Re-Torque Your Car's Lug Nuts So You Can Remove Them When You Get A Flat
Originally recorded September 14, 2022.
Whenever a wheel has to come off your car, whether you have a flat, need new tires, brakes, suspension work, most times, the mechanic will install the wheel with his air impact wrench. Those impact wrenches are often set to the highest setting, and you've heard them, hammering away on your lug nuts. They do this to avoid any potential liability of your wheel falling off. However, those lug nuts are WAY too tight! If you've ever been stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire, that little tire iron they give you with the car isn't going to cut it. You can use a cheater pipe, you can jump on it, but it's got to come off if you're going to change that tire.
Instead, take the time NOW to re-torque your wheel lug nuts to specification. You can find the specification in your owner's manual or even online with a quick search. Ensuring that the wheel's lug nuts are torqued to specification guarantees no damage to the wheel studs (where the lug nuts screw on to), and that you'll be able to remove those lug nuts in the event you need to change it out.
You can do this with a torque wrench. They are inexpensive (mine was under $25) and more than accurate enough for this application. Also useful for many other stuck bolts since the handle is long. Once your lug nuts are tightened to specification, you can be assured that if all you have is that tire iron that comes with the car, you'll be able to get the wheel off and change it out so you can be back on the road. I have always done this any time any of my cars have required service, and I can rest assured that in the event of a flat tire, I won't be stuck. It's a small amount of money for the peace of mind, and well worth the time and effort. Best of all, it's SATISFYING when the torque wrench clicks to let you know proper torque has been reached.
This is the torque wrench I used:
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...
These are the sockets I used:
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-d...