No impact gun for aftermarket lugs?

[shu5892001]

Hi guys,

I have always read on the package of those after market lug nuts that it can not be used with a impact gun or power tools. But don't shop always use impact guns on what ever lug nut there is? Are we suppose to tell them to use to tighten it by hand or something? Are they willing to do it?

Thanks,
Shu

[WeatherB]

I stopped using impact guns on lug nuts ages ago... The proper way (in my mind) is to use a breaker bar and a torque wrench.

[shu5892001]

I stopped using impact guns on lug nuts ages ago... The proper way (in my mind) is to use a breaker bar and a torque wrench.

so we suppose to tell the mechanic to use a torque wrench when ever they have to take our wheels off?? Are they willing to do it? lol

[Donutz]

Yes.

[Iceman_F1]

Interesting. Never heard that before. So far I've used impact gun for removing the bolts but always hand tighten then torque wrench when putting them on. Is it really that bad?

[shu5892001]

OK I will tell Jimmy that when I go swap my summers this spring...

[shu5892001]

Interesting. Never heard that before. So far I've used impact gun for removing the bolts but always hand tighten then torque wrench when putting them on. Is it really that bad?

Same here, my Muteki lug nuts has always been handled by impact guns. But this time I got Rays duralumimum lugs, I just don't want my lug nuts to get damaged cuz it does cost 200 bucks...

[-cj-]

OK I will tell Jimmy that when I go swap my summers this spring...

Doubt you have to tell him, he always hand tightens and removes my ...nuts.... by hand.

I swap out my tires myself and on my aftermarket rims, I only use a breaker bar and torque wrench. On my steelies I'll use my impact gun. Typically an impact gun only does the impact motion when the bolt is stuck... Otherwise it just acts like a powerful drill. On some guns you can even turn off the impact entirely.

[aZuMi]

I just bought an impact gun this weekend...makes me want to return it after reading the comments here. I was thinking of using a torque stick with the impact gun. Isn't that almost similar as using a torque wrench?

[shu5892001]

Doubt you have to tell him, he always hand tightens and removes my ...nuts.... by hand.

I swap out my tires myself and on my aftermarket rims, I only use a breaker bar and torque wrench. On my steelies I'll use my impact gun. Typically an impact gun only does the impact motion when the bolt is stuck... Otherwise it just acts like a powerful drill. On some guns you can even turn off the impact entirely.
:No Homo Smiley

:chuckle

BTW, what lug nuts where you using, I think when I had mutekis he tightened my wheels using the gun

[shu5892001]

I just bought an impact gun this weekend...makes me want to return it after reading the comments here. I was thinking of using a torque stick with the impact gun. Isn't that almost similar as using a torque wrench?

I guess it also comes down to whether you are using steel or aluminum lug nuts. I think a lot of people using impact gun on steel lug nuts

[-cj-]

:No Homo Smiley

:chuckle

BTW, what lug nuts where you using, I think when I had mutekis he tightened my wheels using the gun

:chuckle

I'm using Work nuts, which are aluminum. That might be why... they look fragile. :)

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I hear Rays are sensitive to stripping so best not to use a gun.

[standsideways]

I hear Rays are sensitive to stripping so best not to use a gun.

There aluminum...they arent sensitive to stripping unless they are machined/forged too thin..but either way you dont wanna damage brand new $200+ lugs!

[shu5892001]

I hear Rays are sensitive to stripping so best not to use a gun.

Yep, I hear the Rays are more fragile than the mutekis due to forged aluminum and light weight... I kind of regret that I got the aluminum nuts, should of got forged steel

[dentinger]

is this an actual thread?

i use an impact gun on every car, to remove nuts, and tighten them back up. altho, i use a torque stick, and then recheck them by hand with a torque wrench.
i have NEVER been told not to use an impact gun to remove or tighten nuts, by anyone. the only issue, is some people like to have them torque by hand.

altho, if you're going out and buying $200 nuts (why?), then i can understand the johnson bar technique.

[pacmann33]

I hate torque sticks, I never trust some random mechanic's torque sticks. I always use a breaker bar to remove and tighten by hand in sensible increments. If you know the mechanic and know he's not a retard I'd be okay with it. My mechanic at my Mazda dealer is top notch. He's the only guy I let touch my car really whenever I can help it. He's also a member on this forum.

Torque sticks can be used if the mechanic is the only guy who uses them and know they haven't been abused.

Now on aftermarket lug nuts...I would never ever use anything but hand tools.

