Breaker Bar & Impact wrench

[Reegs]

Hey folks.

I've been told that I shouldn't use an impact wrench when first taking the lugs off. Apparently I should get a breaker bar to loosen them, then if I want use the impact wrench, use it after to spin em off.

The reason I bought the impact wrench was to stop me having to break my back to get these lugs off. Also I'm told to not tighten them all the way, and to use the breaker bar to finally tighten the lugs. But If I set the impact wrench to the correct setting, shouldn't I be good to go once the clutch of the wrench kicks in?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks folks.

Rob

[kevcol74]

You should use a torque wrench to put them on, set to the correct ft/lb. (I use 85 ft/lbs)
I've never heard anything about not using an impact to take them off, when available I always do. A breaker bar makes it easier if you are doing it by hand, but with an impact, there is no reason to use a breaker unless it won't do it.

[Flagrum_3]

If your impact gun is strong enough to loosen them nuts, then it's all you need for that part!! (but it's preferred in increasing the life of your gun to snap the nuts loose with a bar)....It's the installation where you should use the impact only to bring the nuts and rim up flush with the backing plate (set it slightly lower) then you should use a torque wrench not a bar to finish it off....As always use the star pattern when tightening/torquing.


_3

[TheMAN]

you can use an impact to install wheels ONLY if you have torque sticks... they are torsion bars that will twist/absorb excess torque and therefore allows fasteners to tighten to a preset torque level

[Reegs]

Man, I should have done this research before I bought it. It seems that you really have to break them and tighten them manually to achieve the appropriate torque.

Also I guess it depends who you talk to. I've spoken to some people that just tighten it by hand and pay no attention to torque specs. Just as tight as they can with their own strength.

Guess I should figure this out soon as I'll be changing the tires in the next few weeks.

[kevcol74]

You can buy the Torque sticks/tubes at Princess Auto... I plan to get them when I get an air compressor. Make life easier! You can buy them individually for about $15, just get the right spec ones

[SonicBoy]

If you use a torque wrench to put them on, you should not need a breaker bar to get them off. There is no rule about using an impact gun to only spin. You are correct that's why people buy the gun so they don't have to work at it.

Getting the wheel off the hub if it is seized is another story. Always remember to use anti-seeze on the hub only and not the studs. It makes the change over much easier.

[midnightfxgt]

Also I guess it depends who you talk to. I've spoken to some people that just tighten it by hand and pay no attention to torque specs. Just as tight as they can with their own strength.


Plenty of people do this.... but its wrong. It may work, or the person has done it for 20yrs, etc. You should always play it safe, and torque properly, with your torque wrench.

A guy using a breaker bar, doing it as tight as he can, will be WAY over 80-90ft lbs. Good luck pulling it off when you get a flat :)

-John

[Fobio]

at the track, where batteries may be a concern for my cordless impact gun, I usually use a breaker bar to loosen the nuts and spin them off with the gun. when I'm tired, I can sometimes get the gun to loosen the nut, but you're also asking a lot from a battery-powered hand tool and also adding stress and cosmetic damage to the nut you're trying to loosen.

for tightening, I always do it by hand for a few threads or sometimes til it's almost tight before using the gun to tighten. this only saves time and aggravation, as once they're tightened by the gun, I torque them down to proper spec using a torque wrench.

DO NOT TIGHTEN YOUR NUTS WITH THE IMPACT GUN ALL THE WAY WITHOUT A TORQUE BAR. Most cordless impact gun aren't powerful enough to hit 80 - 90 ft-lbs anyway, so it's unsafe and you should always double chk with a torque wrench. and air tools, which can do well over 80 - 90 ft-lbs may over-tighten your nuts and snap a bolt.

[midnightfxgt]

for tightening, I always do it by hand for a few threads or sometimes til it's almost tight before using the gun to tighten. this only saves time and aggravation, as once they're tightened by the gun, I torque them down to proper spec using a torque wrench.

Good point! This can also save stripped studs