I've seen impact sockets that supposedly limit the torque put onto fasteners so they don't get too tight, specifically I've seen them marketed for use on lug nuts. Whats the deal with these ? Are they actually safe to use on lug nuts without any worry ? Are they ok to use on lock lugs (doubt it) ?
Lug nut impact
- Thread starter Rusty67
- Start date
Blacknwhitepit
Well-known member
This one has been hotly debated before. I have the extensions which limit the torque and have used them frequently (haven't had any lost wheels or warped rotors). I haven't ever tried it with locking lugs. Many will say that a torque wrench is all you need and that torque sticks are not "needed" tools.
-BWP
-BWP
Last edited:
As I understand it the torque sticks are tuned, once the target torque is reached they twist and the fastener doesn't see anymore of the impact gun impacts.
Three ways I see it could go.
Saves no time since the customer wants to have it explained why you didn't use a torque wrench.
Saves no time since you don't let the customer watch anyway and think the rattle gun does fine anyway.
Saves time, you figure they work, and like what they do.
My lug nuts go on with a torque wrench.
Three ways I see it could go.
Saves no time since the customer wants to have it explained why you didn't use a torque wrench.
Saves no time since you don't let the customer watch anyway and think the rattle gun does fine anyway.
Saves time, you figure they work, and like what they do.
My lug nuts go on with a torque wrench.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Wheel nuts go on my cars with a torque wrench.
Customer's wheel nuts go on with a 2135QTiMAX and a little of my experience.
Customer's wheel nuts go on with a 2135QTiMAX and a little of my experience.
BillK
Well-known member
z,
Last time I needed tires on my Tahoe, I left it at one of my customer's shop to do the job. When I got there to pick it up, they were just finishing the job using torque sticks. Drove it home an took out the torque wrench. Took almost 3/4 turn to get it to the correct torque. What does that tell you ??
Last time I needed tires on my Tahoe, I left it at one of my customer's shop to do the job. When I got there to pick it up, they were just finishing the job using torque sticks. Drove it home an took out the torque wrench. Took almost 3/4 turn to get it to the correct torque. What does that tell you ??
Chris Adams
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2007
- Messages
- 2,117
Well, I bought some awhile back. I've always used a torque wrench but after testing three times I just use the torque sticks.
Frankly they are as accurate as I am with the torque wrench.
As to saving time, yes it saves me a lot of time. Each wheel I was using the gun to spin them off, then put them back on lightly, then get out the torque wrench, get out the silver sockets, torque the 6 nuts down, lots of elbow grease there as my lugs go down 150 foot pounds.
Then move to the next wheel. To do 24 lug nuts with the torque wrench and the impact gun takes about 3 to 4 times as long as with the torque sticks. I just swap extensions once per wheel.
And it saves me manually jacking 24 lugs down to 150 in stages.
Makes the job lots less labor intensive.
If you are young and strong you may enjoy star pattern wrenching to 100 - 125-150 lbs 24 times.
I don't.
Frankly they are as accurate as I am with the torque wrench.
As to saving time, yes it saves me a lot of time. Each wheel I was using the gun to spin them off, then put them back on lightly, then get out the torque wrench, get out the silver sockets, torque the 6 nuts down, lots of elbow grease there as my lugs go down 150 foot pounds.
Then move to the next wheel. To do 24 lug nuts with the torque wrench and the impact gun takes about 3 to 4 times as long as with the torque sticks. I just swap extensions once per wheel.
And it saves me manually jacking 24 lugs down to 150 in stages.
Makes the job lots less labor intensive.
If you are young and strong you may enjoy star pattern wrenching to 100 - 125-150 lbs 24 times.
I don't.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
could have been that they used the wrong torque stick, one that limits to less than your car requires.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Torquesticks are a mechanic's timesaver. I would not recommend them for at home use because, I don't think anyone is trying to beat flate rate times at home. They are not a cure all. You have compare their accuarcy with the given cinditions you work under. If my airflow is constant, using this impact and stick combination, you compare the torquestick results with a torque wrench to see how close you are to the sticks value. In some shops you may have to use a 120 ftlb stick to get 100ftlbs or the other way. Torquesticks wear out like any other tool as does your impact. You need to compare results occasionally to see if you're still in the ball park.
Chris Adams
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2007
- Messages
- 2,117
That they were putting the lug nuts down to a different foot pound?
Costco thinks my F-150 should be torqued to 90 lbs. They insist, it's in their book. My owner's manual says 150.
They use torque wrenches, then I still have to retorque every wheel on everything I take in.
They are always consistent, but consistently wrong.
On my Class A they put them down to 140. They are only supposed to go to 90.
Torque sticks don't fix stupid.
Neither does a torque wrench.
Ask them what they think your lugs are supposed to go down to, and check that they are using the right stick.
