Few questions...

How important is it to get a torquewrench to tighten up your nuts?

Also, the cars in the dealers today, and im going to ask them to put my shiny new McGard Nuts on.

Can I use these IN ADDITION to the VAG locking nuts, or should you only ever have one locking nut on per wheel?

Is it true that locking nuts shouldnt be put on as tightly, and if so, is having two looser nuts a bad thing?

Thanks Guys

Jono

the most important thing is tighten them to the correct torque (using a torque wrench), AFAIk u can torque lock nuts the same as regular, i dont see any probs with using two sets of lock nuts on the car either (apart from over kill )

dont over tighten though this can lead to other probs, as long as the fitters torque em to Skoda spec then it should be fine, juts dont forget to keep the keys with you when driving

IMHO loose nuts are always more comfortabe than tight nuts :shocked: :dtp:

............ and if you dont have a torquewrench?

IMHO loose nuts are always more comfortabe than tight nuts :shocked: :dtp:

Depends how cold it is outside' date=' eh?

When my lowering springs were fitted, my mate found that two of the wheels had quite loose wheelnuts, almost to the point of rattling out. :eek: - And they were fitted by ATS, a reputable tyre company IMHO.

Anyway, once the springs were done up, each nut was tightened to that standard measure of "standing on the wrench with one foot until it's tight" - He's a mechanic and knows his stuff, and was quite shocked to see the state of a couple of the "tightened" nuts.

As for locking nuts, I reckon they should be just as tight as the rest. I "believe" or "hope" that the designers of them, and the keys, allow for large pressures to be applied to the key when they're unlocking. - And as for my key, it is VERY well hidden in my car, almost to the point of it's got me thinking where the hell I put it. [i remember']

Few questions...

How important is it to get a torquewrench to tighten up your nuts?

Also' date=' the cars in the dealers today, and im going to ask them to put my shiny new McGard Nuts on.

Can I use these IN ADDITION to the VAG locking nuts, or should you only ever have one locking nut on per wheel?

Is it true that locking nuts shouldnt be put on as tightly, and if so, is having two looser nuts a bad thing?

Thanks Guys

Jono[/quote']

I remember reading about this in the manual - it says that the locking nuts should be tightened to the same torque as the others (can't remember figure), but to be especially carefull that you don't overdo it on the locking ones.

I remember reading about this in the manual - it says that the locking nuts should be tightened to the same torque as the others (can't remember figure), but to be especially carefull that you don't overdo it on the locking ones.

90 ft/lb or 120 Nm

Anyway' date=' once the springs were done up, each nut was tightened to that standard measure of "standing on the wrench with one foot until it's tight" - He's a mechanic and knows his stuff, and was quite shocked to see the state of a couple of the "tightened" nuts.

[/quote']

Hmm, that sounds a bit much (unless it's a short wrench).

IIRC the correct torque figure is 106NM, but I can't check right now because the handbook is in the car. I checked mine with a torque wrench after having a tyre repaired, and found it "felt" a lot less than I expected.

(BTW - the fitter at ATS actually tightened the bolts with a manual torque wrench, instead of one of those wretched pneumatic tools that are always set too high. He almost got the torque right, too!)

Yep - It was quite a short wrench - I reckon from the centre, the handles were only about 10" to a foot long. I was happy anyway - it didn't make any weird noises at least.

NB: Fitter at our ATS did not use a manual torque wrench at anytime - just the pneumatic noisy machine..."VVVVVVRATATATATAT!" (that's my name for it anyway)

There are different torque rated air guns, and quite often tyre dealers may have only 2 or 3 different rated guns for all the motors they deal with.

As for locking wheels nuts, I have both McGards and the VW supposedly secure locking nuts on each wheel, it just means to make sure both are in the wheel jack/tool wallet at all times.

I do all my wheel nuts up by hand, up to the specific torque of " one hand holding nut wrench onto nut, and other hand pulling wrench towrads me until body weight is reqd, then quarter turn to finish". My wheel nuts are never loose, come off without to much of a fight, and dont have their heads damaged by the process.

As for McGards, dont forget the package says to never tighten with an air gun, hand force only (and torque wrench....if you have one)

IIRC the correct torque figure is 106NM...

Jon's figure of 120Nm is correct - as one would expect of him!