brokenRED7

The front wheels on my car crack cause the car sat throughout winter, so I have to put new tires on the car. My prob. is the lug nuts are tightened so much i can't get them off by hand, and i don't have an impact gun. Does anyone got any guesses to get them off? i can't drive it anywhere cause the tires are flat, but i can't put spares to drive it anywhere, i'm really stuck here

Go48

iTrader: (7)

Get a long breaker bar, like 16" long, and a 6-point socket for the lug nuts. Then stand on the breaker bar and the nuts should break loose. Otherwise, have it towed to a shop on a rollback.

7fold

dude, its not that hard... a gun has less power then what you can do by hand anyway...

just get a big ratchet, and a long bar to stick over the end of it... then use your wieght to break it loose... or hammer works too.

MidnightOwl

Get this:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/.../040210077.jpg

Eple

Breaker bar + Mechanical advantage > Impact gun.

Go at it woth more strenght, you'll kill the socket before the lug nut.

Valkyrie

Nothing beats an impact wrench. You can get just about anything off without damaging it, because an impact wrench won't break off lugs or strip threads like man-handling a breaker bar with all your might can.

RB_eater

iTrader: (1)

Then your impact gun isn't powerful enough.

Valkyrie

No.

RB_eater

iTrader: (1)

I've broken dozen of studs and stripped countless nuts using my impact gun.

Valkyrie

Then you're doing something wrong.

Either way, you're still much more likely to damage something with a breaker bar than an impact gun.

RB_eater

iTrader: (1)

I don't believe I did anything wrong, I just used to work on crappy cars. If that lug nut is seized well enough the impact has more than enough power to do damage.

fcforlife

iTrader: (9)

an impact gun doesn't care what its moving of course an impact can do more damage . you can do the same amount the only difference is u can feel it before you break the nut or bolt. with an impact you don't know until it becomes fubar. just get a breaker bar you will be surprised at how easy it seams to be with a 16" bar or a 24" bar like mine. if its been sitting all winter some pb blaster wouldn't hurt either before you attempt it.

unW7WZ

Not true. You will twist the stud off before you break a socket. I have had to do this countless times.

As said above, get a socket and wrench, preferably something longer. Find a bar of sufficient thickness (possibly 1.25" steel pipe 1/4" or 1/8" thick) and of sufficient length (18-24" should do). Angle the bar on the lug such that you can put your body weight on it and viola.

Edit" lol, i always use the impact rated sockets, so that may be why :P.

Also, as far as impact guns go, 250 ft lb guns suck.

Boosted11

iTrader: (11)

You could get a torque wrench, make sure it can go in both directions and not just tighten.

fcforlife

iTrader: (9)

get a torque wrench you my friend are an idiot this is a terrible idea. torque wrenches are only ment to tighten a nut or bolt to a specified torque the only reason that you can change direction is becuase of the fact that there are some left hand threaded nuts and bolts out there. using a torque wrench to take off lug nuts would only show you how much force you need to take them off. you would most likely knock the torque wrench out of calibration and you have still failed at getting the lug nuts off. then you just ruined a torque wrench. you fail for sure

Secondmessiah

this used to happen to me with my old saab, get a long-*** pipe, like a few feet if necessary, slip it over the socket handle then just stand on it

if that doesnt work: jump on it

the worst that can happen is you will break it (although i really doubt that)

7fold

^GTFO



ok dude, I worked at les schwab tire center for a long *** time... i think i would know how to take off a tire... seriously, if you dont know, dont give people false information.

Apathy

Just use some antiseize spray (let it sit for a while to penetrate) and then a 4 way lug tool... The lug will either come off or break the stud... Either way, the tire is off and the studs are only like $2 a piece at discount...

InGroundEffect

I am in agreement with using a cheater bar. It is quite possible that you will snap a stud if they are seized.

Also, you should never, ever, ever use an impact gun to torque you lug nuts. Especially with alloy wheels. You will not get even torque. You will almost definately over torque. Both of those scenarios will cause bent wheels, snapped studs, vibration etc. I will set my impact gun to the lowest setting and use it to put the nuts on and settle the wheel ~20ft/lbs. Then use a Torque wrench to tighten the nuts to the specified torque. Or use my electric impact that will not go above 75ft/lbs when on a full battery.

It also helps if you know how to use a torque wrench. I have seen many a tire tech use them incorrectly. I had one guy use the impact gun to put the lug nuts on. He then set his torque wrench to 90ft/lbs and torqued the nuts. They all popped. He said they are at 90. I said no, they are at least to 90 but most certainly not 90. Watched another guy put his full weight into the wrench when tightening. Most certainly went past the torque spec. Had a dealer insist that their guns would not tighten beyond factory spec because they used Torque Stics to put lugs back on . When I got home I checked with my wrench and one of them was over 200ft/lbs. Torque stic my ***. Needless to say that Borbet wheel was now bent.

RB_eater

iTrader: (1)

But changing lugs is a pain in the ***. You can remove pretty much any nut with alot of anti-seize and patience. Just needs a little practice.

Valkyrie

Working at a "tire center" proves little about your competence as a mechanic.

I've never broken a stud, nut, bolt, or thread by getting something stuck off with an electric impact wrench, but I've broken plenty of things by cranking on them with a breaker bar.

RB_eater

iTrader: (1)

There are some tools out there that won't allow the impact to torque passed a certain level and unless you have expensive wheels using the gun to tighten the lug nuts is no big deal.

I had some old lady insisting that I do not torque her wheels to much so that she could remove them herself if needed be. I tried but it would definitely have been dangerous to comply with her request.

Boosted11

iTrader: (11)

...................................LOL. Considering the torque on our cars is only 65-87, I can't see this being an issue.

Step 1, set torque wrench to 150. Step 2, set torque wrench for reverse. Step 3, torque the lugs off.

Wtf is wrong with that? I work at a tire shop and do this on my wheels all the time, because I have those gay open ended lugs and don't want them to rust.

initial D is REAL!

It will go off calibration over time. Especially since your maxing it out. Its also good to set the torque wrench back to 0 when not in use. Im sure after 8 hours of work everyday takes it toll on the wrench. Especially since your setting the wrench back to 0 after every useage

I never use the torque wrench for turning off bolts although u can.


ANyways, ewhatever works, this is a lot of discussion for lug nuts.

1)spray with penetrating lube
2)use a breaker bar or impact
3)turn counterclockwise to take out
4)repeat 4-5 times depening on amount of lug nuts
5)pull tire off

Instalation is reverse of dissassembley, except for the lube part, you might want to use some antisieze.

I used to do tons of jobs without an impact gun. The trusty pittsburg taiwan breaker bar worked 75% of the time and broke 25% of the time. That is why its called a breaker bar. I used to do axles with breaker bars, even honda crank pulley bolt, and those are on there freakin tight.

7fold

THINGS HUH? i bet not a lug or lug nut.

nice try, it actually proves everything about my ability to work on suspension, tires and wheels... thats why when you torque down a lug nut, you must do it by hand with a torque wrench to the manufactures specs... an impact gun is too hard on a lug and a lug nut and will snap or break them if you sit there and let it run. I would know.

now, back to helping this guy...

using a breaker bar is the best and most safe way to do it, it will help you be more smooth and have a better chance of not breaking it off... simple as that