Ratcheting Breaker Bar?

[hguerrero]

anyone here ever use one? i had a flat recently and thought...damn there's got to be an easier/faster way to remove the lug nuts...
first thought that comes to mind is "trunk monkey", followed by "a midget"....but that could get expensive....
so i found something on amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018MK4T6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

add a deep 19mm socket, shove it in the trunk and good to go right?

your thoughts?

 

[Red Green]

I would rather have a plain breaker bar and the Snap-on ratcheting adapter. I know it would be some more money but I think that would break as soon as you step on it to break the lug nuts loose.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think I would opt for a craftsman 1/2 drive flex head ratchet instead. When I broke it through use or abuse, I could easily warranty it at my local sears. At over 16 inches long, it would provide enough torque for most lug nuts and it's about the same price if you catch a sale or use a coupon. Your results may vary.

 

[hguerrero]

hmmm hadn't thought about that...
i've got a husky 1/2 breaker bar...made back when they didn't bend...
what would a snap on ratcheting adapter cost??

I would rather have a plain breaker bar and the Snap-on ratcheting adapter. I know it would be some more money but I think that would break as soon as you step on it to break the lug nuts loose.

 

[Red Green]

They were alot more than I was thinking almost $80
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=2900&group_ID=357&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Edit: Ebay has several from $40 down to $9.99 plus shipping

 

[hguerrero]

"insert long whistle here" pricey..
maybe a 1/2 ratchet would work...just not sure it would have the leverage needed to break loose a lugnut....

They were alot more than I was thinking almost $80
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=2900&group_ID=357&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[ImportTuner]

That Grip looks identical to the Titan I bought from thetoolwarehouse.net ..

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/TTN-12018.html

 

[krusty the clown]

why would you need a ratchet attatchment on a breaker bar? i think if i wanted a ratchet i'd use a ratchet. the idea behind a breaker bar is to break the fastener loose WITHOUT having a ratchet that could possibly be damaged by the necessary force of removal.

 

[hguerrero]

i think its the same thing...just rebranded...
have you put much torque on it?

That Grip looks identical to the Titan I bought from thetoolwarehouse.net ..

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/TTN-12018.html

 

[ratchet_gear]

I have the Titan as well which I got at Northern Tool. Supposedly it is rated to 376 ft. lbs. of torque which I haven't had to apply yet. So far it’s been good.

 

[ImportTuner]

i think its the same thing...just rebranded...
have you put much torque on it?

I've used it alot for removing lug nuts when my impact was not available; the reason I bought it was to put in the trunk for road emergencies and I didn't want to spend alot of money. I already have a 24" Matco ratchet and a 24" Snap On ratchet.

 

[hguerrero]

that's exactly what i need it for....

I've used it alot for removing lug nuts when my impact was not available; the reason I bought it was to put in the trunk for road emergencies and I didn't want to spend alot of money. I already have a 24" Matco ratchet and a 24" Snap On ratchet.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Make one.

Broken torque wrench (much heavier teeth than a ratchet) + cheap breaker bar =

 

[chammyman]

thats the one I was thinking of when I read this topic. Thats the way to do it.

I assume you still haven't broken it or the weld yet then?

 

[Danglerb]

Gorilla Power lug wrench, $25 shipped on ebay. (handle extends)

 

[Frank Elson]

That's the one .
Undo nuts with the handle extended, then tighten then with it pushed in. That way you don't overtighten the nuts.

...although you would put the torque wrench on when you get home of course.

 

[nissan_crawler]

thats the one I was thinking of when I read this topic. Thats the way to do it.

I assume you still haven't broken it or the weld yet then?

Negative. She's nice and happy. I've sheared 1/2" bolts with it.

 

[sicnarf247]

I'm thinking about buying one too. Ratcheting titan might be interesting.. some diesel connections don't just "break free" and lose all pressure after the first quarter turn.. they don't get easier till your almost done removing it. So that's the reason. I'm living without it but if it works well it will make those jobs so much easier since theirs limited space

 

[sicnarf247]

So it's been a long while. Which did you buy and how's it turning out?

 

[iScream]

Doesn't anyone just use a 4 way lug wrench?

 

[dragonballz]

A ratcheting breaker bar is useful when doing alignments. I used it to adjust rear camber/toe on Hondas and Toyotas.

The HF ratcheting breaker bar *****. I broke the ratcheting mechanism on 2 of them. Now they are just regular breaker bars.

You should not need to ratchet wheel lug nuts on or off. If you do, the threads have been stretched from overtorqueing. You should be able to finger the nuts off after breaking them loose.

 

[anndel]

I bought a 1/2 inch, 20 in long Armstrong breaker bar and it did great, busting most nuts/bolts. A lot of swearing helps as well

 

[ttpete]

I've still got my old reliable 4-way. Works fine, and is quicker to spin the nuts off and on.

 

[JJThrasher]

I used to keep the $10 HF breaker bar with a socket in my cars. 25" is long enough to make car lugs easy. Plus cheap enough not to worry about it. Now days I don't even carry a spare tire so I guess it doesn't matter much for me.