The shop that does my oil changes/tire rotations recently started printing on the receipt "wheels must be re-torqued after 24 hours/25 miles." Never used to do this - is it really necessary, or is it just CYA liability stuff for them?
Mercifully, most tire shops seem to be getting out of the practice of putting lug nuts on with high powered air guns. If the lug nuts are installed properly the first time, then yes, they should be retorqued.
bs
its the temperature changes that occur when driving from the brakes etc. Causes the expansion/contraction of dissimilar metals. Most new wheels are made from aluminum mounted to a steel rotor. It is a good recommendation to re-torque them after driving it for a day. They can loosen up.
The older cars with steel wheels didnt really have this problem.
.....BTW you should NEVER put anything on the threads of your wheels studs. This includes anti seize.
Torque specs are calculated without it. Putting any additional lubricant on the studs can change the torque characteristics of the nut and stud. While this may not sound like a big deal, overtorquing can damage the studs and cause failure.
Lubricants can also lead to the nuts coming loose.
They either need to replace all of the nuts, the studs or both. I would recommend doing both.
Torque specs are calculated without it. Putting any additional lubricant on the studs can change the torque characteristics of the nut and stud. While this may not sound like a big deal, overtorquing can damage the studs and cause failure.
Lubricants can also lead to the nuts coming loose.
Every shop manual I have ever read recommends to NOT add additional lubricant. It shouldn't be necesarry anyway if they are torqued correctly.
If people are having problems with their lug nuts coming loose after torquing them to the proper spec. They either need to replace all of the nuts, the studs or both. I would recommend doing both.