By jason mack on Friday, August 03, 2001 - 02:15 pm: Edit

Well I bent the shit out of my factory lug wrench trying to get the nuts off the front of my 98. I am wondering if those chrome lug nut cover things will stand up to an impact wrench?

By Mike B. on Friday, August 03, 2001 - 02:27 pm: Edit

Yes, you can use an impact wrench; but only to remove them. And, even then, you have to be really careful. I'd recommend agains using an impact wrench to put them back on as it is very easy to over-tighten the lug nuts.

I use a 18" Craftsman breaker bar and socket. My tires go on and off pretty easily. And, if I ever break the bar, Sears replaces if for free. Is this a great country or what?

Thanks,
Mike B.

By Ed H on Saturday, August 04, 2001 - 05:07 am: Edit

Just go to Walmart and buy a new one. It is cheaper and much easier than a breaker bar or the factory wrench. It is a bit bigger but works.

By LR Max on Saturday, August 04, 2001 - 09:27 am: Edit

The boys that work on our Disco use impact wrenches. Now the factory lug nut wrench doesn't fit the lug nuts anymore. I had to go to Lowes and get a 28mm socket and a tommy bar (hmmm, I had twenty of those things laying around here SOMEWHERE!!??). Now that is the only way I can get my tires off. And thank god I had them, becuase one went flat yesterday.

By tomorover on Sunday, August 05, 2001 - 04:33 pm: Edit

Good rule of thumb is to put your wheels on with whatever wrench, etc. you will have in the truck when you get a flat. How many of you carry an impact wrench on the trail?

By Mike B. on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 03:06 pm: Edit

Me!

Thanks,
Mike B.

By Chris Browne on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 03:17 pm: Edit

I carry an 18 inch Sears bar with angled head adn a short extension with me (use only 6 point lug) to undo whether at home or on the road. Its also used to spin on to hand tight, but a torque wrench does the final twist You're not the only guy out there with a pretzeled tool....

By Alex Schubow (Alex) on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 04:39 pm: Edit

Pretzeled tool? Man, sorry about that. I hear plastic surgery can make your tool good as new these days.

Alex

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 04:43 pm: Edit

LOL!

Anyway, don't knock the impact wrench that much. I have an impact wrench I use that isn't very strong. I can torque all the nuts down and it leaves me with about a half turn on each with the lug wrench. Very speedy for swapping rims/tires. I have the steel lugs, but I don't think it makes much difference, does it?

Tom

By Alex Schubow (Alex) on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 04:47 pm: Edit

Nah... As long as you're not an asshole about it you should be ok. Just don't tighten them up with the 1" drive IR 1200lb/ft monster

If my garage had more than 5 amp service you bet yer balls I'd have an air compressor, and I wouldn't be afraid to use it!

OTOH I won't let the tire monkeys at the tire shop use an impact wrench on my truck AT ALL, ever since some idiot put a 1-1/8" socket and rounded all the lugnuts. Sears bought me a new set of lugnuts at $17 each and fired the asshole. He may now be working at a tire store near you, so look out.l

Alex