1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186 
Too much torque causes wheel loss
Page 28
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
JOHN DICKSON-SIMPSON writes that research in 1988, refined in 1996, advised that wheelnuts should be tightened to 720-800Nm to avoid wheel loss.
We've recently had two incidents of wheel loss on Mercedes 15-tonne Ategos, which Mercedes advises was due to the over-tightening of wheelnuts by our tyre fitters.
Steven Gerrard, regional service manager at Mercedes, advised that over-torquing will cause stretching of the wheel studs.The recommended torque for the Atego is 300Nm.
I'm surprised that, as this can lead to a life-threatening situation, there is no code of practice between manufacturers. tyre fitting companies and operators to ensure that correct torques are known and adhered to at all times.
As a minimum standard.! would suggest that manufacturers should provide a plate on the vehicle stating correct torque.
Alan Everett bye-mail