hi all
noobie qns

i read many times in the forum that people recommend not to use an impact wrench to put on wheellocks or lugs...

cannot one dial in the lb-ft force into an impact wrench and use it to tighen the wheel locks or lugs?

thanks for explaining

 

you cannot set the torque on an impact wrench low enough to properly torque the wheels. If you really want to use an impact wrench, you should purchase a set of torque sockets for an impact wrench

 

do you mean "low enough to properly torque the locks/lugs" ??

 

yea, pretty much the same thing

 

so impact wrenches are really powerful and not able to really deliever 80ftlb?
i didnt know that...
and using the torque wrenches might over tighten and break the lug/lock??

but is it recommended to use torque wrenches to to remove the oem lugs right?

or remove wheellocks or should one use a breaker bar to loosen the locks?

 

accurately no. Some might have the adjustment to ~80ftlbs but I would bet that number could be up to 25 ftlbs off, either high(not as bad) or low(really bad). No need for a torque wrench to remove the lugs, anything will work (impact/torque/breaker bar)

 

where alot of people f-up with those impact guns is that they don't even hand start the nuts to make sure it sits properly on the thread. They get all trigger happy and next thing you know, it's cross thread.

 

oh wow
i thought it would be common sense to at least start a few rounds of the lug on the thread before firing away to roll it tightly in...

 

you'd be surprised to see how many of those people that work at NTB, merchants, etc wham away with the impact gun withou properly starting it.

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised...I'd figure after working on 10 million cars, those techs get really bored and tedious with that procedure, they'll likely cheat once in awhile to get things moving along quicker.

 

I use an impact wrench so....? BUT I also HAND START the lugs and set the torque values pretty low. I go back after and hand tighten the lugs with a breaker bar.

 

may i ask
how do you know what the final force load you eventually will deliver to the lug/lock?

 

You may ask

Required torque is about 80 ftlbs or so. I've probably taken off/put on about 100 sets though the years. And have done numerous engine work where torque values are much more critical. So I believe I have a decent feel for what 80-95 ftlbs feel like. I probably error on the tight side though.

On your crank main caps, the tolerances for torque values are much more tight and critical.

Considering you wanted to use an impact wrench to torque the lugs down.... You do know that impact wrenches are nortoriously inconsistent and can vary wildly depending on settings, air availability etc...??

 

DUH, why they make torque limiter sticks for air tools. Every vehicle owner should have one to loan the tire changer just in case they don't have one. The best $25 you will ever spend.

http://www.alltiresupply.com/p-GP-28218.html

 

- Use a breaker bar to break lugs & locks loose when taking off a wheel.
- Use a torque wrench to tighten lugs & locks when putting the wheel back on.

 

I think another problem with using the impact wrench to put the lugs on is... you tighten the hell out of them, then you break down in the middle of nowhere and you don't have your impact wrench... you may find yourself unable to remove them cause they're on there too tight!