Why do tire shops use torque guns to permanently install lug nuts? Can you hear it? Brr! Brr! Brr!Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

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thestug93@reddit

Because it's the fastest, most efficient, and least stress on the body way of accomplishing the task.

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ThinkMarket7640@reddit

I love how this is downvoted. I’m sure the car is super happy with massively over torqued wheels.

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LincolnContinnental@reddit

The solution is to use torque reducing sticks

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phatelectribe@reddit

Proper tire shops have their guns set to the right (ish) torque.

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LincolnContinnental@reddit

Not all guns can do that, our Chicago Pneumatic and Ingersoll Rands have no torque limitations

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Robins-dad@reddit

They should limit the PSI getting to the gun.

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Indistrial air compressors at tire shops are limited to 95-250 PSI depending on the line size and tanks. Plus the air guns have self regulating mechanisms, otherwise they would beat themselves to death. I was taught this when I brought up this same issue to my boss.

Don’t comment on what you don’t understand

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Whats_Awesome@reddit

My understanding was if you only hit it with the right amount of impacts, only pull the trigger for so long. Then you can come back and finish tightening with a torque wrench. And retorque again after 100km.

That’s how I do wheel changes in the garage for a fleet of vehicles. (I’m not the previous commenter)

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LincolnContinnental@reddit

Trigger discipline can work for most applications. But nothing beats a good torque reduction stick

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Frederf220@reddit

And their techs need to look up the torque spec. Next time right before they put the wheels on yell, Hey what torque is that? If they don't know tell then to put the tool down.

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phatelectribe@reddit

Most places unfortunately just have it set to the most common torque which means you’re screwed if you have anything outside of that. Better than a non tire shop though where the dugga is set to max

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Colin_with_cars@reddit

BWAHAHAHAHA right…….

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LowerFinding9602@reddit

Tire shop by me sets uses a torque wrench after using the air gun.

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0bel1sk@reddit

psa to not trust torque sticks with electric impact wrenches

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LincolnContinnental@reddit

Most electrics that we use have auto cutoffs after 70 lb/ft

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0bel1sk@reddit

even more reason to not use torque sticks…. they are meant to be used with pneumatic impacts with a much higher torque rating

theres multiple reasons electric impacts shouldn’t be used with them.

regarding your comment, not all torque applications call for 70 lb ft. or does your shop do all cars to 70? for example my car calls for 130 lb ft

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JellaFella01@reddit

I've tested my torque sticks with a wrench afterwards and they're pretty bang on, but I have a big ass electric impact.

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LincolnContinnental@reddit

We tighten initially to 70, then use a split beam torque wrench to torque it down properly. That’s how you are supposed to do it

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0bel1sk@reddit

sounds great. not sure what any of that has to do with my original comment. :)

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LincolnContinnental@reddit

We were talking about over torquing lug nuts initially with air guns, and then you brought up electrics. I feel like I explained it pretty well

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Left-Chair-2761@reddit

Do people just not know about torque limiters? Every shop I've seen that uses an impact for lug nuts also uses a torque limiter.

A few foot pounds over/under is not going to kill someone or seize a bearing

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logicalSpiders@reddit

You control the torque. So that's a skill issue and you should stick to tik tok, not cars

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r_GenericNameHere@reddit

Using impacts isn’t bad for the car, if someone over torques them it’s bad, but that can be done with a hand tool as well

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Shitittiy@reddit

Impact is the wrong tool for the job. I had the lugs on my truck overtightened and they broke while I was driving.

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cyprinidont@reddit

So someone used the tool wrong so it's bad?

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Frederf220@reddit

Yes, if they are incapable of using the tool correctly then the tool is not viable.

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Gofastrun@reddit

Because the impact needs to be set to apply the correct amount of torque.

You can do it on the wrench itself (on nicer ones) or you can use torque limiting extension bars.

It’s not the wrong tool it’s the wrong mechanic.

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Name_Groundbreaking@reddit

I have installed every lug nut, at every tire rotation, on every vehicle I've ever owned for 15 years with my 1/2 drive air impact. Corvette, old K5 Blazer, 1 ton dually, trailers, etc. Never had a problem

Just use a torque limiting extension, spin the nut on 1-2 turns by hand to make sure the threads are engaging properly, and then run them down in a star pattern.

I'm sorry someone fucked up your truck, but it's not the tool that is the issue here. In the future, if you do the work yourself then you can ensure it's done right

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r_GenericNameHere@reddit

Again, over torquing is bad, not the impact. And as others have mentioned they make torque limiters. And if you have used it more than once, it’s really easy to zip a tire on and make sure the torque is below spec, and then finish with a torque wrench.

Trust me I have had my fair share of shops damage my car from going crazy with the impact, that’s on the mechanic though.

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TurdFerguson614@reddit

Tools don't kill fasteners, techs do.

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MarzipanMoney7441@reddit

Not if you use a torque limiting extension and then manually torque the tires afterwards. But yeah just an impact and socket is no good at all.

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Colin_with_cars@reddit

You’re that old head in the shops that thinks he knows more than everyone else aren’t you?

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November87@reddit

Im the smart guy who doesnt let teenagers use uncalibrated torque guns on his car.

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BreakfastBeerz@reddit

You set the impact driver to a specific trque, whatever is speced by the manufacturer. That long "brrrrr" and the end of OPs question is that torque clutch being hit and the driver releasing so as no additional torque is applied.

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TheHatKing@reddit

Air wrenches can be torque limited. They can be set to a torque amount that’s below what most cars are specified at, like 50 ft lbs

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ArcturusGrey@reddit

It's cool how they never do that then. Real cool.

