne (12-01-2016)
#18
I do t think I have ever heard "trusty" and "harbor freight" in the same sentence. Perhaps you meant "rusty harbor freight?"
My dealer "threw in" a set of security wheel lugs....when I set about removing them prior to a track day I had a hell of a time removing one of them.....only to find when installing the normal lug nut with my torque wrench the stud twisted off ( at less than 92# ) resulting in a replaced wheel hub....and me not having the car available for the 2 day track event. Can only quess how they put on the security lug.
I have a set of torque sticks and use a 80# stick with my trusty Harbor Freight impact wrench followed by a proper torque wrench....not sure how many tire shops even both with a torque stick/ torque wrench.
I have a set of torque sticks and use a 80# stick with my trusty Harbor Freight impact wrench followed by a proper torque wrench....not sure how many tire shops even both with a torque stick/ torque wrench.
#19
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