torque wrench?

[Ralliart10]

+1 for Jess

[roadrash]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

You could go to the BMW dealership and watch them slap a set of wheels on a customer's car. I bet you 9 out of 10 won't use a torque wrench.

My mechanic... indy, not a BMW dealer... is "that guy." I've never seen him not use a torque wrench when putting the wheels back on.

[Tom D]

i for one didn't say it's absolutely necessary to use a torque wrench, and never did i say the wheel would fall off, but i am going to say that jess doesn't know much about engineering and if you all want to be like the 3 blind mice, well that's your business. i own multiple torque wrenches, understand the mechanics behind them, and put them to use where they matter the most.

[mohaughn]

I'll add in some comments looking at this a bit differently. If you are going to autocross or track your car, make absolutely sure that you use a torque wrench. Most groups will check the torque on the bolts before you get out on track, but some don't. There have been plenty of documented cases of cars loosing wheels due to improperly torqued wheels, and I have seen stock BMW lug bolts snap from over torquing.

So on a street car, I have no comment, do what you feel is safe and acceptable for your car. If you are taking it to any type of competitive event or driver education program, use a torque wrench.

[dhong089]

Wow thanks for all the great comments!

If I had a torque wrench, I would definitely, without a doubt use a torque wrench (just better to be safe than sorry y'know?). I just didn't have one with me (I should buy one soon).

But it does make me feel comfortable to know that a simple tire iron will work well. I just snugged the lugs and tightened it a bit more until I deemed it safe.

[zoner]

What we have learned in this thread:

While the use of a torque wrench is optimal when installing lug nuts/bolts, if it was absolutely critical, cars would come from the factory with torque wrenches instead of simple lug wrenches.

I've used the 'PFT' method myself for about 25 years and have never knowingly had any problems with it, steel and alloy wheels alike, nor have I ever heard of anyone having problems with it. Not to say that problems absolutely can't happen, I just think that if it they do, they are very infrequent.

[xxxJohnBoyxxx]

You all that say warped rotors and such are full of it. You need to have them on good and tight around 85ftlb. Most people that work on cars for a long time know how to torque rims without a torque wrench. Lets be real and not so anal about things that really are not true. There are much better things to scare people about other then non-tourqued wheel lugs.

On a track or race car I would do it just to be safe to avoid breaking a stud that was too tight while doing very hard cornering and braking...

I'm in agreement with Jess on this. Waste of time unles they are new and need to be streched...

[1996 328ti]

I torque my wheels all the time and generally at 83.
Given that most torque wrenches we use could probably use a calibration anyway, 80-85 range is good.

I still like torquing them just so I know I hit every stud. I even count when I do it.
1-2-3-4-5. 1-2-3-4-5. 1-2-3-4-5. 1-2-3-4-5. And start on one corner and make my way around so my last wheel is near my toolbox. It's just a habit to be sure I didn't miss any.

I did some work on my car and got interrupted. I forgot to tighten my rears and heard a clunking sound when I drove. I didn't even think that the nuts where loose. Now I make it a habit to finish all 4 before walking away from the car.