breaker bars

[jd_1138]

I finally broke down and ordered a breaker bar. With the 20% off coupon, it came to eight bucks and change for the 25" one from HF. And I got another 6 piece screw driver set for free (with coupon). I can't wait to receive it.

I am tired of using the tiny and utter **** tire tool that came with my car. Last time I used it, the sides of the cheap tire tool bent after I removed the wheels after getting it back from the shop (the mechanic over-torqued the lugs). This breaker bar is going in my car along with a 19MM socket for the lug nuts.

I used my friend's Cornwell breaker bar the other day and loved it. He keeps it and a floor jack in the trunk of his retired Crown Vic Interceptor police car. He's a practical man. Factory supplied jacks and tire tools are too Mickey Mouse.

 

[TwoInch]

i always recommend to car owners, that they buy one of the 25" HF bars and a dedicated socket to keep with their jack in the car. for ten bucks or less, its worth every penny to have it when you are stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire and a stubby little factory lug bar.

 

[BK13]

Shoulda used a coupon for the 1/2" torque wrench, too.

 

[Farmall450]

Shoulda used a coupon for the 1/2" torque wrench, too.

What I was thinking...!

 

[WildwoodChuck]

I have a Tool Shop (Menards) Breaker bar in grip clips on the plastic skirt down on the side of my truck seat and a Klien pouch with 17mm, 19mm, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16 sockets and a 6" extension under the driver seat.

 

[Exceller8]

Those HF bars are pretty nice for the $$$.

 

[volvo92906]

I bought a small plastic truck box thing from Sears and I always keep my own tools in the car. I keep an OEM mechanical scissor jack, 3/8 HF breaker bar with a 1/2" adapter, a 1/2" drive 3/4" socket, and a 1/2" ratchet in the box which is no larger than a shoe box. It all works very well when I need to do roadside work and doesnt take up much space at all.

I went out and got a HF 12V impact. Havent used it yet, even just to try out.

Like you, the first time I used that cheap bar that came with the car kit it bent and twisted. Junk.. And the lugs were NOT overtorqued.

 

[zkling]

If you were really a tool-o-haulic, you would keep a gas powered impact wrench and quick lift floor jack in your trunk.

 

[AlexNGreen]

I always keep one of these in the truck with a set of sockets. Hasn't let me down yet.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Do the same thing as most of you.

25in 1/2 drive breaker bar with a 19MM socket (for winter wheels) and a 13/16 for the summer wheels both stored in my "Gun" compartment (my guess is it's supposed to be for umbrellas, but it is perfect for long tools or a rifle).

For $15, it was well worth it versus having to struggle with that stupid tool they provide.

Now that someone mentioned, the 1/2 torque wrench might not be a bad idea, but I would be worried about calibration due to being bounced around.

 

[volvo92906]

Now that someone mentioned, the 1/2 torque wrench might not be a bad idea, but I would be worried about calibration due to being bounced around.

When I have to put my spare on, it is just that, a spare. I also carry a plug kit just in case.. But I am not too concerned about torque since I plan on replacing or repairing the tire ASAP. I understand the reasoning for it.. But honestly with something so temporary, I trust the backyard mechanic way of doing it. "Tight is Right"

 

[WildwoodChuck]

I check the air pressuer and lug torqe all the way around before I go out of town for work twice a month, every time I tow my trailers out of town or whenever I tow a trailer that isnt mine.

 

[Loscaldazar]

When I have to put my spare on, it is just that, a spare. I also carry a plug kit just in case.. But I am not too concerned about torque since I plan on replacing or repairing the tire ASAP. I understand the reasoning for it.. But honestly with something so temporary, I trust the backyard mechanic way of doing it. "Tight is Right"

I just hate not *knowing* if the wheel is on at the correct spec. I'm a little OCD though....not that I've ever had a flat before (at least, not one where the car was drivable after it-went off the side of a bridge and blew both front tires once...).

 

[ajchien]

i always recommend to car owners, that they buy one of the 25" HF bars and a dedicated socket to keep with their jack in the car. for ten bucks or less, its worth every penny to have it when you are stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire and a stubby little factory lug bar.

