wheel nuts

[daviemck2006]

Why do so called proffesonial mechanics do up wheel nuts with air guns. Had a puncture on the back of the van, the tyres look quite recent, and it took a breaker bar and a five foot long pipe to get them off! It's a wonder they did not stripp the threads. Other rear was the same, fronts were not so bad, they came off with breaker bar only.

[myglaren]

They do seem to tighten up with use too.
I generally loosen the re-tighten after leaving the tyre fitters.

[Northern_Mike]

Why do so called proffesonial mechanics do up wheel nuts with air guns.

I generally find there is a world of difference between a professional mechanic and a tyre monkey..

The tyre place I use seem to undo with a rattly gun, but spin the nuts on with a wheelbrace and then use a torque wrench.

[daviemck2006]

I normally slacken nuts then torque then but I just bought van at an auction so no idea really who or when done

[rory_perrett]

May be it is just where I go but most tyre places seem to use a torque wrench theses days, in my youth (30 years ago) they all seem to use air guns.

[daviemck2006]

When I got two tyres on to the vts recently I was standing watching the guy putting wheels on. I asked him what torque he tightens the nuts to. He had to go find his torque wrench so probably does not always use it. Tyre monkeys right enough.

[Mandrake]

Why do so called proffesonial mechanics do up wheel nuts with air guns.

The answer should be obvious. Its quicker and easier than doing the job properly, allowing them to charge the same but squeeze more jobs in per day...to heck with doing something right

[citronut]

May be it is just where I go but most tyre places seem to use a torque wrench theses days, in my youth (30 years ago) they all seem to use air guns.

its one thing waving/clicking off the torque wrench at an already over tight wheel bolt/nut, which has been spun up with an hammer gun,
as i have seen done most of the time at tyre shops and garages,

they are allowed to spin the nuts up with the hammer gun, but then they are meant to back each one off before torquing them up