Which fasteners should be torqued?

[The Critic]

Just wanted to hear some varying perspectives on this. Obviously one's opinion will depend on their experience, skill level, time constraint and available tooling.

In my opinion, the following fasteners should always be torqued:
- Head bolts
- Lug Nuts (for safety reasons only)
- Any fastener requiring angle torque
- Any fastener located internal to a component (e.g. cam housing bolts, internal timing components, etc.)

The rest of the items are debatable.

 

[blufeb95]

I always use a torque wrench on plugs in an aluminum head, better safe than stripped.

 

[vw7674]

with lugs on steel wheels, I never use a torque wrench.
breaker bar or tiny zap with pneumatic. Always 90+ ft/lbs easy either way.
I tend to do my own brake pads/shoes/discs/drums so why go crazy ?

 

[JHZR2]

I torque anything I see a torque rating on, or that I want to protect (e.g., easily stripped oil drain threads), or things that I know need to have consistent clamping force (large sealing areas with a gasket).

 

[mattd]

One can argue all suspension fasteners are considered a safety item, no less important than lug nuts. Timing covers are another one always torque for even clamp load. Rods, mains, heads, cam carriers absolutely

 

[2EHA]

suspension fasteners when convenient

i'm not breaking out the crowfoot adapter

 

[AutoMechanic]

I agree with everything you have listed. Also would like to add suspension fasteners. The reason I say that is even though I had tightened the knuckle to strut bolts on our Camry with a impact and didn’t think to torque them it came loose and we thought we had suspension issues again turns out the strut was moving around a little bit. The top bolts were slightly loose but I had applied a little loctite to those before installing just a little bit however they were hand tightened with a ratchet. So since that happened I’ve torqued every suspension fastener to spec. Just makes me feel better especially on customers cars. And axle nuts too definitely torque those I always do.

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

Pretty much just head bolts, lug nuts, axle nuts, and bearing caps (carrier bearing, can bearing, etc). I’ve never torqued crank bolts and never had an issue, although I’m sure they “should” be. On old international diesels we had to torque the valve cover screws but the valve cover gasket contains a harness running through it so that was important to get even and not over torqued.

 

[OVERKILL]

I torque anything I see a torque rating on, or that I want to protect (e.g., easily stripped oil drain threads), or things that I know need to have consistent clamping force (large sealing areas with a gasket).

Yup, same here.

 

[RooflessVW]

Every fastener

 

[ATex7239]

In my opinion, the following fasteners should always be torqued:
- Head bolts
- Lug Nuts (for safety reasons only)
- Any fastener requiring angle torque
- Any fastener located internal to a component (e.g. cam housing bolts, internal timing components, etc.)

Never done this one. Two grunts and a fart is torqued enough

 

[JeffKeryk]

Agree with the everything posts. People like me, who grew up on iron, overtightened every nut and bolt.
And got away with it. No more...
The good news is, we learned and now have respect for a fastener. All good.
Plus any reason to break out the Snap ON 3/8 or Bonney 250# is OK by me.

 

[The Critic]

Every fastener

Even the air filter lid screws?

 

[RooflessVW]

Even the air filter lid screws?

After tracking down two new airboxes for my Phaeton?

Yes.

 

[Motu]

Mains, bigends and cyl heads. I'll only torque anything else if it's some sort of special requirement.

 

[Timmastertech]

Every mission critical fastener gets torqued to spec. That means every steering, suspension and brake fastener and replaced as necessary. Same for any engine or transmission fastener. Between the two of us in our shop we have 15 torque wrenches and use them

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Lug nuts
Spark plug threads
Anything with a torque sequence (valve cover gaskets, etc)
Anything that is difficult to access that would require a lot of work if you need to get back there

 

[clinebarger]

In the automotive field....It's not feasible to torque every single fastener to torque spec with a torque wrench, "Engine/Transmission/Transfer Case/Differential Proper" is a must in my opinion as well as any bearing preload situation. I pretty much use my discretion on everything else.

Any field mechanic that says they torque EVERY fastener is.....
A. Payed by the hour.
B. A Liar.
C. Broke.
D. Bankrolled by something other than being a Mechanic, Be it Parents, Spouse, Trust fund, etc.

 

[tasch72]

I'm a big fan of torque specs. I'll use them anywhere I can for the peace of mind of not having to wonder whether or not something is too loose or tight.

I'd much rather pull out torque wrenches than play the EZ-Out lottery.

 

[doublebase]

Axle nuts

Technically, caliper bolts.

You might want to torque some intake manifold bolts, otherwise you might regret it when they leak or crack from over tightening. I’ve seen both.