I'm having trouble removing the lug nuts on my 1 ton pickup truck. Seems the tire and wheel guys over torque them. I keep saying only torque them at 140 lbs. max. but,, that seems to fall on deaf ears.
Since this happens often enough I'm thinking of buying a 1/2 inch impact wrench so I can remove the wheels and not have to go back to the tire guys to loosen them for me.
I'd like to consider electric, air or battery operated tools. There are so many out there that it's difficult to pick one that actually works well with no first hand knowledge of the tools. I don't want to continue using a breaker bar and a pipe. I'm getting old faster and faster everyday.
Please recommend an impact tool that could do the job and not cost too much. I have a cap of about $150 to spend.
The weak link with the battery impact drivers is the 1/4-inch adapters. I snapped two of these performing a lift kit install. The DeWalt driver had no problems handling the axle to frame bolts though, original torque at ~140-ft-lbs. Air drivers won't have the adapter limitation.
Keep spares on hand if you go battery powered:
Happy shopping.
Ingersoll Rand 2235TiMAX, not cheap but can be bought on E bay for good price. I have this series & 1 series before that is nascar surplus that will take mower blades bolts off that I can't do with breaker bar and 3ft of pipe pushing with foot, spun bolt off real fast. I have several other brands but none has this much torque. there are other versions of IR but not as much torque.
If you go with an air impact this would be a good choice IMO. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ingersol...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
I taught diesel mechanics at a community college for 35 years, this model of impact held up very well from student abuse.
Dewalt makes 1/2 drive battery impacts. Then you won’t need the 1/4 to 1/2 adapters. At 150 foot pounds the adapter won’t last long.
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My budget won't stop me from buying something online that I don't need, but the threat of getting promotional
emails every day for the rest of my life just might!
46 years wrenching German imports and I've only needed to buy 2 guns. First one, Chicago Pneumatic, lasted about 25 years. Currently using a composite body Ingersol Rand.
I think any new brand name, or, a Snap-on, Mac, or Matco will last a home user a lifetime if oiled regularly.
A quick check of eBay found some cheaper vintage guns. Rebuild kits are readily available and are easy to do.
Also drop a few bucks extra on impact sockets. An impact gun will split a chrome socket or eventually wobble out the ½ drive end to the point where you loose all your torque rattling around the bore.
I recommend old school.
I use a 1/2" breaker bar that's about 24" long, from Harbor Freight, about $15. I added a 3' piece of galvanized water pipe from Lowe's. (comes with plastic end caps to protect the threads, I left them on.) Then a 3" extension and a 13/16" thin wall deep socket for the Sendel wheels. It's easy to loosen the nuts and then remove them with a cordless drill & 1/2" socket adaptor.
No power or air compressor required!
The breaker bars and pipe "torque amplifier" live under the back seat until needed.
Someday, I'll need to remove a wheel away from home and I won't have an air compressor handy. The beloved Viair 12v. won't cut it when a large volume of air is required.
BTW, I see Harbor Freight now offers a 3/4" drive breaker bar for about $22, but I'd have to add 3/4" drive sockets and so far I don't need them.
If you want to convince me that the HF stuff is junk, I'll point out that I've loosened 3/4" hitch bolts where I stood on the pipe and flexed the breaker bar at least 5 degrees. It did not snap.
I recommend old school.
I use a 1/2" breaker bar that's about 24" long, from Harbor Freight, about $15. I added a 3' piece of galvanized water pipe from Lowe's. (comes with plastic end caps to protect the threads, I left them on.) Then a 3" extension and a 13/16" thin wall deep socket for the Sendel wheels. It's easy to loosen the nuts and then remove them with a cordless drill & 1/2" socket adaptor.
No power or air compressor required!
Good but the issue from the OP pertains to lug nuts on his TV specifically the rear duals.
The extra challenge is how far recessed the lug nuts are.
That’s the idea for the support system in my attachment.
Your obviously not about to open up a workshop!!! So you hardly need a 500 dollar impact gun. Take a trip to Harbour Freight and buy the most powerful one you can afford.
Hi, as an new car dealer mechanic since 1968 and a Mac tools distributor for eight years, I will say buy an Ingersol Rand impact wrench. [also Mac branded] Their hammer system makes the biggest difference.
(1.) Twin hammer design used by Ingersol Rand. Very powerful and durable.
(2.) Pin type hammer system used by Chicago Pnuematic; These were great in their day. Cheaper to fix, but need repairs more often.
__________________ Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
Bought 2 1/2” air impacts for $35....in middle 80’s used hard..still going..Taiwan made....I like my battery powered craftsman 1/2 impact..no hose...rotate all 4 as tires on 1 battery
2008 30' Classic S/O
Hampton Beach
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,200
Portable - Battery Op High Torque Impact Driver
Dewalt DCF899H - This version has the hog ring anvil. It's also available with the detent anvil DCF899P. Amazingly powerful. It available in a couple of different kit's or solo...check the Dewalt site for details on the kits and then shop for the kit of choice.
I got this to keep things simple and fast on the road. No lug wrenches or ratchets straining at the roadside...just spin off the nuts and move on with the fix.
When I was shopping for it earlier this year, there were a variety of youtube reviews on the driver. Folks were just running out of old rusted frame bolts to break free and there were others using it to break free 18 wheeler tractor trailer lug nuts. Typically those would be done by a 3/4" drive air driven tool.
This driver gave me portable operation with rechargeable batteries and solid performance. Putting the lugs back on the Duramax I just snugged the lugs so I could put the 140lbs on by hand with a torque wrench. The driver would've certainly exceeded that value. Works great on your hitch bolts too...
Good luck with your choice!
Tom - S/OS #025
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- Tom and Wendy - AirSTREMN from New Hampshire -
- 2008 30' Classic S/O - S/OS #025 - Riding on 16" Wheels and Tires -
Check the specs on a battery powered one before you buy. You need 200 ft lbs to be of any use on lug nuts. There are a few good ones out there, for about $300. The bonus is you can use it on the road.
I got a Kobalt at a Black Friday sale for everything else. I avoid using a breaker bar for really tight stuff. I apply some heat with a torch and use an impact. Almost never break a stud. The Kobalt had better specs than any of the compact ones but I wouldn’t use that on wheel lugs.
^
Yeah $19.99, buy one every time you need one. 👎🥴👎
Whenever I need crap, I go to HF. 😂
Bob
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When I ran my own workshop, sometimes those crap air tools came in handy. Their impact guns would usually last over six months before starting to fail. Six months of daily use is about ten years of home use. Pretty good for 19.99 I say.
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