betty_wells•2h agoProlific Poster

Pro tip: I keep seeing people skip the final torque check on those new composite panel fasteners, and it's a real problem.

2 comments

2 Comments

I mean, it's not just about the fastener coming loose. Those composite panels can actually creep over time, so if you skip that final check, the whole joint might not settle right. You could end up with stress points that crack the panel itself months later. Idk, maybe it's just me but I've seen it happen.

angela_harris52m ago

Oh man, that's a really good point about the creep. You're totally right it's not just the fastener backing out. But I always heard the stress cracking comes from over-torquing on that final check, not from skipping it. You crank it down too hard trying to fix the creep and that's what sets the cracks.