Torque and Chrome

Torque wrench for lug nut removal?

I recently bought a torque wrench for working with my wheels and tires. I was told that you shouldnt use it to remove lugs after the fact. is that just an "old wives tale"? If I can't use it to remove lugs, since they were impact-wrenched on, what is the best way to get them off? im not sure about the brute strength option, im no world strongman unfortunately.

Public Comments

1. First of all, the torque wrench does not amplify torque. If you can't get them off with a 4 way wrench, then the torque wrench won't make it easier. Same amount of power involved. And yes a torque wrench should only be used for tightening. After a while the torque can make the wrench get a little loose and be off a bit.
2. I have a three quarters breaker bar and put a pipe on the end of that. You shouldn't have to struggle with the job taking nuts off. If you want to use your torque wrench, who cares.
3. The easiest way, assuming you are in the same town they were put on in, is to take them back to the shop that air hammered them on and require them to loosen them. The breaker bar, or a long stem 4 way wrench should break them loose. if you are strength challenged to do this, consider an electric impact gun. For such limited use, get a cheap import at Harbor Freight or Northern or Walmart, and don't pay more than $19 for it. It should do this for a couple of years before it gives up. Never impact wrench them back on, always use a torque wrench. Snug them up with the 4 way or socket wrench, then proper torque to keep the rotors from warping.
4. the proper torque on most lugs nuts is 95 ft lbs. should be fairly easy to remove them with a little effort. the reason a torque wrench is to be used, is so you not only have the right pressure bur equal pressure. hope that clears it up
5. The reason you should not use a torque wrench to remove lug nuts is because it will damage the wrench. Most are designed only to tighten r/h threaded nuts and bolts. If you are having trouble removing the nuts with the standard lug wrench then they are too tight. 90-100 ft/lbs is the normal torque for most lug nuts.
6. if the nuts were put on with a impact gun, then you might strip the cogs off in the torque wrench. if you want the off, use a socket and breaker bar, if that doesnt bring them, use a cheater pipe on the breaker bar.
7. My Dad was a JACK OF ALL TRADES and long ago he taught me the easy trick of loosening lug nuts when I needed to remove & change the tire...and like LAR suggested, I went to Home Depot in the plumbing section and bought a 15" piece of STEEL PIPE that I just stick on the end of the standard lug nut wrench that is part of the jack set etc and IT NEVER FAILS! Times have changed of course now that we have a TOYOTA SIENNA XLE minivan and TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AWD SUV where I now own a 3 ton CRAFTSMAN HYDRAULIC JACK and 2 stands <= like $100 on sale but I do my own oil changes as well as draing/refilling ATF that I have recouped my $100 some time ago. Hope the Above Info Helps!
8. My Honda front wheel axle nut was put on with 135 ft. lbs. of torque, but some years later it took 700 ft.lbs. of torque to remove it (Me, 180 lbs., jumping on the end of a 4-ft. pipe on a breaker bar, with my friend beating on it with a 10 lb sledge hammer). The torque wrench, if it is 1/2 in., is long and will allow a lot of torque, but maybe not enough. Of course, it's always worth a try, just be careful and don't force it to its maximum so you don't distort the torque wrench. They may pop right off for you. Sometimes garages with powerful impact wrenches put the lug nuts on so tightly that you literally can't remove them when you get a flat, so it's very important that you TRY NOW, when it's convenient if something is too tight. And like the man says, if you can't remove them, take it back to the garage and tell them so, and ask them to loosen them and torque them with a torque wrench so you or your wife can get them off if you get a flat, or just torque them gently and allow you to finish it with a torque wrench. AND BREAK THEM LOOSE FIRST, EACH ONE, JUST TO BE SURE THEY'RE NOT TOO TIGHT AGAIN! If you have the little L-shaped lug wrench that came with the car, in the jack kit, you can remove any lug nut. Just put the wrench on the nut with the handle sticking straight out to the left, and step up onto the end of the handle. THAT will break it loose. You can use a four-way wrench (the cross type) to loosen nuts that are suprisingly tight if you use the right technique. The arms of the wrench should stick out to either side (a little off won't hurt). Lean up and over the wrench. Then STRAIGHTEN BOTH ARMS as you hold the side arms of the wrench and turn it with your SHOULDERS AND BACK ONLY. This is a very strong form and you will not hurt your back. Once you break the nut loose you can cradle the end that is pointing toward you in your hand and spin the arms, loosening the nut quickly. The last one will be a little harder. Best regards, Mike