Wheel nut torque 19 November 2022 at 9:11PM edited 19 November 2022 at 9:12PM in Motoring 24 replies 856 views

GDB2222

I took my car in for a new tyre. They seemed to fit and balance it okay. Tightened the wheel nuts using an air wrench, and refused to check with a torque wrench. They said the Snap On air wrench was pre-calibrated to the right torque.

 It’s a palaver to borrow my son's torque wrench, so I just wanted to check whether they were lying to me about the air wrench?

victor2

GDB2222 said:

I took my car in for a new tyre. They seemed to fit and balance it okay. Tightened the wheel nuts using an air wrench, and refused to check with a torque wrench. They said the Snap On air wrench was pre-calibrated to the right torque.

 It’s a palaver to borrow my son's torque wrench, so I just wanted to check whether they were lying to me about the air wrench?

That's nonsense. The official torque setting varies from car model to model and is different for steel or alloy wheels.

Generally it seems the air wrenches over tighten - as people find out when they have to change a wheel after a garage has last done so.

Bigwheels1111

Health and safety is to have the first fitter tightening the wheel nuts, then a second to recheck with torque wrench.
If it’s a branded garage, say kwikfit I would call head office and ask their advice.
Which will be take it back and have them do it right.
I must say I use an extension bar and stand on it. ( FT )
Flocking tight.

forgotmyname

Some places will tell you the nuts need to be retorqued in 25 miles. I guess it passes the buck if your wheels fall off
and you cannot prove them were checked.

facade

GDB2222 said:

 It’s a palaver to borrow my son's torque wrench, so I just wanted to check whether they were lying to me about the air wrench?

No, you can set the torque by adjusting the regulator valve at the bottom of the handle.

However, it is nowhere near as accurate as using a torque wrench, and may not be correct for your car, plus if they keep on hammering the wrench after it stops it will go way over anyway..

I'd find out the correct torque and check all of the wheels with your son's torque wrench. (If you want a job done properly.......)

Most likely they are slightly too tight, so they won't fall off, but you will have trouble undoing them with the teeny wheel wrench that came with the car.

DanDare999

Bigwheels1111 said:

Health and safety is to have the first fitter tightening the wheel nuts, then a second to recheck with torque wrench.
If it’s a branded garage, say kwikfit I would call head office and ask their advice.
Which will be take it back and have them do it right.
I must say I use an extension bar and stand on it. ( FT )
Flocking tight.

The one thing you shouldn't be doing. 

molerat

My car was in for a "wheels off" service last year.  The first thing I did when I got home was loosen each wheel nut and torque them up.  Exactly the same when I have tyres changed.  To make things easy to remember I have the torque value on a piece of Brother tape next to the tyre pressure sticker.

dipsomaniac

A torque wrench is an essential piece  of kit in any toolbox. 

diystarter7

GDB2222 said:

I took my car in for a new tyre. They seemed to fit and balance it okay. Tightened the wheel nuts using an air wrench, and refused to check with a torque wrench. They said the Snap On air wrench was pre-calibrated to the right torque.

 It’s a palaver to borrow my son's torque wrench, so I just wanted to check whether they were lying to me about the air wrench?

I've had the same rubbish fed to me and never used that garage again.
To do it properly they need to use a torque wrench from what I know but I'm not a tryre fitter/expert but
have seen many nuts really hard to remove as often overdone 

chrisw

Weird. Despite removing and replacing wheels may times over the years, I've never used a torque wrench on wheel nuts in my life. Never had an issue yet.

venomx

Good point about the impact or air wrench as you call it.

However I don't see overtightening a huge problem as lots of cars these days don't come with a spare wheel and therefore very unlikely car owners will need to take the bolts off unless you plan on working on the car yourself 

As said above if you really wanted to tighten to a spec, every car is different and it's unlikely that any tyre fitter will go to the effort of finding out what its supposed to be.

As advised after 25 miles then after 100 miles after new tyres I ensure the bolts are tight.