[Shop-talk] Impact seems...weak

[David Scheidt]

On Fri, Feb 28, 2025 at 9:40 AM <eric at megageek.com> wrote:
hen using an impact?  Also, does it feel like the gun is 'bucking' or
just 'whimpering' when it is trying?
>
> Next, I've seen shops put tires one CRAZY tight!  My guess is that "there is NO penalty if the nut is too tight, but if it is too loose and comes off, that could be a major lawsuit."  So they "air" on the side of caution.  (bad pun)
>

this is probably the thinking of gorillas that put lug nuts on with an
impact wrench, but overtight lugs cause problems, too, and not just
for the poor guy trying to change a wheel on the side of the road.
Studs can break outright, but more often they yield, and then the
wheel isn't clamped tightly to the hub, which can cause vibration,
tire wear, wallowing of holes on the wheel, and worst case, the wheel
falling off.

lug nuts get tight from corrosion, too, though, so it's not always
installation that's the problem.  I've had horrible problems getting
lug nuts off that I know were put on with proper torque, if they've
had a couple years of a high salt diet.

-- 
David Scheidt
dmscheidt at gmail.com