Removing and installing the wheels will be one of the most common routine maintenance tasks you perform on your car. Aside from fixing a flat tyre, you can undertake a series of minor and major tasks that start and end with removing and installing the wheels. Tightening wheel lug nuts or locks seems like one of the easiest things you will ever do to your car. But as with most car components, there are intricacies and things you need to be aware of to avoid damaging your car.
Whether your car has lug nuts or bolts, fasteners must be properly maintained to prevent failure. You should ensure that they are not intertwined or stripped. Wheel fasteners are often damaged in tire shops, where inexperienced technicians are paid to move as many cars in as little time as possible. They can often damage the threads or overtighten the lugs with powerful impact wrenches in their haste. In fact, it happens so often that it’s a good idea to get the wheel lug nuts tightened by a professional when buying new tires. This could save you from getting stuck with a flat that you can’t remove because the lug nuts are too tight.
Have your wheels checked at every routine maintenance appointment, and ask the mechanic to double-check that the proper torque levels are being maintained. You must ensure that the correct process for tightening the wheel lug nuts has been followed for your vehicle because there is a risk of wheels coming off or damage to the wheels or their attachment studs.
What is the Sign that the Wheel Lug Nuts Need to be Tightened?
The wheels make a clunking or rattling sound.
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How does our Mechanic Tighten the Wheel Lug Nuts?
- On jack stands, the vehicle is elevated and supported.
- The wheels are put on, and the lug nuts are tightened just enough to keep the wheel in place.
- The car is lowered off the jack supports until the wheel just touches the ground, and the lug nuts are torqued in a star pattern to specifications.
- The car is totally lowered to the ground.
Final Words
Even if you don’t remove the wheels, it’s a good idea to check the lug nuts on a regular basis. If you don’t have a good torque wrench, contact a professional mechanic from Swezo to tighten your lug nuts for you.
