Tire guys and lug nuts

Cosmo · July 05, 2014, 06:39:01 AM

I had a couple of guys (tire service) come by the house as I was switching out some bad tires for some new ones. What gets me is they use this huge air ratchet to take off and put on lug nuts. No torque wrench and the biggest I have goes to 250 lb. Anyway in the process of putting on one lug nuts on the right front, they pulled the threads on the lug. Its like WTF! and I paid $133 for this service. But who you going to get to do it in your driveway? Kind a have you by the short hairs. It just sucks, there I'm done. Does anyone torque their lug nuts down to 450 - 500 ft ibs. and if you do, how do you get into the rear wheel lug nuts? Thanks

sparkplug188 · July 05, 2014, 06:51:48 AM

Hand start the nuts, then snug them with a 200 ft lbs impact wrench. Use a 3/4" drive torque wrench with a 12"-3/4" extension and socket to tighten them to spec.

Amazon - CDI 6004MFRPH Torque 3/4-Inch Drive Micro-Adjustable Torque Wrench

I found mine at Re-Tool. Used for $150.

Cosmo · July 05, 2014, 07:17:54 AM

What I paid those monkeys, I'm half way there to the cost of that tool and doing it myself I know its done right! Thanks

06 Bill · July 05, 2014, 07:30:34 AM

The average car shop is just as bad. They slam the lug nuts home with an impact and allow it to hammer
a few times. Then comes the torque wrench set at 70 lets say, the handle clicks and all is well , except
that the torque could be at 200 or whatever already. You question them and they look at you as though
you are mentally challenged. 06 Bill

bevans6 · July 05, 2014, 07:41:49 AM

With the 12" extension for the rear nuts it helps a lot to have a support stand. I use my big truck jack if I have it nearby, but I need to figure out a transportable stand. Maybe a tall axle stand or something, it needs to adjust for the height of the nut. But yes, I use a torque wrench to put the nuts on. I will often use an impact to take them off if I am near my big compressor, and to spin the nuts on semi tight. Don't forget that the torque wrench needs to click both ways if you have left hand thread nuts on the driver's side of the bus, like my MCI.

Brian

Cary and Don · July 05, 2014, 07:59:58 AM

Now, try and get those things off again. We invested in a torque multiplier for taking them off. Under $300. One of the best things we bought. We got the drive tires off easy even though a six foot bar wouldn't brake them loose. No effort at all. Just turn the handle. Those mobile guys have you at their mercy.

Don and Cary

gumpy · July 05, 2014, 09:30:04 AM

Well, I grew up with a 1" impact wrench and I have a 1" impact wrench that I use on my bus. I don't own a torque wrench that big.
I've done hundreds of tires and have never stripped the threads or broken a stud. If you know what you're doing,
there's nothing wrong with using an impact wrench.

Oh, and I also put oil on my stud threads.

Ok, flame away! I've got my asbestos underwear on!

luvrbus · July 05, 2014, 09:49:04 AM

I use a impact but don't use the oil I am a never seez guy

Cosmo · July 05, 2014, 12:15:43 PM

I'm buying myself a big boy torque wrench. I'll torque to 250 with my 1/2 drive then go for it from there and follow the manual torque pattern. They are going to look at me funny when I tell them I'm going to put them on, but shouldn't need their service for some time, knock on wood! Plus I have brand new to excellent rubber under the ol'girl now. Breaking those lugs the first time I started into those wheels and tires, I swear two of those lug nuts were sent from hell. A John Deere 3/4 drive breaking bar and 8' cheater bar from an understanding neighbor was all it took to turn them into butter. Doing your own wheels is a work out! I just know one day I will get to enjoy all my hard work. When that day comes, l know we should be able to push it down the highway and not to have any worries. Built a few Harleys and I know that feeling of cracking that whip making it roll. Bus a whole other world!

gus · July 05, 2014, 03:38:53 PM

I carry a 1/2" drive air wrench with a max of 550 lb-ft torque.

When the tire jockeys get ready to tighten my lug nuts I give them this to use. They think I'm nuts but I replaced the rear studs on my 4104 once and won't ever do it again!

I also have a manual torque multiplier that will remove any nut. It is 60:1 multiplication.

Dave5Cs · July 05, 2014, 03:54:44 PM

Tell the shop or anybody that works on your coach that you want them to re-install the wheels and hand torque them to 450, 550 or whatever yours are. If they say no, go to another shop until you find one that will. Les-schab is the worst for breaking lugs or at least stretching them.

Lin · July 05, 2014, 05:41:53 PM

If needed, I use a torque multiplier to get them off, spin them on with an electric impact wrench to 200 to 250, and use my body weight (about 140 #) hanging on a 3ft+ cheating bar to finish them up. 3.5 X 140= 490#. Seems close enough.

Dave5Cs · July 05, 2014, 08:18:11 PM

Lin that's scarey I would only have to use a 1.8 foot cheater then. some advantages to ice creme, lol

Dave

oldmansax · July 06, 2014, 04:11:53 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on July 05, 2014, 09:49:04 AM
I use a impact but don't use the oil I am a never seez guy

Me too! Used a 1/2" impact all my life. Never had a problem.

TOM

Flight102C3 · July 06, 2014, 07:00:01 AM

Good morning!! I'm lucky enough Ito have a 3/4 torque wrench for my lug nuts. But then I put on wheel checks. They all point in same direction. If 1 nut comes loose it easy to see. Other +s also. Look up ( Tectran go to wheel checks ) . Not very attractive , after a few 100 mi I might take off and reuse again. Have a nice day!