I hired a guy who provided mobile service and has 5-star rating in Yelp to mount my new 18” TRD Pro wheels. I emphasized the torque before service and checked with him after service and he said he has torqued it correctly. Somehow I suspected that so later I checked the security camera recording(he did the job right in front of my garage) and found he lied. He tightened the wheels with impact wrench only. I then loosened and re-installed all the wheels with torque wrench. I didn’t remove the wheels to check the threads. Is there anything I need to worry about and need to check? Should I remove all the wheels again to check the thread or just let it be?
A tire guy tightened my wheels with impact wrench only… anything I need to check?
- Thread starter lx570gogogo
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I wouldn't worry about it.
Did he by chance use an impact with a torque stick?
If you removed and verified torqued it's fine.
Did he by chance use an impact with a torque stick?
If you removed and verified torqued it's fine.
bloc
SILVER Star
I also wouldn't worry about it, but just so you know here are some possibilities.
Is your camera clear enough to tell whether there was a long, thin adapter on the end of the impact gun? If so, maybe brightly colored? This could be the torque stick that @Dusten was referring to. They make them in a few torque settings and basically act as a spring, limiting the amount of torque an impact gun can transmit to the lug nuts. If they used one, there is little risk of doing any damage. They still should have used a torque wrench, but you already know they messed that up.
If you removed the wheel you wouldn't be able to see anything. The only really telling sign would be if the studs were stretched, and that would be on the order of hundredths of an inch. Very small amount. Basically what can happen is if they go completely bananas with an impact gun, the metal stud can be pulled so hard it stretches to the point that it yields and doesn't return to its original shape. If this happens the stud is permanently weakened.. but it takes a whole lot of force on studs as large as ours.
When you re-set the torque, did any of them seem super difficult to loosen? And just checking, did you do them one at a time?
I'd just drive it some then re-check torque. If it seems you need to keep tightening the lugs to get back to the 100ft/lb, you have a problem. If they stay tight? Drive on.
Is your camera clear enough to tell whether there was a long, thin adapter on the end of the impact gun? If so, maybe brightly colored? This could be the torque stick that @Dusten was referring to. They make them in a few torque settings and basically act as a spring, limiting the amount of torque an impact gun can transmit to the lug nuts. If they used one, there is little risk of doing any damage. They still should have used a torque wrench, but you already know they messed that up.
If you removed the wheel you wouldn't be able to see anything. The only really telling sign would be if the studs were stretched, and that would be on the order of hundredths of an inch. Very small amount. Basically what can happen is if they go completely bananas with an impact gun, the metal stud can be pulled so hard it stretches to the point that it yields and doesn't return to its original shape. If this happens the stud is permanently weakened.. but it takes a whole lot of force on studs as large as ours.
When you re-set the torque, did any of them seem super difficult to loosen? And just checking, did you do them one at a time?
I'd just drive it some then re-check torque. If it seems you need to keep tightening the lugs to get back to the 100ft/lb, you have a problem. If they stay tight? Drive on.
Correct a torque stick is simply used to get them close. I use a 125 on my lightning and final torque to 150.
- Thread starter
- #6
I double checked the video and unfortunately he didn’t use torque stick but just a regular deep socket…
I wouldn't sweat it, it's pretty standard practice among those without our level of attention to detail and limited time to just use impact drivers. 90% of the people driving around probably have improperly torqued over tightened lug nuts. This is why I rotate my own tires even though most places do it for free if you buy from them.
CharlieS
GOLD Star
Agree with everyone above.
An impact wrench without a torque stick is going to give a wide variance in how tight it goes depending upon how many ugga-duggas you give it.
If you are so inclined, you could loosen all of the lug nuts on a wheel, then retighten them in a star pattern, torquing each one properly with a torques wrench. It wouldn't hurt anything, and you may find some that are over tightened or under tightened.
An impact wrench without a torque stick is going to give a wide variance in how tight it goes depending upon how many ugga-duggas you give it.
If you are so inclined, you could loosen all of the lug nuts on a wheel, then retighten them in a star pattern, torquing each one properly with a torques wrench. It wouldn't hurt anything, and you may find some that are over tightened or under tightened.
I would have checked the nuts with a torque wrench before loosening them. That gives a baseline as to whether there was a problem.
The real question is what are you going to write in your Yelp review???
The real question is what are you going to write in your Yelp review???
Pretty well covered above, but for what it’s worth, just an anecdotal piece for you:
I use a Dewalt 20V full-size impact, to run the nuts on and until the impact engages just a couple times (not just ripping it until the socket quits moving). Never had an issue.
Secondarily, most of these battery-powered tools are significantly different from air-powered tools. If he’d used an air tool in the same fashion I’d stress more.
I use a Dewalt 20V full-size impact, to run the nuts on and until the impact engages just a couple times (not just ripping it until the socket quits moving). Never had an issue.
Secondarily, most of these battery-powered tools are significantly different from air-powered tools. If he’d used an air tool in the same fashion I’d stress more.
B
But… its rly no big question of time. After I slightly tightened my screws at the car it needs maybe two minutes to run one time around the car with the torque wrench…
Correct, but the lazy will just throw the nut in the impact driver and zing it on there in one step, because they don't care and don't drive it.
bloc
SILVER Star
That would only show if they weren't tight enough. If the guy went ham on them with the impact, a torque wrench wouldn't know the difference.
And I agree.. that is the real question.
CharlieS
GOLD Star
It's all fun and games until you're the guy that has a shop do some work and then:
- Have lugnuts fly off because they're undertightened
- Have studs snap because they're overtightened
- Can't get a wheel off at an inopportune time because they're overtightened (side of the highway, subzero weather, etc.)
- Don't notice lugs flew off or bolts snapped and lose an entire wheel
- Damage brake rotors from uneven tightening
- etc.
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I think you just better sale that Rig 
now
now
He really should have used the torque stick and torque wrench or put them on by hand first and then use a torque wrench. People are in a hurry these days and pretty lazy though. I have seen many broken lugs...many.....due to people not putting the wheel assembly on correctly or the use of spacers/adapters.
The most important thing is that he had the wheel flush against the hub before the application of the torque gun and also that he tightened them in a star pattern twice (not all the way the first pass).
I worked at discount tire long ago....which is why I really hate letting others do any tire/wheel work for me.
The most important thing is that he had the wheel flush against the hub before the application of the torque gun and also that he tightened them in a star pattern twice (not all the way the first pass).
I worked at discount tire long ago....which is why I really hate letting others do any tire/wheel work for me.
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Good one!I think you just better sale that Rig
I guess I could take it off his hands for a few grand, I'm such a sweetheart
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Moby
GOLD Star
The reason that I would crack the lug nuts loose and re-torque is so you don't get stuck with a flat without the tools to get an overly tight lug nut off. For example, I have a big pneumatic impact in my shop that can deal with anything but only travel with a medium breaker bar for lug nuts.
Nothing like small town living, been going to the same tire shop for 40 years, they take the time to use a torque wrench.
I'm friends with the owner and now with his son in law who used to install my tires when we were both young. I know I can trust him and his guys to do the job right
I'm friends with the owner and now with his son in law who used to install my tires when we were both young. I know I can trust him and his guys to do the job right
nwfl4runner
GOLD Star
Is that a chrome socket on the impact? That’s the real crime here
