Retorquing the Lugnuts

The biggest problem I see in tightening rims is overtorque. Most of the tiregurus tighten them with the impact wrench and then they check with the torquewrench. Sure the wrench clicks BUT what's the real torque?
If studs are frequently overtghtened they will break at some point and wheels separate from the vehicle.
Propper procedures while assembling and tightening is the crucial part.
I never had a wheel come lose which was properly installed.
I do check them when wheels were off. I have a domestic 33mm wrench with me. I check more for even torque. Or I use my bodyweight as reference. You should know your weight and adjust the length of the handle to produce 500ft lbs and put it as horizontal on the nut as possible.
I.E. I weigh about 160 lbs. I'm taking a handle with about 3ft in length and I'm right there.

 

Really? I looked a mac wrench up and it says 200-600.

 

My truck with aluminum on hub centered requires 450-500 ft lbs. My trailer with steel hub centered requires the same. I torque everything to 450 ft lbs. Usually I have everything seated well and they don't need re-torquing but I do run a couple of miles down the road and back and re-torque just to make sure. I know in a lot of shops guys just impact them on and never torque anything. A really lackadaisical attitude imo but my old company was like that. Most of your truck stop chains will do a proper torque job to protect themselves from any liability.

 

I think the only way to get a range of 0-600 on a torque wrench is to use a smaller one with a torque multiplier, which looks to be the least expensive option too (and allows for extra tasks beyond torquing alone, or could increase it beyond 600 also). I don't know though, that might make it too easy to overtorque them if my wrench loses calibration (and calibration testers cost a fortune). Guess I'll try a low end long clicker to be on the safe side. The multipliers are best for loosening in that case.

 

I dunno how often your taking your tires off but you can get em checked at a loves alot of times for the cost of a wrench.

Think mine was $1200.

But it's a Snap-On digital, does ft-lbs, nm and angle

 

Some are listed online for less than two or three hundred, at 100-600 ft-lb. I'm not taking tires off, just want to keep the wheels torqued on. Supposedly not leaving a torque wrench on a setting beyond its minimum helps it stay calibrated when not in use, so maybe that type can last.

 

By the way, does anyone here check torque on a weekly basis?

 

In 32-ish years... no.

I ALWAYS get a re-torque done when wheels are put back on. I would only do another one if there were any loose lug nuts.

 

Whoops! My bad. Mine is indeed 200-600. Wasn't super expensive either. Retails for about $700.