Technicians should tighten
each nut to the recommended
torque in a star pattern and
avoid applying force after the
wrench "clicks."
Torque wrenches should be
handled with care, periodically
calibrated, and stored at the
lowest setting so the tension
on the spring mechanism is not
compromised. Torque limited
extensions, or torque sticks,
are faster, easier and cheaper,
but they are not as consistent
and rely heavily on the impact
wrench, the compressed air
system and the technician. If
torque limited extensions are
used, then they must be regu-
larly checked against a cali-
brated torque wrench.
I also recommend docu-
menting torque checks so you
can prove there is a quality
Here is a good example
of a before (top) and
after (bottom) picture of
a wheel mating surface
after the foreign mate-
rial has been removed.
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