Torque and rotors question.

[mjlyn]

I know that overtorquing the wheels will warp the rotors.

My questions is how qucikly does it warp and is it permanent.

In other words....if a tire shop over torques the wheel is the rotor shot instantly or will the damage be undone if I loosen and properly torque the nuts say a week or so later?

Just a hypothetical question.

[loystock]

A lot of mechanics/installers use impact wrenches. It's very handy but improperly used can create a lot of problems. On wheel installation, the studs could be stripped and if the lug nuts are over-torqued, the rotor (and hub) may get warped. If you;re lucky, turning the rotor may fix it. Otherwise, you have to replace the rotors and other components.

[khaug]

The wheel lug torque spec for the M35x is clearly called out in the owner's manual as 80 lb/ft

Dunno why anyone would want to deviate from this! Our tireshop asked me what spec for my car was, and used the 80 lb/ft I told them.

If your tire shop doesn't use a torque wrench, IMHO it's time to find a new one that does!

Regards,

-Karl

[mjlyn]

Thanks for the comments guys but neither of you answered the question that i asked.

The question is....does over torquing instantly damage the rotor or, since metal does flex some, would loosening the lugs and retorquing later....say a day or two reverse the damage.

Again...just a question that popped in to my head. Im not having any problem. No one has overtorqued my wheels. Just wondering.

[Double E]

I can. In my experience, they're done for if ever over torqued and then "hammered on" a bit.

After insrtallation of my slotted & dimpled rotors they were great... Evan after the seating procedure. Over the course of a week or so & after a few more "really hot" stops and mine were warped.

I'm certain they were not torqued to spec. On each front wheel, one lug was gorilla tight and the others were the same. I had not thought to check the lugs till months and months later and once warpage was obvious.

I wish there was a way to see what the torque was set at when tight as you also loosen a lug. (is there?)

I've had great performance from this brand/type of rotor on other cars and other Infinitis but either I got a poor set or I warped them some other way. It is possible I suppose. In any case, Teh warpage has gotten a LOT worse over the past few months.

Since I discovered the gorilla tight lugs, I re-did all 4 wheel lugs myself (need to get a torque wrench I guess) and the difference in the warped rotors seemed a little better to me but probably isn't. It's still pretty bad and it's more likely to be that I feel better about knowing what it probably was than the tightness of those lugs being more even.

What irks me is that I had the dealer put on those rotors and the wheels have not been off the car since by anyone else.

So actually, maybe it actually takes all lugs to be over tourqued to make warpage a possibility ...or just one, but one of mine was over done, no question, and my rotors are junk now and since adjusting it too.

Lesson learned: get new rotors & buy a torque wrench to check their work. I may go frozen this time. Maybe even figure out how to DIY.... who's got a write up on it?

[szh]

The wheel lug torque spec for the M35x is clearly called out in the owner's manual as 80 lb/ft

Dunno why anyone would want to deviate from this! Our tireshop asked me what spec for my car was, and used the 80 lb/ft I told them.

If your tire shop doesn't use a torque wrench, IMHO it's time to find a new one that does!

Yes!

You can also ask them nicely ahead of time. My local Goodyear place where I get tires balanced and rotated gets told when I get there "Hand tighten and torque only, please!", and they follow my requests. But I watch to make sure.

Z