Took the wife's 95 965 in to Discount Tire to get a slow leak in the LR tire fixed. Also took my 17 yr old son with me so he could go through the process of getting a flat fixed (for free, no less). I figured this was one of life's little lessons I should be showing him.

I've had a previous problem where one of the local Discount Tire stores had overtorqued my wheels when I had the tires rotated. I figured this out about a month later when the brake rotors warped. Nest time I went there (for a flat fix) I specified what to torque the wheels to (55 ft-lb).

Well, what with walking kid throug the process, I forgot to specify the torque value. I remembered this after me and the kid had walked away for a little "quality time" while the flat was getting fixed. Upon returning, and finding the job complete, I inquired as to what torque the wheel had been tightened to. Tech was located and the answer came back, 85 ft-lb. I nearly lost it!! I politely informed them that this was way too much and to give me the torque wrench.

Out to the car I went, tech in tow. Just to verfiy that my memory was right, I pulled the front dust cap to look at the torque value stamped on the front grease cap. There it was, plain as day, 55 ft-lb. Right below it, also plain as day, 85 NM. They had torqued my wheel to the metric value using an American wrench. That is the trap. Be specific on what you want and veify they get it right at the end. I avoided the warped brake rotor...this time.

Hey Mullah, send me pics!!
--
Blane Gardner Couple of Volvos, Couple of Toyota Vans, and an Old Chebby

They did the same thing to me today. I told them before they started to
hand torque them and that the torque value was in the owner's manual. He explained to me that the 90 ft.-lb. socket was the right one. I told him
he was wrong and he said that he would look it up. That was when I noticed
the answer on the grease cap like you said. I know I'm just a dumb consumer
but I'm glad I stayed after the all-knowing techs this time.
Don

Blane, don't worry about the 85 ft-lbs value so much as a difference in values between the lugs. I do mine at 63 - 72, depending on my mood, but mine were recently done to OVER 150 ft-lbs. Needless to say the rotors warped and I'm not gping back to that dump again. It's a certain nationally known brand chain in Gainesville Va.

I had to stand on my 1/2" breaker bar and jump up and down on it.
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Warren Bain - '86 744Ti M46 >282Kmi, '96 965 >97Kmi Wifemobile near Manassas Va

Blane:
I sent you the Mullah pics of his Al-Qaeded car. Grim.