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GuestFighter@reddit

^ Dude drives around to every shop inspecting impacts.

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LameBMX@reddit

most places dont.

sincerely, fella that brings torque wrench to retorque properly after having tire work done for over 30 years now.

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GuestFighter@reddit

How many times have you had your torque wrench recalibrated?

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Glockamoli@reddit

Even an out of calibration torque wrench is better than just ugga dugga till it stops turning

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GuestFighter@reddit

I thought this was r/askcarguys not r/makeupstiffthatfitsmynarrative.

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Glockamoli@reddit

makeupstuffupthatfitsmynarrative.

Tell that to my fucked studs that needed 200+ ft-lbs to loosen the lugs on, book spec is 76 ft-lb

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GuestFighter@reddit

An out of spec torque wrench is just as if not more dangerous than ugga’s. I’d rather have 200ft lbs, than 32 ft lbs.

It’s dangerous misinformation in this sub. In fact in all the subs with people that think they are mechanics.

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LameBMX@reddit

over that many years, its been many new torque wrenches. and even then, hand guessing is more accurate than just brrrrr.

if your torque wrench is clicking for 150 ft/lbs or even 100ft/lbs @ 32 ft/lbs real torque and you dont notice that shit, you need to actually work on some more things.

and speaking of misinformation, specially my vehicle, happens to have lug stud failures and/or issues with the aluminum rim breaking when torque'd too much past 150 ft/lbs. over/under torque both present their unique possible failure modes. in my case, id rather 32 ft/lbs as its highly unlikely you lose all 6 lugs, simultaneously with no warning signs.

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GuestFighter@reddit

I’ve been working on cars, industrial equipment, engine r+d for mix fuel on qsk60’s, r+d for natural gas motors I have NDA’s on for another 2 years, combat engines I can’t take pictures of torn down, fabbing stainless steel and doing government inspections on war machines longer than you’ve been checking your torques. Started in 2006 professionally. Started turning wrenches at a marina when I was 13 helping my dad.

I am the guy you call when you have a broken down excavator in the woods. I’m the dude that comes to the brewery to swap out sanitary pumps and fab new lines. I’ll fix the glycol systems and run new lines.

Just another sub that is full of civilians thinking they’re techs. Good luck with your lug nuts and torque settings.

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LameBMX@reddit

good luck with your ability to hold down a job in a single line of work!

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covalcenson@reddit

For removal sure, but why not a dc nutrunner (or hell just a cordless drill with the clutch set) so you run it down fast and without the impact? Then go around with the torque wrench?

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thestug93@reddit

Because that would require getting two extra tools (a cordless drill and a torque wrench) out of the toolbox. Paid for getting the job completed, not necessarily doing it correctly.

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covalcenson@reddit

Brother, it’s a tire shop not a pit crew. Add the extra 2 minutes it might add to your busy schedule to the bill and do it correctly.

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cyprinidont@reddit

Google flat rate pay

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WeedWacker0@reddit

Then you go do it since you’re so invested in tire changing methods

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NoseResponsible3874@reddit

Again, they don’t bill by the minute, they bill by the job.

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thestug93@reddit

I don't work at a tire shop. I'm just saying that people are lazy and this is why it happens.

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Willing-Middle-4532@reddit

Use the right tool for the job: a Torque wrench

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Monotask_Servitor@reddit

Yep. And with the proper torque settings it also gives the most accurate torque settings.

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Confident_Season1207@reddit

No it doesn't. Use a torque wrench like a proper mechanic would

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BayazFirstOfTheMagi-@reddit

Proper mechanic lol

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whiskeytown79@reddit

Tighten nut to three ugga dugga, move to next nut. Earn shiny rocks for do fast, not for do properly.

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MakionGarvinus@reddit

3 ugga duggas, 2 clicks with the torque wrench, never had a car come back! (I am not a mechanic, BTW)

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NoseResponsible3874@reddit

Did you miss the part where they want to just be done? Going and getting a torque wrench, setting it to the proper torque, then going around all ~16-20 nuts a second time is not something 99.999% of customers will even notice, much less something the tech wants to waste time doing.

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Alarming_Light87@reddit

12 to 132 lug nuts.

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Rdtisgy1234@reddit

This is the way

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OldDude1391@reddit

I use the German method, “gutten tite “

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H8MakingAccounts@reddit

If it's cross threaded and won't move, it's a type of tight.

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Confident_Season1207@reddit

I forgot we were talking about a tire shop

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ADrunkMexican@reddit

It's like no ones seen tires lol

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twoheadedhorseman@reddit

That show is eerily accurate

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ADrunkMexican@reddit

I mean i kinda figured lol.

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zaphodbeeblemox@reddit

Everyone knows that a proper mechanic grabs the dakka dakka and clicks the bzzrrrr button agains the lug nut till he hears it go gzzzt like formula one.

(/s)

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Signal-Confusion-976@reddit

The new cordless impacts can be set to a certain torque and are very accurate.

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Meth_Cat@reddit

Torque stick, then torque wrench to keep it timely.

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AwarenessGreat282@reddit

Those are fine for an airgun but air tools are getting as rare as torque wrenches

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HedonisticFrog@reddit

I had a tire shop employee use a torque wrench on my lug bolts before. He ignored the click and put his entire weight into it. Gotta love tire shops.

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RadFriday@reddit

??? Where did you get this idea from

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chorgus69@reddit

There are extremely expensive impact wrenches that can be set to a specific torque. Mainly used in airplane manufacturing. Think like $15k each

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BusyBeinBorn@reddit

They’re all over manufacturing. Panasonic and Ingersoll make most of them.

