Torque Check

What is a torque check, and why is it important?

Whenever the wheels have been off your vehicle our technicians reinstall them by tightening the lug nuts to the manufacturer recommended torque setting. Our technicians use a special tool called a torque wrench that allows them to properly measure this setting and ensures that your wheels are installed correctly.

A follow-up check is required because after time the lug nuts will undergo the typical stress and forces of a car in daily use. These stresses include supporting the weight of the vehicle, the rotational effects of driving, cycles of warming and cooling, and nudges from bumps in the road. Such stresses can cause a slight shift in the seating of the lug nuts, which may result in tightening or loosening.

The presence of dirt, sand, rust, or grit between surfaces such as the threads of the nut or between a nut and the wheel can also create “false torques” during the initial fitting, where the force applied overcomes the friction but doesn’t translate into clamping force.

For these reasons, we invite drivers to come back after about 100kms of driving to have their wheels retorqued. This quick procedure is offered free of charge and does not require an appointment. The retorque procedure takes about 10 minutes and involves inspecting each lug nut on the wheel to check if they are too tight or too loose.

If the lug nuts are too tight, they can cause severe problems such as stripping the fastener threads or stretching the wheel studs. They could also warp the brake drums, rotors, or hubs. In the event of a flat tire or roadside emergency, an overtightened lug nut can be difficult or impossible to remove with the standard hand tools in your vehicle. With loose nuts, meanwhile, there’s a small risk that the wheel could come off while you’re on the road. The chances of this ever happening are very low – but if it did happen, your safety and that of other road users would be at risk.

To have a torque check completed on your vehicle simply return to our service drive through during regular department hours and an advisor will happily have this completed for you. If you have any other questions or would like to speak to a member of our team regarding a torque check please contact us at (519) 824-3566.