Rant: Guy at the parts counter tried to tell me I didn't need a torque wrench

I was at NAPA in Phoenix last Tuesday picking up brake pads for a 2012 F-150. This older mechanic, maybe 60 years old, starts lecturing me about how torque wrenches are a waste of time on lug nuts. He said he's been doing it by feel for 40 years and never had a problem. I just nodded but inside I was fuming. Next day I see a wheel come off a semi on the highway, and I always wonder if it was some guy like him. Has anyone else had a parts counter know-it-all give you terrible advice?

2 comments

2 Comments

charles_coleman14d ago

Whoa hold up, I gotta disagree with you here. That old timer probably knows his stuff way better than some random internet guy. Torque wrenches are fine for critical stuff like engine internals or suspension bolts, but lug nuts on a pickup? You can get close enough with a regular wrench and a good feel after a few years. I've been wrenching on my own cars for like 15 years and never used a torque wrench on lug nuts, never had one come loose. The real problem is people who cross-thread them or don't tighten them enough, not some mythical "by feel" issue. And that semi wheel you saw? Almost certainly a broken stud or someone forgot to torque them at all, not a guy using his arm strength. Just my two cents.

barbara_taylor8314d ago

Honestly, you make a good point about the semi wheel. I used to think you absolutely had to torque everything to spec, like I was scared of going by feel. But after reading your post about 15 years of wrenching and never having a lug nut come loose, I'm starting to think I might be overthinking it for basic stuff. That bit about cross-threading being the real problem hit home because I've definitely seen more damage from that than from someone being a couple ft-lbs off.