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My dad always told me to use a torque wrench on every single lug nut, but after 15 years in the shop I think he was wrong.
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leep891mo ago
Your dad's not wrong in a perfect world, but in a busy shop you learn pretty quick where you can save time. Torque sticks are reliable enough for most lugs if you keep them calibrated, but I still grab the wrench for anything with aluminum rims or a torque spec under 80 ft-lbs. Seen too many stripped threads from guys running impacts too hard on those lightweight Japanese cars. Your old man gave you a solid baseline, but real world experience teaches you which shortcuts actually hold up.
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harperschmidt2mo ago
My old shop teacher said the same thing, but a master tech I worked with changed my mind. He showed me how over-torquing with a wrench on every job can actually stretch studs over time. For daily stuff like tire rotations, a good impact with a torque stick gets you close enough, then you just finish with the wrench. It saves a ton of time without cutting corners. The key is knowing when precision is critical, like on aluminum wheels or suspension components. Your dad's advice comes from a good place, but experience teaches you the exceptions.
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