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Fight_those_bastards@reddit

Atlas Copco also makes very nice torque drivers. Used to use them in electronics assembly. Every part got a data sheet attached to its serial number that listed torque and angle for each fastener.

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BusyBeinBorn@reddit

We have some of their pneumatic tools but all the corded or battery ones are Panasonic or Ingersoll.

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reidlos1624@reddit

Your discount tire doesn't own one of those unfortunately. You get cross threaded lug nuts and studs only.

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Lordert@reddit

Plus tires filled to 50lbs pressure no charge.

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H0SS_AGAINST@reddit

"Extra pressure, not extra price.

Get tires at Discount Tire, and fuck you."

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limitedz@reddit

Ah cross threading, the poor man's lock-tight. Only works once tho..

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publicsausage@reddit

Alabama loctite. Also known as cross threads better than no threads.

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Nob1e613@reddit

There’s also very cheap torque limited guns you can buy for the dummy apprentice, then finish off hand torque. Costco tire center for example uses 55 ft-lb impacts and then have the shop lead torque to spec.

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YozaSkywalker@reddit

They arent pneumatic impacts, they're DC motor powered. We have several kinds like that in my shop that record torques and angle and print out a report of your work. Really useful for anyone building engines or airplanes that require proof of torqued fasteners

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mysteriouslypuzzled@reddit

Not strictly for airplane manufacturing. They have cordless ones now. Mobile tire service people use them on tractors and trailers. And many heavy truck shops used them too. There's even shop models that can print out a slip of torque values to attach to invoices

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Freakishly_Tall@reddit

There's even shop models that can print out a slip of torque values to attach to invoices

Ok, that's really cool.

If they show up in vaguely accurate knockoff form in the next decade or so at Harbor Freight, I'ma have to impulse buy one.

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poorperspective@reddit

There used in automotive manufacturing also.

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Boilermakingdude@reddit

You're not thinking about the correct tool lol. Those aren't impact guns. Though they look very similar, not the same.

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Cool-Acanthaceae8968@reddit

Uh.. no there’s not.

Impact and correct torque are mutually exclusive things.

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chorgus69@reddit

Look up a brand called Cleco

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chorgus69@reddit

My mistake, what I'm thinking of is a different tool called a pulse tool

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william_f_murray@reddit

Eh. Milwaukee's one key settings can get you pretty damn close with some trial and error, but it's all dependent on fastener size.

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mysteriouslypuzzled@reddit

It is not an idea..it is: THE WAY! Its sounds that the gun makes when you snug then tighten the nut on the car

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Monotask_Servitor@reddit

Ok I exaggerate, but it’s more accurate than just hand tightening them with a wheel brace.

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TheBupherNinja@reddit

Not a fucking chance.

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HazelKevHead@reddit

No, no it doesn't. A good gun with good power settings can get on average kinda close enough to a good torque, give or take, but put a torque wrench on those lugs and you'll see that they aren't all the same tightness.

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ThePakMaRa@reddit

How many ugga duggas = 100ft lbs?

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Colin_with_cars@reddit

I use a torque stick on my impact at the dealer. (Hondas only have 2 torque specs) then I click torque when done.

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Weary-Writer758@reddit

I only use an impact gun to spin them down. I break out a real torque wrench when it's time.

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JerikOhe@reddit

For some reason my Chevy requires 140ftlbs of torque for the lugnuts. I've learned thats about as much torque as I can physically do with a torque wrench, and it's a painful pain in the ass.

So even using an impact to tighten doesn't really solve the problem of fucking difficult tire removal/replacement.

Chevrolet: we feed on your tears

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Weary-Writer758@reddit

140 seems excessive. HD truck?

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JerikOhe@reddit

Hell no! Stock 2014 silverado 1500, it's what's listed in the damn manual! I agree it's excessive, and I don't know why but thats what it is.

I thought I was having a stroke the first time I took the wheels off then googled the torque specs. Like, if your lugs need to be that tight, thats a problem right?!

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iforgotalltgedetails@reddit

Cause they’re M14x1.5 studs.

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Clean_Singer_414@reddit

I have the 2013 Sierra Equivalent. Thought Holy shit gm... Ford: Hold my beer 150ftlbs. Now I know this isn't high for heavy duty trucks (line trucks crane and big haulers) but holy for a grocery getter I started carrying a breaker bar in the truck in case of flat (and flip socket set for the trailer).

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Dry-One4182@reddit

My 2017 mustang is 150

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Weary-Writer758@reddit

That's what I was thinking. That's insane.

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LaunchpadMcQack@reddit

I'm a gm technician. 140 for 22s and 110 for 19s on vettes and stuff.

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Weary-Writer758@reddit

Thanks. I can respect that.

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slowwolfcat@reddit

good boy

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Camo138@reddit

That's the way I do it.

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dmv1985@reddit

Who still uses wheel nuts? I've just been slapping a couple booger welds around the base of the wheel stud. Not a single one has broke at the shop.and we get 0 return customers complaining

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TickletheEther@reddit

I worked at a good year tire shop and they required two techs to check that the wheels were torqued (with an actual torque wrench). I thought that was overkill.

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LaunchpadMcQack@reddit

I can hit a set of lugs with my impact and be within 10lbs of 140 on 22s and 110 on 19s. Yes I double check with a torque wrench.

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somethingdouchey@reddit

Poor training. Last set of tires i had put on i caught the guy running down the PLASTIC lug covers with a full send pneumatic ughadugga. A few months later i have no more center cap.

