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MG MGB Technical - Wheel nut torque

Had two fronts tyres replaced this week, and I noticed that the fitter used an air gun to do the nuts back up and only used a torque wrench to check that they weren't *under* torqued. Correct torque is 60 ft lb, I used my torque wrench to loosen a couple on the rears and they needed about 70 ft lb. One of the fronts got up to 100 ft lb before it started to move, very slowly, needing torque to keep it moving whereas they usually loosen quite quickly, another got up to 120 ft lb and then the torque wrench (bendy bar type) broke! I had to use a breaker bar on the rest, and they were very variable in how much force was required. This place also used a short lift to raise the car, the wheels straddle it then they put rubber blocks under the body to lift it, something else I didn't like and haven't seen anywhere else.
Paul Hunt 2010

Sounds like you might need some new wheel studs.

Can you name and shame so I don't go there myself?
Dave O'Neill 2

Unfortunately, most garages today use the same method. Some dial down their air guns from 4 to 2 to reduce the torque, but most don't even bother. This is why I don't let anyone else touch my car. When I need new tires, mounted on wire wheels, I wait while they are mounted. I even bring the wheels to them separate from the car. Modern times. RAY
rjm RAY

National Tyre and Autowreck, Hall Green, next to Car Spares. I only thought afterwards about taking just the wheels, I did that the other week (to Just Tyres) when I had the rear wires for the roadster balanced.

Don't go to Sh*t Fit on Lode Lane either, they damaged two newly refurbished alloys because their tyre fitting machine had lost the plastic jaw protectors. I did get £100 knocked off the cost of the new tyres in that case, which was the full cost of the refurb.
Paul Hunt 2010

AFAIK Just Tyres don't use air-ratchets.

Also, Kwikf**t on Lode Lane managed to set fire to a customer's car, which then went on to destroy the whole buiding. They were closed for about 18 months.
Dave O'Neill 2

Indeed they don't, and I have been using them out of preference for years. I stopped using Tyre Sales just down the road when finally giving in to an argument about a battery guarantee they gave me one with the posts the other way round. I noticed it immediately, but reckoned I had already pushed my luck as far as it was reasonable, so just fitted it the other way round in the compartment. Their parting comment was 'don't come back' so I haven't. For anything.
Paul Hunt 2010

Nothing like good customer service to keep people coming back to spend more of their hard earned money. What's wrong with these people? Do they have so much business that they can just ignore the people who have kept them in business till now? RAY
rjm RAY

Hi Paul
Interesting this - I use a rattle gun on wheel nuts all the time now , I have two set torque sockets, a 65 for 7/16 studs and a 90 for 1/2" The sockets are about 6" long and have a wasted shaft to control the tension. I've tested their acuracy against a tension wrench several times with the rattle gun at different settings and they are foolproof acurate. Sounds like your tyre service should be investing in a set of them. Willy
WilliamRevit

I'd check the pressures (which no doubt you did!) Many of these places put 30 psi in everything......
Michael Beswick

At least they did ask me that ... mind you, I haven't checked them!

Telling a pal this tale the other day he said his wife had a new exhaust fitted by Sh*tFit and when it came back it sounded like a tractor, they had snapped three manifold to head bolts.
Paul Hunt 2010

I hate these places. Fortunately we have a local guy who set up his own tyre and exhaust place, and he takes real care and never uses an air gun to tighten wheel nuts. His prices are also extremely competitive, but I would use him even if they weren't.
Mike Howlett

The AA have advised me that they are often done up to finger tight with an air-gun for speed, then finally tightened with a torque wrench. They suggest a call to trading standards, which is next if I don't hear back from the place in a couple of days. Like the average jockey can tell when they are finger-tight with an air-gun and stop it there! They were the correct pressure, amazingly.
Paul Hunt 2010

I had a tyre replaced on a rented car last year in the UK. I queried why they didn't use a rattle gun & was told that they broke too many wheel studs when they did use them. Barrie E
B Egerton

This thread was discussed between 09/05/2010 and 22/05/2010

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