I use a sandwich bag to put on top of the lug nut, then I put the socket on the nut and tighten. Really saves the finish on the nuts. Ghetto I know but try it, and be gentle. Your nuts will thank you!

Also, Aluminum lug nuts are a waste of money. No one who races use them either. I swear it's some kind of "tuner scene" thing.

[schmat66]

i usually use an impact gun to take em off and il put em on with an impact gun just till there snug then torque em

[G-daddy]

Also, Aluminum lug nuts are a waste of money. No one who races use them either. I swear it's some kind of "tuner scene" thing.

Aren't they lighter than regular lug nuts? Well, at least the Muteki ones advertise themselves to save 1 lb off each wheel.

[pacmann33]

Lighter, yes, but the lug nuts are very close to the center of the rim, so the weight savings of aluminum lug nuts are not going to make much difference. Tires that are 1, 2 or 3 pounds lighter make a big difference because they are far away from the center of the rim.

Racers don't use aluminum lug nuts for many reasons:

1.) Aluminum lug nuts do not last long. The threads don't hold up to constant use that racers subject them to, changing tires/rims multiple times each day, and are easier to cross thread in a rushed tire change.
2.) Weight savings are not significant to performance.
3.) Cost, they don't last as long, are not as strong, and cost exponentially more money.
4.) Steel studs and aluminum lug nuts expand and contract at different rates.

I'd stick to forged steel ones like drog engineering, Muteki etc.

Some of the best lug nuts are OEM ones, depending on the car manufacturer.

[Mr Wilson]

There are far too many innuendo jokes that could be made within this thread.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

There aluminum...they arent sensitive to stripping unless they are machined/forged too thin..but either way you dont wanna damage brand new $200+ lugs!

Just going off what I have read.

[zoso]

Personally when i take off my Lug Nuts, i use a breaker bar or an old torque wrench i bought for 2 bucks (gotta love garage sales) to loosen the nuts, then use a impact wrench to take it off quickly

Putting them back on i tighten them by hand in a star pattern then tighten by a proper torque wrench

[shu5892001]

Most extended lugs are aluminum and I want to get extended lugs becuz it shows the lugs more clearly

is this an actual thread?

i use an impact gun on every car, to remove nuts, and tighten them back up. altho, i use a torque stick, and then recheck them by hand with a torque wrench.
i have NEVER been told not to use an impact gun to remove or tighten nuts, by anyone. the only issue, is some people like to have them torque by hand.

altho, if you're going out and buying $200 nuts (why?), then i can understand the johnson bar technique.

[kramr]

There are far too many innuendo jokes that could be made within this thread.

Agree!!!! +1

[midnightfxgt]

Aluminum Lugs should not be gunned. They are very soft, and you will have issues.

Tuner style steel are fine. The only problem can be with some of the painted ones. They are very prone to chipping.

[TheMAN]

any tuner lug can potentially have problems when over torqued, unlike stock lug nuts that can generally take a good amount of abuse
it's not the threads that get stripped, but the the nuts themselves get rounded off in usual cases

[midnightfxgt]

Simple solution - Dont over torque ANY lug lol.

[slam525i]

I've had wheels returned to me that've been torqued far far far too tight. I had a tire iron with a fence post on one end trying to undo it and ended up bending the fence post. (I don't have a proper set of tools at home). Went back to the place that put them on (same day, long story as to why the wheels were coming on and off). When I asked him how much he torqued it, he said he didn't know cuz there's no need to use a torque wrench on a car. I wanted to torque his nuts.

[midnightfxgt]

We get some of this from other shops, and customers dont care that it takes longer for us to get them off.... until we ask them what they would do on the side of the 401 if a tire blew. Then they are furious with the other shops :)

[pacmann33]

^+1

I see this happen more often than I care to believe. Again why getting tires from a proper tire shop like the ones on this forum are the way to go! I'm not a mechanic but I've had friends cars come to me with WAY over torqued nuts, and some with loose lug nuts because it wasn't done properly.

[zoso]

I've had wheels returned to me that've been torqued far far far too tight. I had a tire iron with a fence post on one end trying to undo it and ended up bending the fence post. (I don't have a proper set of tools at home). Went back to the place that put them on (same day, long story as to why the wheels were coming on and off). When I asked him how much he torqued it, he said he didn't know cuz there's no need to use a torque wrench on a car. I wanted to torque his nuts.

When i got my car they over torqued one of the nuts on my rear passenger side, it bent my rotor and made a ton of noise when i drove

They messed up the nut i had to use the socket from my trunk, hammered it in because nothing would fit properly then used an hold hollow weight bar as a breaker bar to get it lose, it was insane how bad it was.