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SetNo8186@reddit

Mine were torqued by hand with a manual wrench. Shops are volume based and time is important, the better ones do it right.

Having worked at tire shops in the 80s, the guns were set to spec and delivered right on 85 pounds, which was appropriate then, and consistent. I bought an older gun from a flea market, a Chicago Pnuematic labled a Coats (tire machine maker) and its still spot on. More consistent than a 20V electric.

What I have discovered over the years is that newer generations are completely unaccustomed to how much effort that takes, and a larger number find it beyond their capability. In the day, we did it with a 4 way wrench and got pretty good at it out on the shoulder of the road if you were working AAA wreckers. Im 72 and I still don't see what all the fuss is about.

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salvage814@reddit

They also use torque sticks.

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The_WA_Remembers@reddit

Work smart, not hard

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knowledgeable_diablo@reddit

That’ll get in on…….forever!!

Last tyre shop I went to they striped and cross threaded three of my lug nuts and broke a stud on my suspension struts. Then charged me for the replacement studs to fix their fuck ups.\ Funnily enough they recently sent their sales rep around to my work seeing if I’d be keen to direct my parts team to start buying tyres direct through them rather then my usual direct line to the OEM’s.

Yeah nah buddy.

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Ninjasupahsquid@reddit

It's a lot faster than turning it by hand. And the sound of the impact gun makes my brain happy 😁

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idownvoteanimalpics@reddit

Town Fair tire makes the customer sign off on the invoice acknowledging that they're aware they have to torque to spec themselves at home... Which I'm sure very few customers do

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slowwolfcat@reddit

meaning they dont tighten the nuts all the way, Brrrrrrr or otherwise ?

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El_Pozzinator@reddit

What? I love it when the Shop Gorilla friction welds the lugs on my Alcoa wheels. Bonus points if he cross-threaded it on the way down.

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HandsOnDaddy@reddit

Where are you getting this? Every tire shop I have ever seen zips lug nuts on with an impact gun until they barely touch then snugs them manually with a torque wrench.

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cherokeevorn@reddit

Our shop uses them to quickly seat the nuts,then tightened with a torque wrench.the gun goes to about 20 nm.rest by hand.

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SneakyRussian71@reddit

"permanently"? No, they set the proper torque for the model, or should. If it's over-tightened, then the shop is bad and go use another one.

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Another_Slut_Dragon@reddit

I use torque sticks on my impact wrench that are good for +/-5%. I just grab whatever stick meets the torque I need. It flexes when x torque is hit and stops the hammer mechanism from transmitting torque.

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McSkylord@reddit

a shop I worked in years ago bought torque sticks because techs wouldn’t use torque wrenches and we were having a problem with tires falling off after leaving the shop. The problem persisted after the torque sticks so the shop made it mandatory for everyone to use a torque wrench or face termination of a tire falls off after leaving the shop.

Kinda crazy how tires stopped falling off vehicles when techs use the right processes. This made me team torque wrench.

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Another_Slut_Dragon@reddit

The right process is making sure the rim seats flat and gently winding in all nuts so they are slightly snug. Then you KNOW the rim is on the hub properly. Then you torque every nut in a star pattern and do it twice. And you pay attention.

I had zero tires come off over the decades.

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NoseResponsible3874@reddit

Overdoing something may be effective, but not necessarily efficient

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Another_Slut_Dragon@reddit

That is efficient. It might take an extra 10-15 seconds to go around 3 times. Less efficient is wheels falling off and angry customers.

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NoseResponsible3874@reddit

Only if that actually happens to anyone on any kind of regular basis…

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Another_Slut_Dragon@reddit

That's what we used to do in every shop I worked in. I still do that to my vehicles now. But I'm self employed and careful. I just don't get comebacks for workmanship

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NoseResponsible3874@reddit

You haven’t refuted anything that I’ve ever said, you’re just adding more words to what you’ve already said.

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hugeyakmen@reddit

On the opposite side of that, one of the larger local tire shops by me had a habit of over-tightening lugnuts on small cars and warping rotors. On one trip I sat in the lobby while a frustrated older man was being told that the warp on his new brakes was his fault because he has clearly been street racing and overheating the brakes. I still later needed to be replaced.

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thatG_evanP@reddit

I feel like people should've been getting fired for wheels falling off before that.

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_TheFudger_@reddit

I wish the most recent tire shop used that on my Miata. 130 foot pounds was what it took to get any additional rotation. Spec is 65-86. They had 87 written down on the paperwork. Maybe they hit it with the torque wrench after hitting it with the impact, but it definitely wasn't 87.

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jestercow@reddit

I’d be happy even with +/- 10%. Just tried to take off my wheels to do a rotation at first interval after new tires. I could not budge a single nut, they had to be double the torque spec…

Ended up taking it back to the shop and making them do it right.

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herbmaster47@reddit

I always just used the wrench to spin it on. Maybe one ugga. Start all of them, hold wheel square zip zip zip zip...

Normally got a quarter turn before a click with the wrench for the most common torque, (80)

Did tires at a big box store and a dealership, same way both places. If you hammer them on like an idiot you're either an asshole or never changed your own tire.

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Rlchv70@reddit

Thy are notoriously inaccurate.

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Artistic_Bit_4665@reddit

They are not. It's that people won't use them, but say they did.

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Realistic-March-5679@reddit

Or because they just keep hammering on it, once it hits once stop. Any more than that and you’ve already twisted the stick and it can no longer prevent the torque transfer.

