I've never warped rotors from not using a tq wrench..I snug them down until they're firm, then I'll wrap'em down with the impact on about a medium to a 3/4 power setting.

Walmart uses sticks and a wrench, On most cars the stick gets with within 10 pounds or so when you click it. As long as they're not just ramming that thing or letting it sit and hammer I'm fine with them.

Using a torque wrech to go back and test how tight your lugs are is pretty pointless. In fact, your time with the torque wrench in hand would be better spent starting over and torqueing them yourself.

In cases where people are suffering from prematurely warped rotors, where inferior parts can be out ruled, I would say 90% of the time over tightening is the cause. Wether the installler realizes it or not.

I used to have an old tool catalog full or useful info such as: the average inexpensive torque wrench, when used infrequently, can become read as much as 30-40% off from actual within a year'* time- and they often arent worth having calibrated. If you want a torque wrench to rely on, spend the $ for a quality professional grade one. Also, using a deep well socket when not needed, and using even a short extention throws off the readings. If you are only using your unit for checking lug nuts, have it calibrated with the extention installed.

[quote="jr's3800"]Actually this is the procedure at chain stores due to the fact that the minimum-wage idiots working there are very prone to forgetting to reinstall all the lug nuts. The theory is that these ****-ups are eliminated by double checking.

Torque sticks are an interesting invention, and are becoming the industry standard. Its really up to the user to judge wether or not they really are accurate.

An expierenced mechanic is able to properly install lugs WITHOUT overtightening without anything more than their regular impact gun. They do it "by feel" if you will.

Anyone got a picture of a "stick"?

Only torquing device I know of is a torque wrench. The one I use on tires goes up to 150 ft. lbs.

I'd have to disagree with you, since virtually all of the nuts were significantly looser than spec and none were tightened to an equal clampling force. My torque wrench is a craftsman beam type with a floating pointer, and I'll bet a pair of new rotors it got my lugnuts more evenly tightened than they were before I began. I might be 5 pounds off, but I sure as heck ain't 20! or 60!!!! I'm not sure about your comment re torqueing them myself, but that is what I did, and why I brought the wrench. I merely noted the torque on each nut as the nut began to move during tightening. I did not expect the garage to be perfect, but I was amazed at how greatly the clamping force varied from bolt to bolt.

What bill said x 2.


An impact wrench should never come within 10 foot of an aluminum rim.
An impact wrench should never come within 10 foot of a removable rotor.

i never knew that uneven tightening could warp the rotors...i always use the factory wrench thingie that came with the jack, tighten my hand until its really hard and step on it just to be sure lol, i have the reallllly cheap rotors and pads on mine (autozone valucraft rotors and pads) and they have yet to warp on me, smooth effective braking. guess my foot torques things to spec huh lol

Optimus.. please spend more time getting your quotes right. Jr's3800 said this.

And if you think a mechanic can get them to the correct torque by feel you are mislead. I know many mechanics. They can get reasonable with an impact, there are too many factors though. Air pressure for example. A good mechanic will torque stick or torque wrench.

read again

<shrug> hey its not like I spent years working as a mechanic, or learned tricks of the trade from 30+ year veterans right?