put down the gun!
December 27th, 2005If there’s one bit of advice everyone can benefit from it’s to avoid any place where you can hear the sound of air guns being used.
Why?
Because these guns often scratch alloy wheels and overtorque lug nuts, particularly in places that service more than one make or type of car (SUVs or large cars require far more torque than your average family sedan). Overtorquing can instantaneously warp brake rotors and cause damage to wheel bearings and hubs.
Lucky for shops it’s difficult to prove that your pulsing brakes or rumbling bearings were caused by their negligence so they stand to make more money when you come back complaining. The only way to protect yourself is to insist an air gun never be let within 5 feet of your car. If a technician isn’t willing to take an extra 60 seconds to use a torque wrench instead, they don’t deserve your business.
(It doesn’t hurt to find out your car’s lug torque specification and ask for it each time you hand over the keys).