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B5_S4@reddit

They're not, but it doesn't matter. I torque my lug nuts at home with a nice digital calibrated torque wrench. Spec is 120NM and every time I hear the beep, stop, and look at the screen I've hit like 160. I've never stripped a stud, nut, or had any issues with them.

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Another_Slut_Dragon@reddit

You check them for calibration. Mine have stayed +- 5% for decades. But they are OTC extension style.

Also watch these new cordless impacts. They can be too powerful.

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gogozrx@reddit

Used them for years. 100% agree... 5% is fine.

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skels130@reddit

Interestingly, IIRC, torque test channel proved they don’t work correctly with electric/cordless impact guns, only pneumatic.

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Artistic_Bit_4665@reddit

The first time I tried using one with an electric impact, it was obvious to me that it wasn't going to work. WAY too much torque.

Problem is, people have no clue how much torque these electric impacts generate. And are running down lugnuts with just the electric impact. I vastly prefer my 40 year old Ingersol Rand air impact for shop work.

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skels130@reddit

I was eyeballing a set for home use before I saw the video, so now I just run them down snug and hit it with the torque wrench

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Bad_Prophet@reddit

Yes, the hammer rate with electric torque wrenches is too fast for the torque stick to unwind between impacts, so more torque is administered than the stick is rated for.

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oboshoe@reddit

is there a % you should aerate the torque stick for?

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Bad_Prophet@reddit

No; basically the electric impacts twist the torque stick and don't allow it to untwist between strikes. So the longer you ugga the tighter the fastener gets, as if the torque stick weren't there at all.

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oboshoe@reddit

thanks. i uh need to go check my lug nuts.

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skels130@reddit

That was what I was remembering. Thanks for confirming

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gogozrx@reddit

I was unaware of that, thank you!

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Another_Slut_Dragon@reddit

Mine are 28 years old and are still accurate. Although I switched trades so they get casual use for the last 15. They are still accurate.

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reidlos1624@reddit

My understanding was that the best practice was getting one that was slightly under spec and final torque by hand tool after the fact.

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Stock_Block2130@reddit

That’s what I remember from when I worked at a truck repair place.

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Another_Slut_Dragon@reddit

That 'best practice' is for checking your torque sticks when you first get them, then do that every now and then. Time is money. I'f make a fuckwit apprentice do that. But I trust my torque sticks.

I keep a beam style torque wrench around so I can check torque needed to loosen bolts.

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joker_1173@reddit

Yep, I use them too. They have come in really handy and they don't increase any stress on me

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iamreallybo@reddit

I was popping in to say torque stick, but you got there first.

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lawdot74@reddit

The only proper way to use an impact on lug nuts is with a torque limiting adapter or gun that can be set to torque. Set to torque below desired torque then follow with a torque wrench.

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EmotionOpening4095@reddit

There’s a special ring of Hades, for shops that use impact wrenches without checking the torque afterwards

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Vegfarende@reddit

I'm a master tech at a dealership and I would never let any of my colleagues do any work on my car. Not even warranty work. The torque wrench is an impact gun set at 3 dakkadakkas.

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wassupobscurenetwork@reddit

Get a breaker bar.. I over do it every time lol I've seen too many loose lug nuts in my life. One shop even installed them backwards 😬

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Baalwulf06@reddit

Likely liability reasons too. Tire can't fall off with loose lugs if they're fused on there

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Public-Search-2398@reddit

Most of it is laziness, the rest is technicians thinking a mark of a professional is never having to use a torque wrench to properly torque lug nuts

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r_GenericNameHere@reddit

Pneumatic impacts not torque guns, and the amount of torque applied is really up to the user. Using a impact≠over torquing bolts

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Glittering-Rise-488@reddit

If a shop uses an impact to install lug nuts, leave immediately. Even torque sticks are not accurate, they're junk. The only proper way is to snug the lug nuts, lower the car & hand torque with an accurate torque wrench.

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mikey821@reddit

First off they’re impact wrenches. Second they should be using either a torque stick on there or just lightly set them with the impact wrench then tighten to spec with a torque wrench.

I’ve been turning a wrench professionally for almost 20yrs & have seen techs give it all the uggas & duggas, techs use torque sticks & a torque wrench and techs do it in a circle pattern & wonder why the wheel fell off. I’ve also seen them not tighten the lug nuts at all. In my current shop you can either use a torque stick or torque wrench. I typically set them with the impact then use a torque wrench. For a multitude of reasons you should NOT “give it the beans” & hammer them on

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Excludos@reddit

Because when you change tyres on 200 cars a day you quickly come to the conclusion that you both don't have time for it or the stamina. Torque gun is easy, you can get a pretty good feel for where it should be, and the customer is supposed to after-tighten the nuts after 50 km or so anyways so it doesn't matter all that much

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kcherry621@reddit

We use impact guns to run them on, always get hand torque in our bay, and then check again with a torque wrench at the shop door in front of the cameras to verify they were torqued

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ramplocals@reddit

Shops also use torque guns on oil filters and oil drain plugs as well.

Thanks Volvo dealership.

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Practical_Prole@reddit

Shitty ‘uns do that. Which is most, it seems.

I have only had one used tire place do it right, snug the nuts with an impact on one of those torque-limited settings, then torque wrench them proper.

I generally try to just bring wheels to tire shops tbh, while replacing stripped lug studs isn’t hard (it’s pretty easy), it’s not something I want yo have to do if I can help it.

