Wheel lug torque

caliber60 · 04-07-2003, 10:33 AM

I just got my 911 back from a reputable Porsche shop for a $1,700 suspension replacement. The new suspension runs great. I checked the wheel lug toque. They were toqued to more than 150lbs on each lug. I know because I checked the torque with my $345 Snap on Torqometer. I had to break off each lug and retorque them to 93 lbs. It just happened twice with this same shop. Last time I heard the owner toll the mechanic(helper) to check the wheel torque, I saw he used the breaker bar to "toque" the wheel. I was thinking forget about it. The helper does not know the difference between a toque wrench and breaker bar. I just do it myself. I guess the shop don't really care about the wheel torque, they just just the air gun and squeeze the trigger few times to make sure the lug is on there. Please just make sure every time you get the car back from the shop, check the torque value again.

dad911 · 04-07-2003, 10:50 AM

Reputable? If the mechanic would allow the wheels to be torqued incorrectly, I wouldn't trust the rest of the suspension.

Neilk · 04-07-2003, 10:59 AM

Regarding the lug nuts, I have read that you are suppposed to hand tighten them or you risk damaging them. Is there any problem with using a cordless drill with a 19mm socket to tighten the nuts to <20lbs or so and then tightening them with a torque wrench to 93lbs?

Thanks.

dad911 · 04-07-2003, 11:06 AM

That's how I usually tighten mine. My cordless has a 'clutch' that slips when snug.

jazzbass · 04-07-2003, 11:11 AM

This is one of the things that scare me about taking my car into a shop (that and 18 yr old putting the car on a lift and crushing the oil lines). Too much torque and you won't be able to get the lug off without breaking it (ask me how I know). For me, the lugs one go on by hand and torqued to 90lbs with a softsocket. Anything that prevents a repeat of the broken lug nut fiasco is worth it.

HarryD · 04-07-2003, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by caliber60
I just got my 911 back from a reputable Porsche shop for a $1,700 suspension replacement. The new suspension runs great. I checked the wheel lug toque. They were toqued to more than 150lbs on each lug. I know because I checked the torque with my $345 Snap on Torqometer. I had to break off each lug and retorque them to 93 lbs. It just happened twice with this same shop. Last time I heard the owner toll the mechanic(helper) to check the wheel torque, I saw he used the breaker bar to "toque" the wheel. I was thinking forget about it. The helper does not know the difference between a toque wrench and breaker bar. I just do it myself. I guess the shop don't really care about the wheel torque, they just just the air gun and squeeze the trigger few times to make sure the lug is on there. Please just make sure every time you get the car back from the shop, check the torque value again.

Personally, I would have a chat with the shop owner about this. At that torque, they can do serious damge to your lug nuts and, if you did need to undo them on the road, you might have a rude surprise. As one of the other posters said, if they do not care about this detail, how many others were overlooked?

Just my $0.02.