Check your nuts (and bolts)

[vikingaero]

Had new tyres fitted on Friday and I washed the car yesterday and noticed one nut missing and the locking wheel nut about 2 turns from falling off.

I watched the fitter tighten it up and used a torque wrench, and the invoice does state to check your nuts/bolts after 25 miles, which I didn't..... Luckily I had a spare nut from another car.

Went around checking all the other cars!

[Greza]

Personally I would keep an eye on this. I had a similar issue and it was down to the thread on the studs. Ended up changing my hub.

[Rangeroverer]

I think wheel nuts are over tightened, yes I know recommended torque but recently snapped the end off a 1/2 drive breaker bar trying to undo a nut. When I regularly had the wheels off my offroad RRC I tightened with a normal length ratchet, never had a loose nut even with the extra stresses of offroading. An average person should be able to undo a wheel nut with the brace supplied, no chance with how tight garages torque them up with air drivers.

[21TonyK]

Rangeroverer said:

An average person should be able to undo a wheel nut with the brace supplied, no chance with how tight garages torque them up with air drivers.

I sent my daughters polo back to the supplying vw dealer. I couldn't remove ANY of the wheel nuts with a torque wrench and a 3 foot extension. Long story but they had to give her a curtousey car for a couple of days whilst they replaced most of the bolts and sent it back correctly torqued.

[TwinKam]

Just because an ape can be shown how to use a torque wrench, does not mean that said torque wrench is being used correctly.

[Sheepshanks]

vikingaero said:

Had new tyres fitted on Friday and I washed the car yesterday and noticed one nut missing and the locking wheel nut about 2 turns from falling off.

I watched the fitter tighten it up and used a torque wrench, and the invoice does state to check your nuts/bolts after 25 miles, which I didn't..... Luckily I had a spare nut from another car.

Went around checking all the other cars!

I've always thought it odd that tyre places always note the retightening thing, and indie garages often do too - but I don't recall any franchise dealer that's ever noted it.

The daft thing is, to re-torque a nut or bolt you're supposed to loosen it and do it up again, not just tighten it a bit more.