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YT_Milo_Sidequests@reddit

They should be using torque sticks when using their impacts and then properly torquing down the wheels with a torque wrench when on the ground. One click only, not one click and another, just over click. If they're not doing that, they're cutting corners elsewhere and they're not getting my business. Especially if they're trying to charge $150+ an hour. Do the damn job right if you're charging me that much.

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IBringTheHeat2@reddit

What tire shop charges by the hour and not by the tire?

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tOSdude@reddit

How else do you think shops charge for labour?

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BoomerSoonerFUT@reddit

Tire shops generally are flat rate, not hourly.

They charge a single flat rate per tire install, the discount tire by me is $25 per tire. Tech gets some $ amount from that per tire.

That's generally why they try to get people in and out as fast as possible. The more tires they can install, the more they make regardless of hours.

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nitromen23@reddit

Discount tire has been great for me and it’s crazy all the hate for them in this thread. Cheap installation and I’ve gotten probably over a dozen tires from them and only ever had 1 problem with it being unbalanced and they fixed it no problem in like 15 minutes when I brought it back the next day I think one of the weights just didn’t clip on all the way and fell off. Never had a tire they put on leak and they’ve never tried to upsell me when I go in and tell them what I want. Honestly never had anything negative to say about them

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YT_Milo_Sidequests@reddit

I'm speaking in general and regarding a shop's door rate.

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tOSdude@reddit

Doesn’t need to be limited to one click, you can click it all day and the torque won’t increase.

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Artistic_Bit_4665@reddit

I like 3 clicks. I charge per click.

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YT_Milo_Sidequests@reddit

One click. You know that even if you have the torque set, you can still turn the wrench past that setting correct? One click helps prevent that.

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tOSdude@reddit

On anything else sure.

On wheels you better believe I’m going around them twice, and if they turn before clicking the second time I go around again.

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area51_spy_pigeon@reddit

I totally agree, im a mechanic and religiously use my torque wrench as coworkers have had wheels come off before. Side note if you think the mechanic is getting paid $150/hr your flat wrong. Also using a torque wrench in general is not cutting corners just gunning lugnuts down is cutting corners.

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YT_Milo_Sidequests@reddit

I'm a former mechanic. I didn't say mechanics got paid $150/hour. I also didn't say using a torque wrench is cutting corners. I said if they didn't do those basic things properly, they're probably cutting corners elsewhere.

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area51_spy_pigeon@reddit

Not gonna lie based on how you typed up your first reply, I took it as one of those customers who are impossible to please and will always find something wrong. Didn't mean to offend, thats just how I read it

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reidlos1624@reddit

They didn't say they got paid $150/hr, they said charge $150/hr.

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Ting-a-lingsoitgoes@reddit

If you haven’t had them strip your lug nuts and drop the wheel off the car the next day and been grateful it was only the next day, you’re doing better than me.

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Ting-a-lingsoitgoes@reddit

I really need to buy impact sockets.

And an impact extension

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Accomplished-Fix-831@reddit

Because they got fedup of people not re-torquing there wheels after a dozen miles and having them fly off

When using power tools with torque bits you should be using 1/3rd the rating pieces and then toque wrench to check it and even then may well over-tighten them

Anyway after i get my tyres replaced when i get home i have to break the lug nuts free and torque them properly or in buying new lug nuts by the next time i need to replace the tyres if not new hubs as well

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Early-Problem-1834@reddit

So when you get a flat tire you can’t change it yourself without jumping on the tire wrench to get it loose! The worst

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WastedxLogic@reddit

I literally just got new tires installed at a Mr. Tire. Bought them online from simpletire. I get them back absolutely covered in tire snot and the next day I go to take them off and I cant because they seem welded on, I used a breaker bar and couldnt get them off.

I wait until the morning and I go back up and politely ask them to retorque my lugs to spec and the guy got shitty with me asking me if I know what the spec even is in front of a bunch of people, I ask him if he knows overtorqued lugs can damage studs and fuck up my brakes etc etc and eventually he just tells me it will be up to a 3 hour wait and I said no problem.

So I went back in their parking lot, loosened them up with my impact, retorqued them myself in front of his customers, took my sweet ass time and then left shitty reviews online. Fuck tire shops, they cant handle one job without fucking it up.

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stev0119@reddit

Ive always installed lug nuts with a rattle gun on the 1st or 2nd setting dont go ham just go until the gun ugga duggas ones or twice to make sure the rim is seated evenly then car tighten with a torque wrench when the cars on the ground. Just how i was taught. Multiple shops and this is how ive seen everyone do it and is the" proper" way after a while you get a feeling for what the tourque setting feels like so you dont need a tourque wrench you can use a breaker bar or a rachet and it will be fine but even tho i can get it right without a tourque wrench 95% of the time i always use a tourque wrench but thats just me

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throwawayyourfun@reddit

Torque specs are high and 2-3 ugga-duggas are about right.

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SunRev@reddit

Someone needs to invent a Torque Gun. For real.

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Rapom613@reddit

Torque sticks are a thing. Milwaukee makes a controlled torque impact.

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Rapom613@reddit

Torque sticks are good enough for government work. Lug nuts don’t need to be 100% accurate, just tight enough to not come off, while not too tight that you can’t get them back off

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GuairdeanBeatha@reddit

Good tire shops use torque sticks with an impact wrench, then follow up with a torque wrench. It speeds up installation, and prevents over torquing the lug nuts. Bad tire shops hit it with a few Uggy Duggys and call good.

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WasabiWarlord75@reddit

At the Firestone I work at we fasten the lug nuts with impact wrenches, followed by a torque wrench excluding wheel locks

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Notansfwprofile@reddit

As long as you aren’t going full on at 400ft lbs your fine. I always use mine on the lowest setting and then check with a breaker to see about how tight it is.