I have exactly as you say. Breaker bar & socket in the trunk of both cars, and they have already been used. The only thing is that I don't see the need For a 25" breaker. Something 17-18" should be more than plenty of torque for someone to loosen lug nuts without much strain. And that length fits for storage much easier.

 

[03protege]

I just hate not *knowing* if the wheel is on at the correct spec. I'm a little OCD though....not that I've ever had a flat before (at least, not one where the car was drivable after it-went off the side of a bridge and blew both front tires once...).

If it makes you feeling any better, before I bought a torque wrench I removed and replaced my wheels 100s of times and never had an issue.

 

[TwoInch]

Something 17-18" should be more than plenty of torque for someone to loosen lug nuts without much strain. And that length fits for storage much easier.

never had a shop put lugs on way to tight? or have them seize up or gall where its a fight every turn all the way off?


18" bar is fine for a 200lb man, but i was talking more along the lines of your average non mechanic type person, woman, teenager, older person. i have seen many people struggle to get lugs off. that extra 7 or 8 inches can help a lot in those situations.

 

[dslabuda]

I have exactly as you say. Breaker bar & socket in the trunk of both cars, and they have already been used. The only thing is that I don't see the need For a 25" breaker. Something 17-18" should be more than plenty of torque for someone to loosen lug nuts without much strain. And that length fits for storage much easier.

never had a shop put lugs on way to tight? or have them seize up or gall where its a fight every turn all the way off?


18" bar is fine for a 200lb man, but i was talking more along the lines of your average non mechanic type person, woman, teenager, older person. i have seen many people struggle to get lugs off. that extra 7 or 8 inches can help a lot in those situations.

So on one hand: "it's not the size of your bar, it's how you use it"

and on the other "when it comes time to get dirty*, every inch helps".

*changing a tire (of course)




In all seriousness I'd view the bigger bar as insurance. Its good to have that extra leverage when you need it. If you can store the bigger bar, do it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

 

[jd_1138]

Shoulda used a coupon for the 1/2" torque wrench, too.

Yep, I have one of those coupons, and the torque wrench was in my cart on the website, but my tool budget is laughable at the moment, so I had to remove it from my cart and just settle for the breaker bar and the free set of screwdrivers. So it will have to wait until a couple of weeks.

I wish the breaker bar would've arrived already. I had to go to my mother-in-law's this morning to change a flat on their SUV using the crappy factory tire tool. Her lugs were over-torqued too. I actually had to stand on the tire tool and jump, and I weigh 220 pounds.

Now I know why you guys are OCD about getting tools.

 

[WildwoodChuck]

42" long 3/4" drive with a 3/4" to 1/2" reducer got any lug nuts/bolts I have come across loose, even the trailer frame I had in my driveway it worked even better when I noticed the L stamped on the lug bolt and turned it the other way.

I am working on 3/4", 13/16", 7/8", 15/16" 17mm and 19mm deep well 3/4" drive for the garage.

 

[shocksandstrutz]

those HF breaker bars are great, i have three, just gave one to the kid across the street, needed to remove body bolts ona 1950 bel air he wanted to strip and start working on the chassis.........he was doing it witha little 3/8 husky ratchet and a piece of copper pipe......guess i used to be like that too long time ago....i had extras, his face lit up when i handed it to him!!

 

[pipsters]

FWIW those 12v impacts that plug in or tie into the battery work really well actually. The one sold at Wal-Mart is actually pretty good.

 

[mister_two]

I used that same breaker bar to break loose the Accord's crankshaft pulley bolt to do the timing belt. I did add a cheater pipe (about 6 feet) to add leverage.

I give that bar a big thumbs up, use it to change wheels all the time.

 

[Cryptic1911]

I find it odd how many people don't have breaker bars

 

[03protege]

I used that same breaker bar to break loose the Accord's crankshaft pulley bolt to do the timing belt. I did add a cheater pipe (about 6 feet) to add leverage.

I give that bar a big thumbs up, use it to change wheels all the time.

