Back in '08 I'd eyeball filler thickness, but after a 2012 Ford Focus came back with a crack six months later, I bought a gauge and never looked back.

Anyone else have a similar 'learned the hard way' story about a specific step you used to shortcut?

3 comments

3 Comments

oliver71922d ago

Man, that hits home. I used to skip the torque wrench on lug nuts, just "good and tight" with the impact. Had a wheel come loose on my own truck going down a gravel road, scared me half to death. Bought a good torque wrench the next day and now I check EVERY single one, no exceptions. That noise is something you don't forget.

lunab9722d ago

My uncle's been a mechanic for 30 years and he just goes by feel, never had a wheel come off. Says a torque wrench is for people who don't know what tight is.

ericreed2d ago

Good and tight" almost cost me a wheel too, never again.