Third Major Blue Ox Casualty

Francesca Knowles wrote:
Most common cause of nuts falling off is improper torque, which can only be assured by use of a torque wrench. Too many so-called mechanics won't use torque wrenches because they're "so experienced they can tell when it's right".

R-i-i-i-g-h-t. :R

The evil twin of low torque is overtorque. Same cause- no TW used. The effects of overtorque can include damage to the surface the nut/bolt is applied to. The "tearing" of the steel described in one of the events could well have been caused this way.

Generally speaking, I agree! I've seen way to many tire jocks say that they can torque the nuts on a wheel without a torque wrench, that they can tell the torque with the feel of the air wrench. Yep, sure 450 foot pounds and they can tell.