1st Gen Lunchtable Thread - General Discussion

I use a torque wrench as well.

On my day off, there was a guy stranded on the side of the back road when I was heading home.

He didn't have a jack, his spare was empty, and his rear tire as blown out.

I let him use my jack, while I aired up his spare (I always have onboard air).

When I handed him his tire, I saw that he was missing a stud. I asked him if he knew he was missing one, he laughed and said he was also missing 2 on the front

Apparently they snapped off after having used an impact wrench on a few of them. The others he assume were left loose and well...they just gave way.

Doesn't hurt to torque down to spec, and check them all a second time to make sure they're tightened down.

 

Stuff like this makes me think we need safety inspections in CA....freakin people can't be trusted to have common sense lol

 

You'll definitely feel worse for stopping the exercise, I know I feel better when exercising regularly. Get back on it, man. You know you need to, like I know I need to

 

For damn sure, though I'd be that one guy that'd be pissed because I'm always looking over all my cars and taking care of everything.

For instance, just 2 weeks ago I changed my brake light bulb since it had burned out; always check your bulbs! Real quick/easy to do whenever you park up near a building with windows and look at your trucks reflection.

 

Yup I always look for mine to shine off the cars behind me or off a sign or something...especially since my 3rd brake light is covered by my tent. Can't afford to lose a taillight

 

Reminds me of a time I stopped to help an elderly couple. The jack they had was too tall, the spare was flat, the wrench wasnt quite the right size, and it was all in the trunk - buried under a pile of full oxygen tanks.

At least it had stopped raining.

 

CA doesn't have safety inspections?!

 

You are awesome, not everyone is. Bravo.

 

I always wondered if my hidden 3rd brake light would be an issue; plenty of LEO have been behind my truck and none have said anything.

 

Nope. There are laws about having working brake lights and stuff, and you'll get a fix it ticket for stuff if a cop sees it, but we don't have annual safety inspections like some states do. Just smog (bi annually)

 

I was really just looking for an excuse to use my air pump.

 

They can be worthless in some states, and way overkill in others (MA for example, filming the techs while doing the inspection is insane) NC is just looking for obd codes and if you have cats should your vehicle be new enough to need them. Theyll also fail for bald tires and bulbs too. But if you drive a nice, clean looking vehicle thats serviced often at the place of inspection, chances are it wont even go up on a lift.

 

Of all the states...

We have them in tx. Not sure if they would catch a broken lug stud. Definitely lights though.

 

Technically they can ticket you for it but like most little things they probably just can't be bothered unless something else makes them want to pull you over.

My roof LEDs have been uncovered for 2 years which is against the law but I haven't been popped for it yet. Gotta get some custom covers for them

 

Yeah I hear ya, years ago yeah I'd torque wrench lug nuts. I'm fine getting trashed for not, no biggie But what I've found most important for myself as well as helping or working at others places, most important is like Kwikvette said is just double check them. I do every single time. Annoys my pops but I know because I've worked with him and found loose ones! And how I learned the double check lesson on mine, like 15 years ago I had a wheel making noise on a ford Festiva I rebuilt. Anyway, I go into tire shop and tech starts laughing and shows me the loose lug nuts. They were just finger tightened. Ever since, I double check that they're tightened with a wrench period. It's usually untightened lugs that give people issues. Not 10 lbs over or under the lug nut spec. Usually.

 

The 1/2in drive is good for home use, but it’s just too bulky for what I personally do. I’d get the 3/8in drive for general use.

I have a big hefty 1/2 pneumatic impact at home with 1100 ft-lbs of torque so I went for the 3/8

 

G'dammit; 3/8" driver (non-impact) could be useful to add later on though for zipping through stuff when tightening/loosening.

I'll check out 1/2" after I get out of work today.

I don't plan on carrying tools every time I head out, but if I'm heading down territory I'm not familiar with, I'd rather be prepared.

Moab is a damn good example seeing as how we'll all be hours away from home.

 

You're a good dude, I'm sending good juju, or MOJO or whatever it's called, your way hermano

 

If you’re going for trail repair get a 1/2. The 3/8 just doesn’t have that kind of power for things like diff mounts or suspension work.

 

picked a worthwhile excuse then