inspect your wheels, lug nuts periodically

[roman192]

I know I did, after I saw this earlier today:

Flying SUV tire kills man on Hwy. 400 in Barrie

[miloca1983]

wow im gonna do mines also.. but how in the heck did the driver of that murano didnt noticed loose lug nuts? usually ull hear a screech sound when driving if the wheels are loose!


Sent from my Autoguide iPad app

[Pilgrim]

It can fool you. If you have any car work done, it's worth taking a torque wrench to the lugs when you get home.

[Halwg]

How many people actually own a torque wrench?

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Halwg

How many people actually own a torque wrench?

Anyone who knows enough to care and has a few bucks to invest in one of the basic tools required for mechanic work. Granted, there are people all over the place who don't care enough to learn the basics of their car. They pay for this decision by spending many thousands of dollars unnecessarily over the years they drive.

Seriously, if you're going to rotate the tires on your car, you NEED a torque wrench. No excuses.

$69: Neiko 1/2-Inch Drive 30-150 ft-lb Automatic Torque Wrench--Tools-Auto & Mechanics Tools-Wrenches

$79: Micro-Clicker Torque Wrench 1/2" Drive- Craftsman-Tools-Auto & Mechanics Tools-Torque Wrenches

[andrei3333]

I had to have two of my lug nuts and lug bolts replaced last weekend, went in for service and the mech took the tires off, one was gone half way down the threads, the other was starting to go...first off, they make them out of mild steel so they give and flex under pressure, second, the stupid impact guns tear the threads if the mechanics doesnt spin them on carefully, this is ridiculous...a fine thread nut and bolt is easy to cross-thread too!!

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by andrei3333

I had to have two of my lug nuts and lug bolts replaced last weekend, went in for service and the mech took the tires off, one was gone half way down the threads, the other was starting to go...first off, they make them out of mild steel so they give and flex under pressure, second, the stupid impact guns tear the threads if the mechanics doesnt spin them on carefully, this is ridiculous...a fine thread nut and bolt is easy to cross-thread too!!

Whoever did the tire work LAST time should pay for the work - but I'm sure they won't. Don't go back to the previous place, and let them know why.

A lug nut should not be installed with an impact gun. I hev done it, but it required hand-starting the nut, then giving it a very brief shot of air so that the nut didn't do more than touch the wheel. You still have to use a hand wrench and torque wrench to tighten it.

If care is used, I think a standard lug nut can be removed with an impact wrench. It's already threaded and removing it won't stress the stud or wheel.

When I take my car in, I normally specify NO impact wrenches. I've seen colored "torque sticks" at some shops - they work with impact wrenches but they give way at a pre-set torque rating. I have no problem with them, but I don't like having an impact wrench used to install the lug nuts.

[nafddur]

Originally Posted by andrei3333

I had to have two of my lug nuts and lug bolts replaced last weekend, went in for service and the mech took the tires off, one was gone half way down the threads, the other was starting to go...first off, they make them out of mild steel so they give and flex under pressure, second, the stupid impact guns tear the threads if the mechanics doesnt spin them on carefully, this is ridiculous...a fine thread nut and bolt is easy to cross-thread too!!

All the more reason to do your OWN work - especially the simple stuff like oil changes, tire rotation, and brake pad replacement. Doing all of these things myself, I've never had a lug problem with Nissans since I started buying them way back in 1985. In fact, the only lug problems I've ever had (a couple times overly tightened and once left loose) were after I got new tires or had warranty work done.

If a mechanic (or yourself) is reasonably careful and torques lugs properly, you won't have problems with them.

[Pilgrim]

I just went looking for torque sticks and found that Harbor Freight carries a set. They break free at the predetermined torque to prevent over-tightening.

10 Piece 1/2" Torque Limiting Extension Bar Set

They're about the price of a decent torque wrench but not as versatile since they only come in pre-determined increments. I'd rather have a "click" type torque wrench.

And under no circumstances, torque stick or not, would I ever permit an impact wrench to be used on any keyed locking lug nut. That would be a fast way to destroy the lock/key.

[Sinn]

Anyone know the proper torque for a 2010 Murano LE w/20 inch tires?

[nitely]

80 ft/lb is good. Does not matter if its 20s or 18s. FSM gives you 73 -93 ft/lbs range.

[BillArf]

Originally Posted by nitely

80 ft/lb is good. Does not matter if its 20s or 18s. FSM gives you 73 -93 ft/lbs range.

Yup.... 80 ft/lb is what I torque to. Remember, loosen lugnut , THEN torque to desired torque!

[se2007]

Thanks for the heads up on this--Roman192 have they ever come up with a reason that you know of?