Re-torquing wheels on the ground?

[Klutch9]

Earlier today I had my wheels balanced at Belle Tire. Supposedly they torque each wheel down, but as a member of BITOG, I'm obligated to trust no shops. So I always re-torque my wheels at home. My standard practice is to usually just break the lug nuts free while the vehicle is on the ground (maybe 1/2 turn or so) and then torque them to spec. Any issues with doing this? My van is a bear to jack up, so I avoid doing it at all costs.

 

[Merkava_4]

You're fine as long as the wheel is fully seated on the hub; which I'm assuming it is.

 

[gaijinnv]

If your wheel is hub-centric, then probably no problem at all doing as you described - re-torquing one lug nut at a time.

However, if your wheel is lug-centric, then you're probably better off jacking the wheel off the ground, loosening ALL the lug nuts and re-torquing in the standard criss-cross pattern.

HTH

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

I wouldn't do it as a general practice. If you have a reason to mistrust the shop, ok, but otherwise, no.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

I wouldn't do it as a general practice. If you have a reason to mistrust the shop, ok, but otherwise, no.

 

[Nederlander75]

Do it a least 2x a month as I swap track and street tires. Nothing to worry about

 

[exranger06]

I've done it before, but I loosen just one lug nut and re-torque it, then loosen the next nut and re-torque it, and so on. This ensures the other lug nuts are holding the wheel in place and the wheel stays seated where it should be.

 

[Bgallagher]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
I've done it before, but I loosen just one lug nut and re-torque it, then loosen the next nut and re-torque it, and so on. This ensures the other lug nuts are holding the wheel in place and the wheel stays seated where it should be.


+1 This is what I do whenever somebody besides me takes off the tire.