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ted_anderson@reddit

When you said, "Brrrrrrrrrrrrr..." you forgot the part that goes, "Whhheeeeeennnnieee!!!!" when they take the gun off of the wheel.

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Fluffy-Cupcake9943@reddit

I once took a pickup truck back to the tire shop because they put the lug nuts on so damn tight I couldn't get them off. The kid working there asked me why I wanted to take my wheel off.

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Which_Ad8594@reddit

Cheap, fast, right. Pick 2. When you pay someone else to do work, that’s the reality.

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Briggs281707@reddit

Torque sticks on an impact work really well. I double checked them once and they where basically perfect

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SignedJannis@reddit

Once?

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Briggs281707@reddit

I checked once, but always use them, never had an issue

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SignedJannis@reddit

Just the once?

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Necrott1@reddit

The impact will get the lugs on and almost tight enough. Then the torque wrench will torque them to spec.

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Mycroft_Holmes1@reddit

Without a torque stick you can snap a bolt easy with a pneumatic ugga dugga, it has way more power than your milwaukee m12

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Low-Judgment273@reddit

I've been in the industry for over 20 years. I've used tons of pneumatic impacts and not a single one has been as powerful as my cordless impact. The first time I used it, it snapped a 5/8in grade 8 bolt like it was a twig.

Now when you go above a 1/2 impact then pneumatic becomes a lot more powerful but up to 1/2, I haven't seen anything that compares to the top electric models.

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Mycroft_Holmes1@reddit

To be honest, the only pneumatic I have used before is for big rigs. The rest I have used were battery op

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Low-Judgment273@reddit

Yeah, we used to have to use a 1 inch impact for commercial truck tires because it was the only thing that would break them loose until I got my first cordless 1/2in. I've used snap-on, Milwaukee and Dewalt over the years and my Dewalt has been the most reliable. Snap-on was the weakest and Milwaukee was probably the hardest hitting but the batteries always break first.

I've been running a 1/2in Dewalt dcf890 for 10 years without any problems at all. It doesn't look like it used to but it still works the same.

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myredditlogintoo@reddit

There are impact guns with torque settings/levels out there. My Milwaukee M18 has three levels. I tighten with level 1, and it's always below the spec, so I finish up with a torque wrench.

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Necrott1@reddit

If you’re giving into many ugga duggas sure. You stop at the first ugga

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DBDude@reddit

I zip them on until the first stop, no ugga dugga. Then I break out the torque wrench.

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Bobloblaw_333@reddit

I just retorque the nuts to the proper spec when I get home.

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TheKiddIncident@reddit

Same. There are only two tire shops in the area and there is no way I am mounting tires myself on my road cars so I'm stuck with using the shops. After getting stuck on the side of the road for two hours trying to loosen a single stuck nut, I always check when I get home. The nuts are ALWAYS too tight. I have a whole elaborate setup now including a couple of backup "persuaders" that I use if needed.

I've asked them to back it down but they claim their guns are set correctly. I got tired of arguing so I just re-set it when I get home with a torque wrench.

It snows here, so this is a regular occurrence for me. Each vehicle has to get snow tires on and off twice a year. Got to the point where I just bought an extra set of rims and I now change them myself.

Haven't had a stuck bolt since.

Oh, and no wheels falling off so far so I think I'm using enough torque.

I really don't get why I can use a $100 wrench to set it correctly, but they have pro gear that sets it wrong every time.

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banndi2@reddit

You should not have to do that.

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Bobloblaw_333@reddit

You shouldn’t have to but I have trust issues from past (bad) experiences. lol!

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banndi2@reddit

Oh I agree! I have had lug nuts put on by the tire shop only to hand tight. I check as well.

I can’t see how anyone paying money for you to take something apart and put it back together should be held responsible for checking something of that technical nature. Like seriously, my 83-year-old mother is supposed to do this when she gets her winter tires put on?

It’s like a gas fitter telling you that you should check the lines after a furnace repair for a natural gas leak. It’s negligence.

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Bobloblaw_333@reddit

Totally agree!! But for some reason we don’t hold them to a higher standard like other professions. That’s the issue with volume dealers. They just care about getting people in and out as fast as they can. Whereas my plumber cares about doing it right, not speed.

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banndi2@reddit

I usually just have the shop mount and balance my tires. I do the seasonal swap myself, but I have space, tools, and a serious mistrust of tire retailers.

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Brief-Definition7255@reddit

Because there’s usually multiple cars waiting in line for tires and putting them on with a four way would take forever and wear you out. It’s a weird question. Why does any job use tools? To complete the task more efficiently

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Small-Hospital-8632@reddit

Most shops hit it with a gun and then use a torque wrench

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lonememe@reddit

I don’t get how they don’t cross thread studs doing this more often. I’ve goobered a few wheel stud threads using an impact to put on tires at home so I only use an impact to remove them now.

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CanoegunGoeff@reddit

Speed.

When I worked at a big tire shop, we initially used air impacts with torque sticks so that we could shoot the lugs on without exceeding the correct torque spec, and then grab a torque wrench and properly torque the lugs.

Later, we switched to specially made torque limited electric impacts so we could eliminate the torque sticks from that process.

We focused on teaching our techs how to do things correctly but then also pushed them to compete with each other and themselves for speed.

We once changed four tires and had the car in and out of the bay in only 5 minutes. Definitely can’t do that without those electric impacts lol.

