Got an Impact Wrench, Question

[Rileysowner]

So, Canadian Tire had an 1/2" electric impact wrench on sale $100 off this week, and I figured since it doesn't look like I will be getting a compressor any time soon, this was a good route to go. The reviews by customers who purchased it were all good, so off I went to get one. I had to find someone to get it off the top shelf, and then went and looked at what impact sockets they had on sale. They had a nice set of sockets in their top lifetime warranty line, but $199 was out of my price range. As I walked through the store what should I see but the same impact wrench with the same socket set included for $125. Needless to say I walked out with it.

I was going to change the winter tires back to the summer one on the Mazda today, but my wife took it, and the impact wrench (in the trunk) to work, so no go there.

Now my question. I know that they have torque limiting extensions which would be useful for putting the tires back on and having things torqued up correctly. My question is could I just snug the nuts up with the impact wrench, and then went I put the vehicle back down on the ground tighten them to the proper torque with my torque wrench, or should I go get a torque limiting extension(s) that are appropriate?

[Mat Mobile]

If you have the extra cash you can...

I wouldn't. I prefer using the torque wrench like you do.

[Rileysowner]

I figure I have the torque wrench, several of them actually although I still need an inch/pound one, so why would I get one of these. I don't really change tires that often (rotating and putting on winter ones is about it) so they added speed would not really pay for the tool. Now if Princess Auto puts them on sale like they have in the past, I would probably get them.

[potskie]

I figure I have the torque wrench, several of them actually although I still need an inch/pound one, so why would I get one of these. I don't really change tires that often (rotating and putting on winter ones is about it) so they added speed would not really pay for the tool. Now if Princess Auto puts them on sale like they have in the past, I would probably get them.

The thing with them tho is the impact wrench has to be out putting a certain amount of torque for them to work. It may be harder to adjust to it with an electric gun.

I personally even when I had those tools avail to me when I did tires for a living would still snug and then torque by hand with a good wrench on my own vehicle. Boss woulda shot me if I spent that much time on a customers but if you want to be exact the extension are not all that great.

[Rileysowner]

Ok, good to know.

[SoCalli V8]

I recommend that you lightenly tighten your lug nutz ( just to snug them, and centralize the wheel) with a light air-gun, to 50lbs.. or so....

Then tighten them evenly in a star pattern, with a torque wrench to 90 foot pounds.

Over-Cranking with a "tire-shop" 500 ft/ pounds torque "Monster Shop ToooL" will soon f-up your wheel nuts and your studs....

[Kidhauler]

I always use the tire iron that comes with the car to tighten the lugs. The simple reason is that if that puts them on it will be able to get them off in the event of a flat. If you bang them on with the gun even on a low setting you can put them on so tight you can't break them loose with the cars tools.

I usually will not let a tire shop put the tires on the car as they just gun them on as hard as they can. If I don't have a choice but to let them do it as soon as I get home I pull the tires and put them on my self to avoid being stuck on the side of the road in the rain with a flat I can't change.

[crash]

I recommend that you lightenly tighten your lug nutz ( just to snug them, and centralize the wheel) with a light air-gun, to 50lbs.. or so....

Then tighten them evenly in a star pattern, with a torque wrench to 90 foot pounds.

Over-Cranking with a "tire-shop" 500 ft/ pounds torque "Monster Shop ToooL" will soon f-up your wheel nuts and your studs....

ding ding! .. I totally agree. I don't trust the torque extensions at all. I've got an electric impact as well as an air compressor and impact. It still never deters me from lowering the wheel down and torquing accurately by hand.

[GEJ]

Well boys I have to admit I have never torqued wheel nuts on a street driven vehicle.(But that is I guess what you all would expect from this old fa.t. #-o )I am not saying it is right either.Surely the wheels on drag cars do get torqued.Might want to consider a change now.Just sooooo used to tighten the nuts until they creek in a star pattern. :-k

[Rileysowner]

I have read several posts about the lug nuts not being torqued evenly on peoples vans causing rotor problems down the road. I figure they have the spec. there, so I might as well follow it. If I didn't have a torque wrench, I would probably do them as evenly as I could, but since I have one I will use it.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I always torque lug nuts with a torque wrench. I have done this for years and rotors last until they are simply worn out. That being said, last time Lynne's trailblazer was in for an oil change, they rotated the tires. Normally I will re-torque them once it is home. This time the weather sucked and it got forgotten. Her rotors are now warped and are vibrating. ](*,) They were new 1 year ago and were not pulsating before the rotation. The shop we use for some of our work use those torque sticks. I think they suck. They are not very even. I have had times I have had to use a 24" breaker bar to break lugs free...so much for 100 ft-# of torque!

[GEJ]

Yep-I know you guys are right and I do have a torque wrench somewhere stored in my trailer. :-k

[robertg]

my own vehicles get done with a torque wrench.

due to being expected to be able to do tire rotations on a variety of vehicles ranging from 4 lugs per wheel to 8 lugs per wheel in the same amount of time, i use torque stick extensions at work.

:shrug: i don't like to use them. but unfortunately, i work on a good amount of company trucks. the time they're in the shop is that much less time they are on the road making money.

the majority of people won't wait long enough for doing the work with a torque wrench, that or the service writers crawl up our butts.

[mdmead]

I'm more like Gary on this one. While I know a torque wrench is the 'proper' way of doing it, I've always used my 'calibrated elbow'.

[SafariRob]

I'm a torque wrench kind of guy when it comes to tightening the lug nuts--the rotors sure seem to appreciate the time it takes to use the wrench by not pulsing the brake pedal anytime soon.