How dependant are our brakes on wheel torque?

[supreme_style21]

Few months ago, I threw on new pads and rotors all around. All was well.

Last week, I took my car to a nationwide tire shop for new tires. About a day goes by and, everytime I brake, some god-awful 'crunching/scraping' noise is emmited from somewhere. It got progressively worse until today, when I had time to look at it. First of all, my torque wrench goes up to 180 lbs. The wheels were torqued well beyond 180 lbs. After I got the fuckin wheels off, the pads, all around, were glazed and scored nicely. I put, again, new pads and rotors on all fours, PROPERLY torqued the wheels, and all is well again. Is it just a fluke? Or did the 8,000 pounds of torque on the wheels fuck everything up?

[1990lumina]

Over torquing the wheels isn't good for the brakes...and yes on some cars can damage the rotors I believe. Looks like that's what happened to you.

 

That shop probably used an impact to torque them....the shop will tell you that it won't over torque, but obviusly did

[DiscoStudd]

Agreed. When you take your car in somewhere to have work done, make sure you insist on them installing the lugnuts the old fashioned way...

[pwmin]

i use a torque stick sometimes, but its def better to hand-torque and def no impact without a torque stick.

[J]

i'd pitch a bitch at the shop, and take them the pads and rotors and the reciept showing they had your wheels off.

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

I've been using good ol' tire iron since I've been able to work on my car- no warped rotors on my 88 or 95 in the last 6 years or so...

[GutlessSupreme]

PAST 180 ft/lbs? I'm surprised they didn't start stripping the wheel studs... they're only supposed to be at 100.