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What Impact Socket for wheel removal

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texchappy

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Oct 31, 2012
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Lubbock, TX
Got a 3/8" Impact Wrench (air powered) to make it easier on me to remove wheels. Now I need to get impact sockets to go with it.

For the task at hand, can someone recommend sockets to get? any particular features handy - thin wall, etc?

TIA,
Tony

BTW, I'll use a ratchet and my torque wrench to put the wheels back on.
 
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kamesama980

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columbus, IN
Are you asking for brands or sizes?

Home use or shop use?

probably 90% of vehicles have 19 or 21mm lug nuts. Some older european stuff has 18mm, bigger stuff (3/4 ton trucks and up) might have 22 or 24mm.

If it's for shop use, get a set of thin wall sockets with the plastic sleeves. I saw a lot of people with them back when I did that stuff, wish I'd gotten some myself.

For home use, find a socket that fits your wheel and wheel nuts. If a thick wall works, great (it's cheaper).

Just remember not to use an impact on locking lug nuts. baaaaaaad things....few stories from when I was in the shop...
 
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taterdog

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If its chevy, chrysler or hyundai its 19/21/ and 7/8".


I use a bluepoint 19/21 thinwall flip socket all day long. But i also have a set of craftsman impact sockets for anything not 19/21
 
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texchappy

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It's for my home use. I have a '94 Jag XJS and my wife an '07 Acura MDX. Along with an occasional friends car.

Brands would be ok but mainly looking for 'features' like thin wall etc. As a shade tree mech I'm relearning as I haven't had the time since high school to work on my own cars. I'm also looking for things to make it easier since my limbs have gotten weaker due to a nerve disease.
 
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blackz26

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Byesville, Ohio
For impact sockets, for home use, get the cheapest possible. For as much work as they'll (probably) get, any brand will do. Walmart has a 10 piece set of 5/5 metric/sae for $20 bucks. Usually by the audio. I should be pulling the trigger on them soon.
 
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pmohr

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Maryville, TN
Genius has some very nice sets for cheap, I've been using their 3/8" impact sockets (full set 7-22mm inclusive, short and deep) all day every day at work for years now, never had a problem with them.

If I ever get around to needing more than the 4 1/2" impact sockets I use now (not counting axle nut sockets), I'll be picking up another one of their sets.
 
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HaroRider

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Long or short you mean?

Most impact sockets are thick walled in comparison to regular chrome sockets.
 
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chris142

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apple valley,ca
What kind of 3/8 impact did you buy? Only the high dollar ones will remove lugnuts. The exception being the earthquake gun
 
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bran1har

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CT
Not to be bad news, but you probably would have wanted to get a 1/2in impact for lugs. 3/8 doesn't always cut it. But as for the sockets, just get a set at harbor freight. I've had em for years never a problem and they are cheap.
 
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Roverbo

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Oct 25, 2012
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Denmark
kamesama980 said:
probably 90% of vehicles have 19 or 21mm lug nuts. Some older european stuff has 18mm, bigger stuff (3/4 ton trucks and up) might have 22 or 24mm....
Click to expand...

...and then some guy turns up with his old Range Rover, and you will need a 1 1/16" (27 mm) too...:D
 
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jjjrmx5

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Gotmayhem said:
Never had an issue and have never seen anything happen.
Click to expand...

Guess you never worked on a Porsche from the 70's, 80's or 90's with steel studs and aluminum lug nuts.

A modern impact will rip that **** to shreads in nothing flat.

Price 20 aluminum OEM black lugs via POA and get back to me. A 1/2 weeks pay I bet ya.

Assume all cars use the same set up is a recipe for failure.
 
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texchappy

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Lubbock, TX
The reason I asked about damage was that it was mentioned on my Jag forum. Apparently the stainless coated lugs on my XJS are a bit fragile.
 
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Gotmayhem

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jjjrmx5 said:
Guess you never worked on a Porsche from the 70's, 80's or 90's with steel studs and aluminum lug nuts.

A modern impact will rip that **** to shreads in nothing flat.

Price 20 aluminum OEM black lugs via POA and get back to me. A 1/2 weeks pay I bet ya.

Assume all cars use the same set up is a recipe for failure.
Click to expand...

90's yes, 70/80's no.

I apologize to the OP if I just helped him screw up his 70's Porsche.
 
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freedomgli

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nova
Some vehicles use wheel bolts, could be internal or external hex. Also, impact sockets will tear up many lightweight high-performance aftermarket wheels with small diameter / deep lug bores. Many of those wheels necessitate spline drive or thin wall lug nuts that require a special tool. That special tool usually has a hex adapter but I wouldn't put it in an impact driver. I'd only remove/ install them with hand tools.
 
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jjjrmx5

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Gotmayhem said:
90's yes, 70/80's no.

I apologize to the OP if I just helped him screw up his 70's Porsche.
Click to expand...

Porsche was still using alum. lug nuts well into the 90's.

Work as a track tech at any race track and you knew what was what.

Steel open nuts were required for racing on steel studs until the lug bolts came into play via the VAG.

But you knew that. Or not.
 
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