Bet a beer they ain't.
l_bilyk
Well-known member
You know what works well? Lets say you are trying to hit 80. Use a 70 torque stick then quickly go back and snug them up with a torgue wrench. Quick and accurate
I just use one of the cross lug wrenches and I'm damn close to dead on every time anyways. I just want a way to do it faster because jacking a car up, blocking and puting stands under the car is the only process I hate more then installing/removing the wheels.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Lyaec350
Well-known member
Over time torque sticks lose their elasticity and don't torque as tightly as they did when new. The best/quickest method is to use a stick with less than what you want the final torque to be and snug them up with a torque wrench to the final value. I use torque sticks all the time at home, its really nice as it means you can hammer the nuts down with the impact the first time around and not have to spin each one on w/ ratchet then torque wrench.
shamrock12
Well-known member
Thought I'd bring this topic back up. I am curious whether if the torsion stick can be used to remove lug nuts that is torqued down more than what the stick is rated for? It would have to be a pain to swap two different extensions if they cannot be used that way.
tatra
Well-known member
i just tighten til the stud breaks and then back it off half a turn..........no need for torque sticks or wrenches as no repeat business seems to come my way and thats just fine cuz work just interferes with drinking..........
Torque sticks aren't for removing lug nuts.
Work shouldn't interfere with your drinking, just focus on small tasks.
What the guys do at one local shop is to spin on the lug nuts with a cordless impact to hits 60-75 ftlbs, then follow up with the tire on the ground with the torque wrench. The air impact is only used to remove lug nuts.
Work shouldn't interfere with your drinking, just focus on small tasks.
What the guys do at one local shop is to spin on the lug nuts with a cordless impact to hits 60-75 ftlbs, then follow up with the tire on the ground with the torque wrench. The air impact is only used to remove lug nuts.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
You definately have to keep an eye on some places. They will use an impact to drive the lug nuts on, then go back and torque them. What a lot of people do not realize is that the lugs can be way past torque but the torque wrench will still click at the right poundage. I had some new wheels put on a few years ago, the new kid in the shop ran the nuts on full bore, then proceeded to torque to proper spec. I made him break them all back down by hand and check each one for balance. He had a heck of a time breaking the nuts loose with a breaker bar. The owner finally showed him the proper way to do it and how to adjust the impact.
spencerian
Well-known member
You still work there? I had to quit! $12.50/frh didn't pay my bills.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
That kinda **** just pisses me off! Generally speaking, when I need wheel or tire work, I take the wheels off in my garage, put them in my truck and take them to get worked on. Then I put them back on. To my specs. With my TQ wrench. Never been happier.
I bought an genius set form this site, I liked them and the quality seems fine, I use it with my milwaukee v28 impact, as you can't limit torque on it, and they help then I use my 1/2 snap on torque wrench to make sure the lugs are on correctly and I use a stick a little less like 5 pounds less, and it is about right when I use the torque wrench. Here is a picture, also engenius have a lifetime warranty...
http://www.torquestick.com/cart/customer/product.php?productid=27&cat=17&page=1
http://www.torquestick.com/cart/customer/product.php?productid=27&cat=17&page=1
Attachments
kythri
Well-known member
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I usually use one of my 2135s and some experience (as said earlier) or a 24" breaker bar and some feel/experience. No comebacks so far.
That kinda **** just pisses me off! Generally speaking, when I need wheel or tire work, I take the wheels off in my garage, put them in my truck and take them to get worked on. Then I put them back on. To my specs. With my TQ wrench. Never been happier.
The best way to do it & having the lift makes this easy
Lyaec350
Well-known member
I'm glad you don't work on my car.
I don't care how much "experience" you have. If you don't trust it for your own personal vehicle the "experience" clearly is not worth much.
Torque stick 10 lbs less than final torque + torque wrench = accurate and quick, there is really no justification for shortcuts aside from laziness.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
When i work on my own cars, i have as much time as i want. When you're running a tyre shop and have 20+ cars a day in a 2-bay shop with 3 guys, time is of the escence and you need to work fast.
I'm also glad i don't work on your car, if you don't trust my experience and judgement in this, you can take it elsewhere. No worries over here.
I'm also glad i don't work on your car, if you don't trust my experience and judgement in this, you can take it elsewhere. No worries over here.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
When i work on my own cars, i have as much time as i want. When you're running a tyre shop and have 20+ cars a day in a 2-bay shop with 3 guys, time is of the escence and you need to work fast.
I'm also glad i don't work on your car, if you don't trust my experience and judgement in this, you can take it elsewhere. No worries over here.
That kinda **** just pisses me off! Generally speaking, when I need wheel or tire work, I take the wheels off in my garage, put them in my truck and take them to get worked on. Then I put them back on. To my specs. With my TQ wrench. Never been happier.
If they don't know how to torque the wheels properly, why assume they do any other part of the job well?
That said I do my own wheels because even the local shops that use a torque wrench etc. can't seem to remember where the proper lift points are on a 928.
Lyaec350
Well-known member
Sounds like you work in a top notch shop where you do quality work without shortcuts, you should really be proud of yourself
Funny, when I PAY someone to change my tires I don't expect the "privilege" of an uneducated gorilla with an impact wrench relying on his "experience".
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Well how about this, i'll stick to working on my own cars and my customers' car. You can do whatever the hell you like with yours, fix it yourself, take it to someone else, push it off a cliff, i don't care. Then we can carry on our separate ways, the cars i work on will continue without issues caused by myself, and your car can end up however fate decides. 
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Actually, it is more of a convenience. And, like the 928, most people don't know how to properly lift a C4 Corvette.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I watched my old boss jack up a brand new Ford Transit van by the sills and completely crush and buckle them. I told him you couldn't lift off the sills and had to lift them off the chassis rails..
Similarly seen plenty of guys crush the sills on all sort of cars.
Similarly seen plenty of guys crush the sills on all sort of cars.