Took me 5 years to figure out I was over-torquing lug nuts by hand

I always thought I had a good feel for tightening lug nuts with a breaker bar. Then last month I borrowed a torque wrench from a buddy to double check my work after a brake job. Every single lug nut was between 110 and 130 ft-lbs on a car that calls for 80. No wonder I had that weird brake pulsation for years. Anybody else get humbled by a torque wrench for the first time?

2 comments

2 Comments

michaela161mo ago

It's funny how we all think we've got this stuff figured out until something proves us wrong. Kind of like how I used to guess at cooking temperatures until I got a meat thermometer and realized I was overcooking chicken by like 20 degrees for years.

michael8951mo ago

Man I felt this one. I did the exact same thing on my old Tacoma, thought I was a pro with the wrench. First time I borrowed a torque wrench I found out I had all four wheels at like 130 when the spec was 95. Warped a rotor real bad from overtightening and had to replace it. It is humbling but now I never guess anymore. Live and learn I guess.