Retorquing the Lugnuts

I'm looking at some with both flaking paint and rust. I'd definitely like to check them soon (even if such things don't seem to bother whoever changes those tires). The thread profusion looks okay though, at least I have that.

 

Best to double check, it appears. Have you ever seen a torque stick in a shop? I wonder who uses those, because the wheel end maintenance video only mentioned "a new breed of pneumatic nut runners", which replace the whole impact wrench, and that's obviously more complicated than a torque controlled extension.

 

Well, I'm not saying anyone has to go get a torque wrench, but I figure it will pay for itself as I use it on the clock, and that may save them much more in repairs and down time by comparison, or worse things could happen if I didn't check it out (and that's about the only way it's getting done at this place, which is fair enough, since they let me do what I can for preventative maintenance and all that fun stuff). Personally I would have gotten one totally out of pocket for otr, if I had the resources at the time (which I didn't, but if I had to plan it, that would be on my list). In my experience it's always more work to try scheduling service (kinda like asking for the run around) than to do what can be done myself. Especially with something like this, being open to interpretation on how often it needs to be done (how about whenever I feel like it).

I knew that sign I ran over could come in handy.

 

Interesting, I also found another tip to use F-900 torque seal as a loose nut indicator, and it's demonstrated in a torque procedure video. That answers my question about torque sticks too, they are used for initial torque control, but not in place of a hand wrench for the final torque.

 

Your experience is anecdotal though, sure low torque isn't the only cause of wheel-offs (and over torque is said to be more common), but wheel makers recommend checking torque on regular basis, because loose hardware can just as easily cause the issue, which isn't all that uncommon, and is only less so (or potentially at that) when maintenance is done regularly, I gather. There are many accounts of accidents and deaths caused by this being blown off (literally). Whether myself or someone else operates the torque wrench, it's still down to the torque wrench, so whatever works...

 

That's good, but you know there's that mentality out there, if it aint broke don't fix it, so a thorough pretrip only idicates to me that I'd like to check torque too. Like I said, this would be simpler in my situation, and I'd merely be following manufacturer recommendations, which are all I really have to go by, apart from statistics (besides that many drivers get away with not doing a pre trip at all, so "anything goes", it's just funny how people with that mentality try to stop someone else from doing their own thing, not that this was my idea anyway, so arguing with me is like shooting the messenger).

I appreciate the feedback, and what I learned from checking tire pressure with accurate equipment is that doing it regularly and precisely is a good practice for preventative maintenance, just like checking engine fluid levels, and I think torque is in the same category, whether it requires special equipment or has an indicator already in place (which tires and wheel nuts sometimes do, for that very reason, they are high maintenance components, or can be at any given time). If going by the book is not common sense, then I'd characterize it as professionalism (a work in progress).