Community Forums

TwelveVolt · 01-22-2016, 10:50 PM

When I had tire work done by Love's, they used a pneumatic impact wrench to install the lug nuts. Then they used a huge torque wrench to tighten each nut. They further suggested that I stop at another Love's 300 miles down the road to have the lug nuts re-torqued at no charge.

At Les Schwab, they used just the impact wrench and said this is how they do it throughout the chain. They felt that the impact wrench was unnecessary.

Who is right?

Arch Hoagland · 01-22-2016, 11:01 PM

Love's.

vsheetz · 01-22-2016, 11:04 PM

Having had to wrestle too-tight lug nuts on more than one occasion, I like the torque wrench being used. Costco and Discount Tire / Americas tire uses torque wrench. The truck shop that I use for Motorhome tires uses torque wrench.

Arizona · 01-22-2016, 11:44 PM

The tire stores use a generic amount of air pressure for everyone's wheels. Probably 80-90 psi. A few pounds either way isn't as important as them all being the same.
Watch them. If they don't use a torque wrench then use your own when you leave. It only takes a few minutes and may keep a wheel from falling off or keep you from having a warped rotor if you hit a puddle with hot rotors.
Original equipment rotors are always the best so take care of them. Most replacements are made with cheap Chinese steel.

CCFROMFL · 01-23-2016, 04:25 AM

When using the Torque wrench, in general, what should the wrench be set at ?

Sweetbriar · 01-23-2016, 04:38 AM

Setting the proper torque works in two directions. Tight enough to hold the two objects together but not too tight to damage the fastener of the objects. Granted wheel bolts and rims are pretty stout as compared to a 1/4-10 aluminum fastener but people with a much higher degree of knowledge determined the wheel bolts need a specific level of torque for some reason.

Torque and recheck is the proper procedure.

Petersr58 · 01-23-2016, 06:00 AM

About six lines down another thread about Broken Lugs by Brulaz This is why you use a torque wrench.

Betr2Trvl · 01-23-2016, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCFROMFL

When using the Torque wrench, in general, what should the wrench be set at ?

Your coach builder and / or chassis manufacturer should have the specs.......

I have not worried about my coach since I have no plan to be removing my wheels, but given I have many days on a race track in my cars where accurate torque settings are very important, (and removed my wheels often) I know that the lug nut torque required can vary greatly even between different cars.

Btw, high end tire shops hand torque the wheels on your car too...... And on cars with expensive wheels, don't use an air gun at all.

TwelveVolt · 01-23-2016, 07:10 AM

Thank you for all the feedback. I suspected the torque wrench was the right approach. Why would Love's take the time and labor to hand torque 20 lug nuts if it was unnecessary?

Also, Love's did not scratch my aluminum rims like LS did. Come to think of it, Love's also did not allow my 31,000 pound bus to slide off their jacks like LS did. Fortunately, the employee under it at the time was very slim and the tire nearest him was already installed. True story, happened yesterday. They asked if I could use my leveling jacks to help them get their jacks back. Perhaps employee training on topics other than running up to the customer, smiling and hand shaking might have some value at LS. I don't think I will be back there any time soon.

H. Miller · 01-23-2016, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCFROMFL

When using the Torque wrench, in general, what should the wrench be set at ?

Our Monaco with aluminum rims is 450 ft. lbs...

palehorse89 · 01-23-2016, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwelveVolt

When I had tire work done by Love's, they used a pneumatic impact wrench to install the lug nuts. Then they used a huge torque wrench to tighten each nut. They further suggested that I stop at another Love's 300 miles down the road to have the lug nuts re-torqued at no charge.

At Les Schwab, they used just the impact wrench and said this is how they do it throughout the chain. They felt that the impact wrench was unnecessary.

Who is right?

All lug nuts on anything should be torqued.....I use a standard Craftsman 1/2" torque wrench and a 4:1 multiplier, makes taking nuts off just as easy as putting them on and torquing them.

Most garages today use the torque limiting bars on their guns, elemating the need for torquing them with a torque wrench.

My local tire shop uses one of these
http://www.torquestick.com/cart/475f...R-1-DRIVE.html

Luv2go · 01-23-2016, 07:37 AM

IMHO torquing is necessary. I use a 3/4" socket set from HF and a 4' pipe as an extension. My son and I torqued the wheels about 6 months ago, he weighed 100 lb at the time so just stood on the end of the pipe for 400 ft lb. He's grown some more so we'll have to do some math the next time!

TQ60 · 01-23-2016, 09:45 AM

They have a rubber or plastic ring that fits over the wheel lugs with holes for each lug nut to protect the wheel.

Did not know of them until we had tires installed at a mom and pop place.

The manager came out and apologized for the delays added because they did not have one and made special trip to get one.

They did trucks and autos but not many mh and wanted to be certian to do good work.

No they did not ask to use my jacks..

TwelveVolt · 01-23-2016, 09:59 AM

I think I will put my levelers down as a matter of policy when having wheel work done. Of course, I will insist that they also use their own jacks. Just can't shake the image of the motorhome falling with two legs protruding from underneath.