Do dealer use air guns or torque wrenches?

[Knox]

mva, i'm glad that worked out for you.

I've not been so lucky, i've tried different brands from no-names to snap-on and i can not say that has been the case for me.

Originally Posted By: johnsmellsalot
When I got my tires rotated at Discount Tire, I checked the torque on them a month later and was shocked to discover that they were all 20 FT LBS below factory specifications. They used air guns.


This is usually the case for me, i'm about 10-15 ft-lb off.

 

[ComfyShorts]

Originally Posted By: johnsmellsalot

I think the people at the oil change places also use air guns because when I changed my own oil for the first time, I had a hard time getting the drain plug off. It felt like it was torqued it to 50 FT LBS. I'm just glad the threads weren't stripped. ]


Nobody uses impacts to tighten oil plugs. First air impacts will tighten way more, my tiny 3/8 IR will do 80ft/lbs in a tap of the button. And it'd destroy quickly the pan threads and the bolt itself. So please stop with the whole air tools to tighten oil plugs, I see it on these forums too often.

 

[Colt45ws]

But many places DO you torque wrenches and factory specs to tighten plugs. Specs are anywhere from 10-62ft lbs.

 

[ComfyShorts]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
But many places DO you torque wrenches and factory specs to tighten plugs. Specs are anywhere from 10-62ft lbs.


62 ft/lbs for a drain plug? On what would that be? 25-33 ft/lbs is what 98% of manufacturers call for. Some diesels will use 40 but even that's no where close to 62.

 

[Colt45ws]

Duramax.

 

[Scorch]

Belle tire specifically states on the invoice that they used a "torque wrench" to torque everything to spec. I double check their work immediately after I get home, I usually find half the lugs WAY under torqued and half easily in the 180+ ft lbs range. On a car that specs 100ft lbs of torque I don't know how they can claim they used a torque wrench.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: Scorch
Belle tire specifically states on the invoice that they used a "torque wrench" to torque everything to spec. I double check their work immediately after I get home, I usually find half the lugs WAY under torqued and half easily in the 180+ ft lbs range. On a car that specs 100ft lbs of torque I don't know how they can claim they used a torque wrench.


Using a torque wrench and using it correctly...two very different things.

I can use a stove, but my wife can cook...

And I use the impact set on its lowest setting to snug them up while the car is on the lift/jackstands....and a torque wrench for final tightness when it is down...

 

[glum]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
If its a good car they better, try using an impact gun on a Jag or Mercedes and the shop will be buying you brakes and possible wheels.

By "good" I assume you mean "expensive". I don't get it. Overtightening lug nuts can damage wheels and rotors, just to name a couple parts. Obviously this doesn't exactly enhance safety, regardless of how thick the customer's wallet is. My philosophy is that it doesn't matter if it's a $2M Bugatti or a $200 Datsun; you treat the bloody thing with respect and do the job correctly--ESPECIALLY when it's a safety issue. Not exactly rocket science indeed.

My bottom line is that anyone (assuming they aren't on the side of a road) who blindly tightens lug nuts--using any tool, but particularly an impact wrench--is an idiot who shouldn't be doing it. I don't care what kind of day you're having or how valuable you think your time is. Tighten my lugs way over spec and I'll embarrass you and then never be back.

 

[Chris142]

Most places gun the lug nuts on then use a TQ wrench to make sure they are atleast torqued to spec. The lugnuts may be @ 300ft lbs and if the TQ wrench clicks @ 100ft lbs then they let it go.

I always use my 3/8ths impact which is good for 30 ft lbs then finish by hand with a TQ wrench.

 

[bdcardinal]

I would shake my head and walk away when the guys at Sears would blast the lugs on with impacts and then follow up with the torque wrench that clicked right away. Then when I went to the training class and brought that up to the trainer I got the deer in the headlights look in response.

 

[MarkM66]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
If its a good car they better, try using an impact gun on a Jag or Mercedes and the shop will be buying you brakes and possible wheels.

Last guy who got an impact gun near my Mercedes got chewed out. Torque wrench, 80ft pounds its not rocket science.



You're so cool...

Yeah, the "good cars" get damaged by putting lugs on with an impact. HAHA, that makes sense...

