Forum Members Suggest Proper Torquing Techniques

Matters of Scale

Forum members generally have a lot to say about their cars and even more to wisdom to impart on the proper ways you should repair, mod, and maintain your vehicle. As far as torquing goes, there is no lack of information in the deep halls of the forum. To save you some time so you don't have to hunt for the best nuggets, we'll bring them to you.

Forum members have often observed that the most misunderstood tool is the torque wrench. Wrenches should be kept calibrated in order to ensure they are trustworthy—after all, what good is a measuring stick that reads incorrectly. It's also important to use the right tool for the right job. Don't use a high-capacity 1/2" drive torque wrench for low-torque applications. As one forum member points out, "They are not accurate below 20% of their upper end of the range." He explains. "For example, if I wanted to torque something to 17 ft. lbs., it can be accomplished with one that has a range of 5-75 ft. lbs. Such a wrench is inaccurate below 15 ft. lbs. So if I needed to torque something to 14 ft. lbs, this wrench cannot accurately do it." 

Buyer Beware

From another forum member: "I've heard people compare an HFT [Harbor Freight Tools] wrench to a calibrated one, and they have found them to be close. So it's like buying a dog without papers if you will." Our local Snap-On dealer felt that his company's best analog dial Torque-O-Meters outperformed their digital cousins... though he was silent on how Harbor Freight's inexpensive versions compared. Caveat emptor.

>>Join the conversation about Proper Torquing Techniques right here in the LS1Tech forum.

Wheels Up

Forum members also agree that one of the most over-torqued items on any car are the wheel lugs. The culprit is the incorrect use of impact wrenches, specifically the pneumatic, high-torque variety.

Forum members recommend that you NEVER use an air/impact wrench to tighten lug nuts. It's OK to use one to loosen them since you are not putting stress on them, but impact wrenches are notorious for over-tightening the lugs and possibly stripping the threads and/or warping the brake rotors. One forum member shared a perfect example of what can happen when your lugs are over-torqued. "Yupp, had some clowns at [name redacted] do that to my mom's car and 3 studs broke off at the same time on the highway while they were taking my little brother to college, It's super dangerous."

>>Join the conversation about Proper Torquing Techniques right here in the LS1Tech forum.

Lugging It

So what's the best way to torque your wheel lugs? Forum members seem to agree that you start them by hand, tightening them evenly until they are all hand-tight, then turning to a torque wrench to tighten them the rest of the way—to manufacturers' specifications. Years ago, lugs would often work themselves loose on some alloy wheels, meaning that you'd need to do an immediate recheck of the lugs after fifty miles or so. But that no longer seems to be the case, at least not since the eighties. It's also important to make sure that all seating areas are free from dirt and corrosion, and be warned that any anti-corrosion thread treatments/lubricants can alter torque readings slightly.

>>Join the conversation about Proper Torquing Techniques right here in the LS1Tech forum.

High Impact

Another forum member points out that "technically, not everyone even understands why it's called an impact wrench. Impact wrenches have a hammering effect--ever see what the socket looks like after a single use?" We'd tend to agree. Tool manufacturers produce special impact sockets, made from a less brittle, more resilient alloy, for use with impact tools. It is suggested that you use a hand-tool wheel lug removal on more expensive rims, but the impact wrench is more acceptable on other, more pedestrian products.

>>Join the conversation about Proper Torquing Techniques right here in the LS1Tech forum.

That's Not All Folks

If you have any tips on torquing tools, tricks, and techniques (like the alliteration there?), share them here so other LS1Tech forum members can reap the benefits of your wisdom!

>>Join the conversation about Proper Torquing Techniques right here in the LS1Tech forum.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.