Lug Nut Torque
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Melbourne, FL
I was just searching online. I need to stop at Lowes at some point. I will look to pick up a torque wrench and test out my lugs. I was looking at this Craftsman one. Any suggestions on a torque wrench?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-3...-lb/1000772356
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-3...-lb/1000772356
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Morris County New Jersey
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From: Central MO
I was just searching online. I need to stop at Lowes at some point. I will look to pick up a torque wrench and test out my lugs. I was looking at this Craftsman one. Any suggestions on a torque wrench?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-3...-lb/1000772356
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-3...-lb/1000772356
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 6,141
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From: Morris County New Jersey
Maybe a little late to the party, but just buy a 1/2" drive Harbor Freight clicker wrench. The reviews I read before buying mine 10 years or so ago were good. A couple of things to keep in mind - never use a torque wrench to loosen fasteners as it will wreck the calibration, and always store the wrench set to zero as it preserves the calibration.
Le Mans Master
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From: Morris County New Jersey
Race Director
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From: N. Alabama
Well, I definitely don't over tighten, at least not by much, if that is what you mean. I have had a car go into the shop more than once and come out with the lugs way too tight and hard to remove. That's the real kick in the pants, when you have so called professionals not using the proper tools or torque specs.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Morris County New Jersey
I don't. But I'm not a professional. My point is, when you take it to a shop and you are paying top dollar to have it done right, and they are putting the lug nuts on so tight and out of spec that you have trouble removing them. At least when I am pulling the wheels off and putting them back on, it's free labor. I didn't actually pay someone to F it up.
Also, professionals doing it wrong, sets a bad example for the everyday diy'er about if it is really that important to get wheel lug nuts torqued exactly to spec.
Also, professionals doing it wrong, sets a bad example for the everyday diy'er about if it is really that important to get wheel lug nuts torqued exactly to spec.
Last edited by TorchRedFred; Dec 20, 2022 at 11:49 AM.
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From: N. Alabama
I don't. But I'm not a professional. My point is, when you take it to a shop and you are paying top dollar to have it done right, and they are putting the lug nuts on so tight and out of spec that you have trouble removing them. At least when I am pulling the wheels off and putting them back on, it's free labor. I didn't actually pay someone to F it up.
Le Mans Master
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From: Morris County New Jersey
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,064
Likes: 1,166
From: N. Alabama
I got what you are saying, but if you are paying a trained professional, your expectations are that they are going to do it right and better than you can. Certain things I would never even consider attempting, like performing open heart surgery on a friend. I would definitely expect the paid and trained professionals to do a better job than I could.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Morris County New Jersey
I find fault when a professional does not do it correctly. I don't have a problem with people doing it themselves without a torque wrench and I have been doing it that way myself for many years. But for those that want to criticize me for doing it incorrectly, I am pointing out that I have many times encountered professionals doing it wrong and to such an extreme that I couldn't even remove the lug nut on my own. And YES, I expect more from someone I am paying to do the job RIGHT. Many people count on professionals to do the job they are not capable of doing themselves. If I want a house built, I pay a professional builder to build it. I don't pay him to build it to the standard that I am capable of doing myself. I expect him to far exceed my capabilities. That's why and what I am paying him to do. Not sure why that is so hard to understand. Are you a mechanic, just curious?