i know they do with spark plugs, they just nip them up... and im no expert but id pesune it depended on what it was for

if they do have the torque settings, they will probably be on a computer or in a big calologue

Autodata or something similar, just look up the car and gives you all the settings and loads of info on stuff! pretty neat kit tbh

Autodata supply huge manuals that give almost every cars details in one book.

I've never had a wheel fall off after 'guessing' - and I've had the wheels on and off plenty of cars.

A lot has surely to do with experience of tightening bolts, knowing how much is too little and how much it too much.

The majority of main deallers manuals are oll on-line now, although as allready stated Autodata has info on almost all makes and models. Now on cd so you don't need huge thick books

I've always found tightening it as much as I can without actually really tugging at it or using my foot on the wrench is about right. Never had a bolt work loose or on so tight I couldn't get it undone later. I check the bolts every now and then along with oil level, tyre wear and condition and a squint underneath to check for any damage.

depends what job you are doing, normally experience is enough for most jobs, only things like head bolts you need to be be exact an use book.

wheel bolts should never be done up with air gun

mikejt said:

i know they do with spark plugs, they just nip them up...

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The rule of thumb when tightening NEW spark plugs without a torque wrench is to tighten them up finger tight, then use a standard wrench to turn by 90 degrees. I've done that on all my cars/ bikes since 1986 and never had any problems.

Funny, and very relevant example of guess work:

While at The Ring last year in a friends Mk4 golf a fellow ringer, who was in our convoy (and part of the (excuse me) VW group i was with) took the **** out of Tim (who's car i was in) after he watched him check the tightness of his wheel nuts by standing on his 12" (est) long brace/socket bar, and performing a much rehearsed little bounce test...

That very same afternoon said 'finger pointed' lost a wheel at 50mph on the main road on the way back to the hotel after changing wheels the day before, and not getting it right. Ironic or what!

Tom

I can tell you for certain that they guess torque settings. I have always done my plugs myself after finding them a very floppy finger tight after a "Fiat Specialist" did them on the first due change you could see where combustion gasses had been blowing past the seal, ugh! As for wheel nuts, over tightening can cause as a big a problem as too loose, you can cause cracks in the metal around the bolt hole and the wheel parts company except for a sliver that remains under the bolts.

Tighten till the bolt snaps, then back it off half a turn.

Seriously, most wheel bolts are very similar, allowing for the difference between alloy and steel.

In our workshop we have two torque wrenches which are set each morning to the two settings and marked.

Cheers

SPD

Renegade_8 said:

I can tell you for certain that they guess torque settings.

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Surely this is your experiance from 1 garage? doesn't mean everwhere is the same!

In the garage i went to for a week for work experience (A land rover dealer) they just used an airgun until it got pretty tight at a reasonably slow speed.

experience often counts for a lot so does 'feel' (spark plug gets tight then you turn some more as you feel the washer sealing') but for alot of stuff a torque wrench is used especially wheels.......better than customer complaining they couldn't get wheel off if they get a flat tyre!