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Alert-Manufacturer27@reddit

Patapim!

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NoOilStart@reddit

Pretty normal unless it’s 3pc wheels. Most places will do a set by hand when they’re told each wheel is 1k+

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BookFew9009@reddit

Rulle of thumb for all bolts , nuts etc, tighten until it breaks back off half a turn , quarter if fine thread and 38.968 degrees if metric

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No-Setting9690@reddit

NASCAR has entered the chat

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Stuntsanduntz@reddit

My stunt driving group pops a lot of tires, we break them with an impact wrench, and then when we set them we turn it down to the lowest setting just to get them a bit beyond finger tight, drop it car and finish with the torque wrench, that way you’re only doing about 1/2-1.5 a rotation with the analog

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sebastiand1@reddit

I worked at dealerships for years after awhile of knowing the cars and your gun, you should know how many ugga Dugga is enough. I know I did at least, the trigger is controllable.

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sexchoc@reddit

I know my pneumatic gun well enough that I can very consistently end up just under the torque wrench click, but I just can't seem to get the hang of electric impacts

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sebastiand1@reddit

That’s mostly what I did because one dealer I worked at required us to use a torque wrench. I leaned the limits on both types of guns.

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RonnieB47@reddit

So you can't take the nuts off.

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mykepagan@reddit

They do that when they can’t use an impact wrench to permanently fuse an oil filter to your engine

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Justagoodoleboi@reddit

“Permanently” no they would have to weld them on to make it permanent.

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MarzyXP@reddit

Impact tight is good enough tbh.

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reidlos1624@reddit

Impact tight is often too tight. It's a good way to pull the stud to plastic deformation permanently reducing it's ability to maintain proper torque

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505backup_1@reddit

3/8 is fine, 1/2 no bueno

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n0t_4_thr0w4w4y@reddit

Depends how tight they are going. If it’s a 1/2” drive, there is a good chance of going way over the torque spec on a smaller car

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Prineak@reddit

that sound is from the gun maxing out the rating on the collar. its not actually torquing past what its supposed to do.

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weredragon357@reddit

Because Ron White and the tech that missed LugNut Day

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PckMan@reddit

Because they do and undo those nuts many times per day and it's quicker and easier. With the right gun and the right setting it can also be mostly ok. But impact guns are rarely that accurate with their torque output and most of the time the nuts end up overtightened.

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MagnetAccutron@reddit

Low torque. Then finish to correct torque with hand tool.

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Specialist-Two2068@reddit

Because they want to be done with the job and really don't give a shit about it; it's not their car.

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bobby2175@reddit

I came back from a shop to check my torque specs and they were all over the place. Some way too tight some loose.

I went back the next time and they were all perfect.

It's inconsistent at best and varies within the shop/tech and how busy they are. The first time, it was a really busy Saturday. The second time, it was an unusually slow weekday.

And this was from one of the places always positively mentioned on here.

Bottomline, check your torque.

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PurpleK00lA1d@reddit

That's why I do my shit myself at home unless I'm actually getting new tires since I just don't have that equipment.

I have an electric impact so torque sticks don't work with it. Tire shops never use torque sticks they just zip that shit on.

I set my impact to the lowest setting and then torque to spec afterwards.

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RudderForADuck@reddit

Idk I just twist em on and hope it stays bruh I got four other nuts holding the wheel on I'm not stressed

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jules083@reddit

Ever have a tire come loose? I've had it happen 3 times, wife's had it happen twice in the 15 years we've been together. One of mine was a tire I put on myself, the other 4 were within a hundred miles or so of leaving a tire shop. Seems like once 1 nut starts to get loose the ones next to it loosen up also, then soon you have a wheel that's loose.

Luckily if you're paying attention and don't have the radio cranked it's a very distinctive sound. Pull over, retighten, then you're good to go. I talked my wife through it last time over the phone, and this is a middle aged woman who has never changed a tire in her life.

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Camo138@reddit

I once had a tire shop just finger tight the bolts once. Somehow the tire stayed on.

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Rashaen@reddit

Torque gun? You mean an impact driver? Because it's fast and they don't care if your studs pop while you're going down the freeway, usually. Don't go to those tire shops.

Better yet, post this on r/askmechanics and watch the vitriol unleash.

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jesusrambo@reddit

Impact driver? You mean an impact wrench?

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bleeberbleeberbleeb@reddit

Impact wrench? You mean an impact hammer?

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jesusrambo@reddit

I do not

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Rashaen@reddit

You meant ugga dugga gun, right?

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Different_Fly2025@reddit (OP)

Crosspost it... I think I'm banned from askmechanics for posting - that you could use a water gallon for as emergency gas tank lol

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donnie-stingray@reddit

I personally love it when they use the torque gun and hit it 3 more times after it starts skipping and only THEN being out the torque wrench that goes POP on the first spin because the torque gun already tightened the nut twice as strong as needed..

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angrycanadianguy@reddit

Where are you going? Jiffy lube?

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DoubleResponsible276@reddit

Gotta make sure they go nowhere after inflating them to 50+ psi

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TrimaxionDrone_BR549@reddit

Yeah, it’s old tech for the days of air impacts only. With today’s li-ion cordless impacts, a quick zip gets pretty darn close to where you need to be, before following up with a final torque wrench click. My impact has a mid setting that consistently gets me in the ballpark of 100 ft lb.

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dwcanker@reddit

The better ones will at least use a torque stick

https://www.reddit.com/r/Tools/comments/8uv3pq/torque_sticks_how_they_work_and_do_they_work/

first post explains how they work

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