I keep seeing techs skip the final torque step on aluminum wheels

At my shop in Springfield, we get a lot of cars from the quick-lube place down the road. I'd say seven out of ten have their aluminum lug nuts just zipped on with an impact. I know it's faster, but that final hand torque with a calibrated wrench matters. I've seen two cars this month with warped rotors from uneven clamping force. How do you guys handle this when the service writer is pushing for a faster turnaround?

2 comments

2 Comments

oliver_lopez28d ago

Warped rotors are a classic sign, but the real scary one is a wheel coming loose on the highway. I explain that to the service writer, a five minute torque check is way cheaper than a lawsuit. Sometimes you just have to slow down and do it right, even if management grumbles.

scott.anthony28d ago

Warped rotors usually aren't warped. It's almost always uneven pad material transfer or a stuck caliper. The shake feels the same though. A proper torque check is still non-negotiable.