 

[MetalSlug]

I been many place for tire rotation and only 1 I feel good is sear,

the first guy install tires, they air gun down then use torque wrench, after double check, he call another guy over and let him retorque again. never seen any one done like that before.

 

[chainblu]

I'd wager that perhaps 90% of the general public isn't aware of torque sticks. They just see some grease monkey hammering with the impact and assume their lugs are now like 400 ft lbs tight. (I realize this DOES happen)

I don't know how many times I've seen a fellow worker rattling away with a 100 ft lb stick. I just want to slap him in the back of the head and say: Dude, it ain't gonna get no tighter!

 

[compressignite]

"Torque Sticks"
is another SCAM by the Manufacturers (Of the same).

Same,Same as "CarFax"

A Torque Wrench is The Only way in a commercial shop to get the
Specifications correct.

Effing Stealerships will allow their employees ANY means to get
the Job done QUICKER!

I have taken a 1/2" Air Wrench out of a Tech's hand when he approached my chassis with it (Yeah,there was the whole "Assault" horse---- with the Management
and the Authorities...BUT I'd TOLD them BEFOREHAND!!!)

End result,The Judge had had his Rotors destroyed by some Noodlehead with an Air Wrench,so I Won.

 

[38sho]

yeah I've never torqued a wheel in my life!



I've never messed anything up using an impact gun. I take tires off left and right on all kinds of cars. I take my wheels off on my own car a lot and never have rotor problems or stud/nut problems. I'm using original rotors that probably have 100k on them, lots of heavy stops, drag strip passes, 100+mph hard stops, track day....... never the slightest bit of pulsation on my brakes.....

 

[AstroTurf]

Originally Posted By: 38sho
yeah I've never torqued a wheel in my life!



I've never messed anything up using an impact gun. I take tires off left and right on all kinds of cars. I take my wheels off on my own car a lot and never have rotor problems or stud/nut problems. I'm using original rotors that probably have 100k on them, lots of heavy stops, drag strip passes, 100+mph hard stops, track day....... never the slightest bit of pulsation on my brakes.....



Then you Sir are amoung the many who do not understand that Brake Tolerances have changed. Before 7 thousands was accepted play, Now it is under 2 thousands and in some cases under 1 thousand. Also, do you not follow any torque specs? Why should this one be any different?
Thanks, Jim

 

[38sho]

the only things I torque nowadays are engine cap bolts and head bolts. There are a fewother specialty thinhs I torque here and there. if u rhink u have to torque everything on a car and ur a mechanic, u havent been doing it too long or ur head is stuck up ur [censored] too far

 

[demarpaint]

It depends on the tech, most are interested in getting your vehicle out as fast as possible. Most I've seen use air tools to speed up the job.

 

[MrBeachcomber]

Interesting discussion; however, the real question should be whether or not the shop checks the calibration of their torque wrenches, torque sticks, and air guns. Could be the reason for the wildly varying torque values reported on this thread.

My old shop used to do it yearly. It was paid for by the owner (who got a discount for the volume services). Each piece of equipment was tagged with the results of the service so every mechanic knew its accuracy. Drop a torque wrench, torque stick, or air gun and that piece of equipment was tagged for another calibration test (on your dime) before it could be used again.

As an side, I still use an air wrench to remove lug nuts or snug them down (after hand-starting them). I use a calibrated torque wrench to finish the job. (I auto-x about 18 times a years and swap out street tires for auto-x tires each time so my torque wrench sees plenty of action!)

 

[Ken2]

Calibrate a torque stick??? That is just a socket extension with a skinny center designed to twist with each impact and limit the twist that actually gets to the socket. With my 65 lbs-ft torque stick I can easily hammer my lug nuts in excess of the 80 lbs-ft set point if I just let the impact wrench hammer away.

Our local Les Schwab regional tire chain store has the guys hammer the lug nuts on with an impact wrench then very rapidly repeatedly click the torque wrench on the too-tight lug nuts. I'd never seen anything like it. The kids working there have no concept on correctly torquing a threaded fastener. The two Discount Tire stores and the one Firestone store I've been in correctly torque the lugs.