Wheel Swapping

Matt82 said:
that just using a breaker bar etc is not as good as using a torque wrench. so many people do not trust garages because of their total lack of competancy and you chose not to use a torque wrench because "all garages do it"
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I am getting pretty fed up of people putting words into my mouth.

No, I chose not to torque up my wheels because I can know when the nuts are tight enough through years of experience, I have done it often enough to know how not to overdo it. And I'm not talking about the yearly summer/winter tyre change, I worked in my aunts garage from the age of 11/12. Employed to start with... as a wheel balancer and mechanics hand. I've done billions of wheels it feels like :/

I don't need to run off the back of a lot of garages doing it that way or watching them, because I know why they don't bother as well. I was pointing out that it is 'common practise' almost, I'm not using it as my reason for not bothering. It is merely anecdotal although a lot of the workshops and tyre companies i've seen don't bother, so by the same analysis wonder how cars don't fly off roads left right and centre.

edit: on my way up town earlier this afternoon a lady in a escort TD had a flat near my bustop, and did not have a clue what she was doing. swapped the tyre for her (she's lucky I had leather gloves with me, or I wouldn't have bothered) and tightened it up with her brace.

I wonder if i've killed her.
 
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Janesy B said:
The Earth Pin for the sender unit was arcing in the connector, causing the car to cut out. Electrical cleaner and some rough paper sorted that. Arches are good, only a few bubbles on the inside lip which isn't bad for a 12 year old car.

Undersealed the rear while I was under there.
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handy to know. yeah like i said, rarely see another mk4 with arches looking that healthy. i normally have a quick gander if i walk past one :o
 
fonzee said:
handy to know. yeah like i said, rarely see another mk4 with arches looking that healthy. i normally have a quick gander if i walk past one :o
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Haha, saddo :p It would be nice if they put in an access panel for the pump like a lot of cars but the tank has to come down. Apparently fuel pump issues are quite common, I'd concur!
 
no issues with mine touch wood! on 121k iirc. spent last few weekends under the damn thing, seriously couldnt be arsed taking the damn tank down too :(
 
Always torque mine. See no reason not to, its hardly extra faff isn't it?

But then people will always bodge, especially in the Motor Trade where I estimate less than 20% of firms pride themselves on a properly good job.
 
[TW]Fox;16168830 said:
Always torque mine. See no reason not to, its hardly extra faff isn't it?

But then people will always bodge,
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I wouldn't say its a bodge considering most manufacturers do not provide torque wrenches with the emergancy wheel in the back - so its bodged until someones taken a torque wrench to it? After a flat? No, of course not.

Although if you torque yours thats fine, after all no doubt you bought the tool to do so. Although saying to those who do not are bodging isn't quite right, because you can feel what you are doing with it. Unless you have either nerve damage, or don't know what you are doing and should probably stick with the haynes manual.
 
Poor ****er who started this thread only wanted to hear its a tenner or whatever :)
 
I tend to torque my wheel nuts when convenient too, glad I'm not the only one. I'd wager most people put too much torque through bolts holding alloy wheels on, which can damage them and make removal a pig. I find that garages do them up far too tight and even use air tools which is seriously daft. When I have to put my entire bodyweight onto, and jump up and down on, a breaker bar to remove a wheel nut, something's wrong. 90-100nm is plenty.

Matt82, glad I'm not the only one who derives a very small amount of enjoyment from using a torque wrench either :o :D
 
DiamondMark said:
Poor ****er who started this thread only wanted to hear its a tenner or whatever :)
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Haha, yeah but it's interesting to hear what people do.

Howard said:
I tend to torque my wheel nuts when convenient too, glad I'm not the only one. I'd wager most people put too much torque through bolts holding alloy wheels on, which can damage them and make removal a pig. I find that garages do them up far too tight and even use air tools which is seriously daft. When I have to put my entire bodyweight onto, and jump up and down on, a breaker bar to remove a wheel nut, something's wrong. 90-100nm is plenty.

Matt82, glad I'm not the only one who derives a very small amount of enjoyment from using a torque wrench either :o :D
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I'm pretty sure my manual states 170nm, off the top of my head.
 
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I torque my nuts on my car.

And ATS torqued the nuts on my van last time I was there!

I have a torque wrench so no reason not to! Would rather do that than not be able to remove the wheel at the side of the road if it punctures, or strip the thread on a stud.
 
The only reason I'd do it is because my old man used to be a mechanic and of the few tools he kept after he stopped were his torque wrench and trolly jack. Although he lives no-where near for me to borrow it now :(
 
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