can you use an impact gun on locking lug nuts or will it strip out the key/reveiver?
Is it ok to use an impact wrench on wheel locks?
- Thread starter speedy341
- Start date
- Status
Yes, but only if necessary to remove them. Commercial shops use impact wrenches because of time and labor necessity, but I use nothing but the ol' trusty spin-on lug and torque wrenches......but then it's my vehicle and not theirs.
Never tighten any lug nuts with an impact wrench. They need to be carefully torqued to spec by hand to avoid distorting the hub and rotors or drums. It is illegal in some states to use one.
Heavy trucks may be Ok.
Heavy trucks may be Ok.
In the past the local tire shop used a impact gun on my wheels and I could not remove them to rotate them. This would big trouble if I got a flat. It took my 250 lb friend using a piece of pipe over a spinner wrench to get them off!
If you have the car serviced, insist they replace the wheel slower and get that request in writing on the work order!
[ May 21, 2004, 10:16 PM: Message edited by: Bill D ]
If you have the car serviced, insist they replace the wheel slower and get that request in writing on the work order!
[ May 21, 2004, 10:16 PM: Message edited by: Bill D ]
Kestas
Staff member
I've seen wheel bolts fail by necking at 400-500 ft-lbs in our lab. Let me guess... 250 lbs... maybe a 2-3' extension... I'd say you were pretty close to working on a ruined wheel bolt.
I use an impact on mine to remove them and, on the lowest setting, to tighten them before torquing with a torque wrench.
There are many different wheel lock designs though. I've seen wheel locks that I wouldn't put an impact on. You'll have to decide if they look strong enough.
There are many different wheel lock designs though. I've seen wheel locks that I wouldn't put an impact on. You'll have to decide if they look strong enough.
I'm with rpn.
Lowest setting for on. Torque with a calibrated wrench.
It depends on the lock style. Mine will work with an impact wrench but only once loose for spinning off and on (on a lowest setting).
Lowest setting for on. Torque with a calibrated wrench.
It depends on the lock style. Mine will work with an impact wrench but only once loose for spinning off and on (on a lowest setting).
Simple solution, go buy 4 regular nuts and pitch the lock nuts. The little kids that can't figure out how to defeat the lock nuts, don't have the strength to loosen the regular ones. The lock nuts are more of a nuisance to you than to somebody wanting to steal your wheels.
Note, my Grand Am specified 100 lb ft for lug nuts. 80 might be a good value to use if you put antisieze on the threads.
Note, my Grand Am specified 100 lb ft for lug nuts. 80 might be a good value to use if you put antisieze on the threads.
I'm with Labman. Pitch the locks and replace them with normal nuts. Anyone who really wants your wheels is going to get them with one of the pound on type lock removal tools anyway. Just wait until you have to get one off and it's frozen or stripped. Then imagine trying to do that in the rain on the side of the road. Grrrrrr....
NO! I'd never use a gun on wheel locks -- the ramifications of overtightening them or stripping the squiggly lock pattern are too great. I've seen tire shops struggle for a half-hour or more trying to remove a car's wheel locks when the idiot lost the key, proving just how hard they are to remove sans key. For a thief to attempt same (bangin' on the lug nuts in some way) would be the same as a car thief taking a half-hour to steal a car, with the alarm blaring the whole time. Not very likely. Wheel locks most definitely work, but don't strip or overtighten them, meaning guns are verboten. And the first thing I did whenever buying a lock set in the past was to order a second key, which I kept at my house.
"Impact guns usually cannot be set and/or maintain proper pressure to obtain proper installation torque and should not be used for lock installation. Use of impact guns (pneumatic, electric, etc.) for installation may cause over tightening and permanent damage to lock and key." http://www.mcgard.com/custserv/tech_support.asp
[ May 23, 2004, 11:16 PM: Message edited by: TC ]
"Impact guns usually cannot be set and/or maintain proper pressure to obtain proper installation torque and should not be used for lock installation. Use of impact guns (pneumatic, electric, etc.) for installation may cause over tightening and permanent damage to lock and key." http://www.mcgard.com/custserv/tech_support.asp
[ May 23, 2004, 11:16 PM: Message edited by: TC ]
I agree with TC and use wheel locks....especially on cars that have counter bored wheels. These are not so easy to get off by theives. Sure a pro can defeat any lock....pros don't usually roam looking for wheels - hacks/punks do! (And I like the idea of a spare key!)
I stick with my orginal comments on impact wrenches and wheel locks.
I stick with my orginal comments on impact wrenches and wheel locks.
Pablo,
all of our car/part theft devices are there to stop the ameteurs.
The pros seem to be able to do/get almost anything.
That being said, it's still worth it to try to stop the amateurs. I've walked out the front door to find a car with 4 open doors, broken ignition, and a steering wheel lock still on.
all of our car/part theft devices are there to stop the ameteurs.
The pros seem to be able to do/get almost anything.
That being said, it's still worth it to try to stop the amateurs. I've walked out the front door to find a car with 4 open doors, broken ignition, and a steering wheel lock still on.
The only acceptable way to use a torque wrench for tightening is with a torque stick. These are special sockets designed to limit the torque applied to the nut. I always double check with a torque wrench also. Most shops don't use a torque stick or double check them though. Most are severally over tightened. If I have to bring my car in, I take it home, loosen and retorque all the rims.
-T
-T
The shop that spent a half hour removing a lock nut likely was trying to do it without ruining anything. Thieves are less considerate.
I run lug nuts down with my air ratchet, and then switch to my hand torque wrench. Usually it starts at about 50 lb ft, well below the damage level, but within quickly finishing by hand.
An air ratchet is a necessity with FWD. It requires little more room to get in, and no room to swing.
I love FWD on slippery roads, but they are no fun to maintain.
I run lug nuts down with my air ratchet, and then switch to my hand torque wrench. Usually it starts at about 50 lb ft, well below the damage level, but within quickly finishing by hand.
An air ratchet is a necessity with FWD. It requires little more room to get in, and no room to swing.
I love FWD on slippery roads, but they are no fun to maintain.
I'm with labman on using the impact gun. I do the exact same thing, with the gun set at the lowest possible setting.
I think he means that the air ratchet is an advantage because you don't have to swing it back and forth, like a regular ratchet.
BTW, on my previous post, I should have said "I'm with labman, except that I use an impact gun."
BTW, on my previous post, I should have said "I'm with labman, except that I use an impact gun."
FWD engine compartments tend to be very cramped. Often it is a challenge to even get a wrench on a bolt, let alone turn it. The air ratchet goes where no impact wrench ever would, and turns nuts without swinging it. I guess I though this would be obvious to everybody that has even seen under the hood of a FWD. Of course, there are tight spots in a RWD too.
An impact wrench is bigger and more expensive than an air ratchet and impossible to use in many tight spots.
An impact wrench is bigger and more expensive than an air ratchet and impossible to use in many tight spots.
- Status
