Master tech's 2-word critique of my torque wrench habits

Last month at the hangar in Boise, a 30-year lead mechanic watched me torque a wheel hub and just said "lipstick, not bearings." I'd been greasing the threads but never cleaning the fastener or checking for stretch marks. He showed me two hubs that looked fine but had hairline corrosion under the nut face. Now I spend 5 extra minutes per job scrubbing and inspecting before torquing. Anyone else have a vet call out a shortcut you didn't know you were taking?

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christopherwilson7d ago

Man, that corrosion hiding under the nut face is exactly the stuff you never catch unless someone makes you slow down and actually look. Take it a step further and keep a cheap flashlight and a wire brush right in the torque drawer so there's zero excuse to skip the scrub.

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