I used mine with a 6ft cheater to remove my axle nuts, I thought for sure it would be the death of it when I was bouncing up and down on the end of the six foot extension but it didn't let me down.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I have a few breaker bars

a 1/4" (Grey) and 3/8" (Snap On) drives which I never use, plus 2 1/2" drive ones (Beta and Canadian Tire) which get used

 

[jd_1138]

I find it odd how many people don't have breaker bars

I think most people don't grasp the physics/mechanical aspects of what a breaker bar even is -- let alone actually spend their Starbucks money on one.

 

[rival904]

never had a shop put lugs on way to tight? or have them seize up or gall where its a fight every turn all the way off?


18" bar is fine for a 200lb man, but i was talking more along the lines of your average non mechanic type person, woman, teenager, older person. i have seen many people struggle to get lugs off. that extra 7 or 8 inches can help a lot in those situations.

Funny, I work at a high volume, nationwide tire chain.

We get people that come in and ***** at us that their tire was to hard to change because we tightened it to much,

heres the process.

Wheels get removed, service or whatever is completed

Tire gets put back onto car, lugnuts hand tight.
Then lugs are hit with an impact using a yellow torque stick("allegedly" 65ftlbs)
Car is lowered until tires are kissing the pavement.
Person 1 torques car to manufacture spec in a star pattern, and then in a circle.
Person then retorques all wheels again to manufacture spec.

This is every car, every wheel, every day.

 

[jd_1138]

We get people that come in and ***** at us that their tire was to hard to change because we tightened it to much, .

Sounds like you guys need to have a rack of breaker bars for sale at the register and have a chart explaining basic physics and mechanical leverage. The customers are probably all using the absolute rubbish tire tools that came with their vehicles.

 

[mrg7243]

I dont have a breaker bar. Several years ago my friend made me a 2.5ft cheater bar out of metal stock. One end for my 1/2 ratchet 1 end for my 1/4 ratchet. Never had a problem except when I broke a ratchet gear on the 1/4(should have used the 1/2).

Though I should get a breaker bar one day. I have other tools I need to buy first.

 

[jd_1138]

I dont have a breaker bar. Several years ago my friend made me a 2.5ft cheater bar out of metal stock. One end for my 1/2 ratchet 1 end for my 1/4 ratchet. Never had a problem except when I broke a ratchet gear on the 1/4(should have used the 1/2).

Though I should get a breaker bar one day. I have other tools I need to buy first.

With a HF coupon, you can get a 25" breaker bar for $8 bucks. That busted ratchet probably was worth a lot more than eight bucks.

 

[WildwoodChuck]

How much are teeth worth when it blows out the next ratchet?

 

[Cryptic1911]

I dont have a breaker bar. Several years ago my friend made me a 2.5ft cheater bar out of metal stock. One end for my 1/2 ratchet 1 end for my 1/4 ratchet. Never had a problem except when I broke a ratchet gear on the 1/4(should have used the 1/2).

Though I should get a breaker bar one day. I have other tools I need to buy first.

exactly why breaker bars exist!

I remember arguing with a guy who was convinced he had to buy snap on ratchets so that they would hold up to abuse with a cheater bar, because he didn't have time to be changing from ratchets to breaker bars all the time.. but when he did break one, the snap on guy would replace it.. next week when he came by.

 

[jd_1138]

exactly why breaker bars exist!

I remember arguing with a guy who was convinced he had to buy snap on ratchets so that they would hold up to abuse with a cheater bar, because he didn't have time to be changing from ratchets to breaker bars all the time.. but when he did break one, the snap on guy would replace it.. next week when he came by.

He probably spent more time waiting on the Snappy truck to swap busted ratchets than it would have taken to switch to a breaker bar on the various repair jobs he did.

 

[zkling]

I find it odd how many people don't have breaker bars

I love breaker bars. Actually I probably use my 1/4" proto breaker bar more than my 1/4" ratchet. I am much faster with it. 90° to break loose, quick flip to 180° to spin the fastener out. 3/8" is more like a 50/50 split between ratchet and breaker bar.

I much prefer the round, semi short, knurled, 1/4 and 3/8 breaker bars as they can double as a spinner handle.