Torques off

[The_Kid]

Re: Torques off

Is that Inch-Pounds or Foot-Pounds?

Foot pounds.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Torques off

Foot pounds.

I am sure he was kidding...at least I hope!

 

[642mx]

Re: Torques off

The torque stick above work as a calibrated spring or torsion bar. Once the torque is reached the bar flexes instead of rotating the fastener when used with an impact

Well... kind of sort of.

Torque sticks are designed to flex and get the torque close.... but not 100% accurate (IMO probably 65-75% accurate). The proper use for a torque stick is to run the nut down and let the impact "wrap" the hammer about 5 times to get 'close' to the desired torque.

Trust me, you can over-torque the heck out of a lug nut with one. Or at least you can with my Snap On IMC500.

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Torques off

Accuracy of most torque sticks is usually stated as +- 5% but tests by General Motors have shown them to be close to +-2%.

I think most problems occur when the shop uses impacts that do not meet the stated output rating because of overuse/wear or incorrect setting of the adjustable torque dial that most impacts have.

Needless to say I still check the torque myself once I get the vehicle home after checking them with my trunk lug wrench just to make sure they are tight. I have had incidents where they missed a lug or incorrectly torqued to the wrong setting, I had one shop overtighten the AL rims on a previous 94 Taurus SHO which warped the rotors.

I double check them every time now if I go to a shop I do not know, however I have a local shop that is excellent and have great techs who I have witnessed using a torque wrench on the rims and even go out of their way to mention it when I pay the bill.

I use Canada Auto on St. Mathews Ave for all auto repairs since these guys are machinists as well as auto techs and are excellent at everything from engine rebuilding to driveshaft manufacture. They even caught stuff a previous dealer mechanic missed and rectified without charging me, not to mention they are not very expensive especially compared to dealer prices. Their front counter is full of customer postcards from people they have helped over the years and custom cars they have built engines for, many classic cars there...these guys know their automobiles.

http://www.canadaautoservice.com/

I highly recommended them in Winnipeg.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Torques off

Accuracy of most torque sticks is usually stated as +- 5% but tests by General Motors have shown them to be close to +-2%...

I believe that.

If they can engineer the metallurgy to allow steel head bolts to stretch enough but not too much to make them last well in aluminum engine parts, or create springs with progressive rates merely by design, the idea that a torque stick would be off by much doesn't make sense to me.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Torques off

Brought my car into the tire shop last week to get new rubber put on. Was hanging out talking to the owner as the workers put the new tires on. Everything was going ok, until one of the workers grabbed the impact wrench and started rattling on my good looking aluminum rims. I had the owner stop them and politely asked it they could torque the bolts to 85 foot pounds like the owners manual stated. The owner with a snicker said they didn't have a torque wrench. Luckily my tool box was in the trunk with a my torque wrench. So I introduced them to the torque wrench and gave a little lesson about proper torque. The owner listened intently and asked if he took a little off the tire price if he could purchase my torque wrench. I agreed and handed over my wrench. This just made me think about the numerous times I have dropped of one of my vehicles to have tires put on, and if they were put on right? .....oh just needed to rant.....

I guess I am lucky. The place where I do my tire business always uses a torque wrench AND has the customer's sign a paper that the wheels will be re-torqued (free of charge) after the first 100 miles.

Yes, I feel your pain. I had a young lad use a huge air gun on the lugs on a older chevy I had. I stopped him and handed him the standard lug wrench and asked him to remove the nut...... he could not! I taught that young man the proper way that day ...... about 20 years ago!

We use these but you still cannot have your gun turned all the way up. what they need to do is tighten the nut with this then check it with a wrench every once in a while.

You are are buying your tires at the wrong place.