I never said it was "correct" I made mention before that Torquing is fine. I just shared along with others that we haven't torqued them and used "Good and Plenty" tightness and haven't had a problem.
By all means torque it the correct way. I just don't feel the need and it's all I said.
People here are anal about book spec right down to torquing oil drain plugs as another example and IMO it's not required but by all means if they feel better or want to limit their liability because they run a shop then do so. I did talk about Torquing being necessary for things like head bolts as is the pattern of tightening them down in sequence so it's not like I was saying not to torque things ever!!!!
Here is what I said in response to WyrTwister which started it all... Funny no one jumped on him but they jump on the Amsoil guy who hates Bosch when they have had beefs in the past with me. But that's ok. The more they engage the more I do. I got lots of time. They will wear themselves out.
Originally Posted by StevieC
Originally Posted by WyrTwister
I have never used a torque wrench on lug nuts , and I am nor a senioe citizen . None have fallen off yet .
^^^ I usually hit them with the pneumatic or impact driver until they stop and then move on to the other ones. Then I go back and hit them with a short burst of the gun again checking each one. Never torqued and never had any issues including bearing/hub issues or stud issues. My dad has done that for decades as well.
Torquing and torque procedures / order has it's place like with head bolts for example but I think there are a lot of places that it's not needed.
Why do they have a Torque Spec then? Well because they need to convey to someone else approximately the force used in some manner but aren't needed above common sense when it comes to things like lug nuts or oil drain plugs for example. Not torquing these things and using reasonable force that is "plenty" but not "over tight" is more than enough IMO.
Originally Posted by StevieC
Like I said to Trav, no harm done torquing it. But in the 37+ years I have been around (28 of them learning/working with my dad on the side and full time at times) and the 50+ years my dad has been a licensed mechanic he hasn't torqued the wheel nuts and 0 issues, 0 lawsuits, 0 comebacks. I'm not saying don't do it, but that we haven't and had no issues because we double check each nut a 2nd time with the gun at full power for a short blast.
The tires on my Caravan when I took them off to put my Snow tires on were so tight I had no choice but to use a breaker bar to get them loose on 3 wheels and the 4th wheel was fine with just the impact gun so clearly they weren't torqued properly from the get go. I put them back on with a high torque battery powered impact driver in the method I have described and drove them 10,000km (6K miles) 0 issues. I then pulled them all off at the last oil change and rotated the fronts to back and put them back on and it has been 3,000km and 0 issues and I'm sure it's not what FCA spec is nor was it the case on my Journey either. Also 0 issues. Also 0 issues on my Santa Fe with multiple sets of tires, rotations etc.
Here is what FCA calls for for my '18 Caravan... Which again I assure you mine aren't tightened to this spec I'm sure and no wheels popping off. And again I'm not against Torquing them, adding a step for safety is always a good thing. It's just my opinion and mine alone it's not needed is all. To each their own with what they are comfortable with.