Torque&Recoil
Well-known member
Hate to say it, but that is our personal experience with AAA. 3 hour wait is typical. I suspect the AAA rate is much less than others, so the tow truck companies take care of everyone else first.
What tool for a lady to remove tight lug nuts?
- Thread starter kh21
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Re-torque your lug nuts to the correct value, this way if you need to remove them in the future you'll know they are not over-torqued. Also, when you're doing this, do a test to find if your lug wrench is sufficient for you or if you need to enhance it.
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Hobby_Man22
Well-known member
I carry the same thing in all my vehicles along with a 3 piece lug nut socket kit. I can't remove lugs with those 4 ways either.
When you get settled... Crack loosen all of the wheel lugs or nuts using the mentioned tools, clean the threads, apply a miniscule amount of anti seize, and and properly torque tighten the fasteners.
You ought to be able to easily remove the fasteners in the future with tools on hand.
You ought to be able to easily remove the fasteners in the future with tools on hand.
yhprum
Well-known member
^ this is what I was going to suggest!
rsanter
Well-known member
36” breaker bar from harbor freight and the right sized socket.
I have done this for years and I'm a grown man who works out. There is no reason to strain and injure yourself just because the tire technician used all the ugga-duggas the last time you bought new tires.
You can break the wheel studs/bolts.
Careful about putting too much at the wrong angle.
Advantage electric or torque multiplier.
A good socket and tight geometry can work too.
Using cheater pipe on a 4-way ... very easy to break. (Use jack or such to keep 4-way even.)
Properly torqued, proper tools, and practice. Uneasy about anti-seize, but a good idea. Can be useful for keeping the wheel from sticking even with bolts loose. (Lower jack etc.)
Careful about putting too much at the wrong angle.
Advantage electric or torque multiplier.
A good socket and tight geometry can work too.
Using cheater pipe on a 4-way ... very easy to break. (Use jack or such to keep 4-way even.)
Properly torqued, proper tools, and practice. Uneasy about anti-seize, but a good idea. Can be useful for keeping the wheel from sticking even with bolts loose. (Lower jack etc.)
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carcruse
Well-known member
I agree with Larry. The piece of pipe should have an inside diameter so that it barely fits over the breaker bar to make the breaker bar longer. I'd get a pipe about 18" long so that with say 6" slipped over the breaker bar you would get an extra foot of leverage if the breaker bar alone won't loosen them. If the lug nuts still won't loosen, stand on the pipe
Metal-Marc
Well-known member
My money is on that it was a one and done post, but she understood what she was asking, unlike the unteachable folks in the other thread.
She gets points for having an understanding of what she wanted to accomplish and how to ask it.
Personally I'd recommend a road service contract to any woman, younger child or an older adult. Solely based on the roads today and the way some jackwagons drive these days. If said Jackwagons can run into a Fire Truck or Police Car displaying lights nobody is safe on the side of the road.
On this recommendation I would still suggest having the breaker bar and the correct socket in the vehicle and knowing how to do it.
I suggest a Milwaukee, M18 impact, because friends don't let friends buy DeWalt, or other Black & Decker, products.
Once I pulled into a campground. There was a note on the board basically said: Bill, I hope you made it. I had a great time and I brought a bottle of wine. I'll be in spot 9. There were men camped for 5 spots on each side of site 9. Site 9 was empty.
One thing that has not been mentioned in the above. You may have to get an extension to go with your breaker bar if the wheel has much of an offset. You really want to get the head of the breaker bar out far enough that it is a ninety degree angle to the socket/extension for the maximum transfer of torque.
lg
no neat sig line
lg
no neat sig line
Hooked
Well-known member
Years back I got a 30" breaker bar and appropriated sized socket for both my daughters to keep in their vehicles. Fortunately, neither has been used yet. However, after seeing the torque multiplier reference, I'm ordering one of those to test on my truck. If it works well then I'll get them for my daughters.
I had experience last week with very over tightened lug nuts while supervising my grandson changing brake pads.
I had experience last week with very over tightened lug nuts while supervising my grandson changing brake pads.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I bet most of the posts like this are trolls. A little lady looking from help from a bunch of guys. Probably some neckbeard in mom's basement
The engagement shows that it works
The engagement shows that it works
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donthetoolman
Member
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Never use your weight by standing on any tool them four ways have a tendency to break in the middle I know this because when I was young and dumb I done that and let's just say I felt just as bad as if I would of gotten jumped by eight guys in a dark alley so once was enough for me like others had mentioned use a 24 inch breaker bar carry a cheater pipe with you a cordless impact is still a good idea but you're still going to need the breaker bar just in case for some reason the impact decides not to workI'm a petite middle-aged woman and I had a flat tire on my car yesterday afternoon. I know how to change a tire, but I was unable to loosen 3 out of 4 lug nuts. I used a lug wrench (the crossbar type) but I just couldn't get them to budge. I had to find a man to ask, thankfully I was in a parking lot. But had I been on the side of the road, this could've been potentially dangerous.
I'm not sure if I'm just too weak, or if the lug nuts were possibly overtightened. Would a breaker bar be better or should I look at something like these roadside impact wrenches that run off the car's battery via the cigarette socket?
I guess I could get both. I guess the point is that a man removed the remaining lug nuts with the lug wrench, so clearly I was not strong enough. Is a breaker bar gonna help me in this situation? I was trying to use my weight with the lug wrench, and I tried pulling and pushing. I exhausted myself. I asked the man to help and he loosened them like it was nothin'.
I would appreciate advice. This is the second time I've had a flat and was not able to loosen the lug nuts. I don't want to be in this situation again.
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I have one for my semi. Removal is slow but almost effortless. And those are ~500 ft-lbs when torqued correctly.
y'sguy
Well-known member
Reading these responses…A Mansplaining fest. Probably in record time.
so while we're at it a quick shot of some wd-40 or kroil before attempting to loosen things up. My vote and what I carry a long breaker, which is a HF torque wrench with an extension. No batteries required.
To add: If one might be having this many flats, they might want to check into a better quality tire. Now, that's a whole new subject on buying tires at the tire store from THE GUY.
so while we're at it a quick shot of some wd-40 or kroil before attempting to loosen things up. My vote and what I carry a long breaker, which is a HF torque wrench with an extension. No batteries required.
To add: If one might be having this many flats, they might want to check into a better quality tire. Now, that's a whole new subject on buying tires at the tire store from THE GUY.
I don't feel like rereading the thread but I think they were suggesting a torque wrench to properly torque the lug nuts to make them easier for next time.
Metal-Marc
Well-known member
Mansplaining is man explaining to woman, for the ladies out there who might not know what it means.Mansplaining?
She literally started the thread for advice.
It wasn't entirely clear, so I thought I'd mention it just in case
No it has a negative connotation as @hobie18 explained.
fang123
Well-known member
Pittsburgh Pro 25"breaker bar from harbor freight, with a cheap socket thrown in the trunk.
Shiftless
Well-known member
It must not be so hard if pics like this are to be believed,
Simply unscrew them with a handy little tool while you are chatting on your phone.
Simply unscrew them with a handy little tool while you are chatting on your phone.
Metal-Marc
Well-known member
Jim_No_Garage
Well-known member
All of our vehicles have the oft mentioned HF 25" breaker bar and a socket that fits the lug nuts.
I keep a set of flip-sockets in 2 of the vehicles I normally drive to help other drivers if needed.
Costco Michelin jump boxes were given to everyone this Christmas and each car also has standard jumper cables.
Cheers
Jim
I keep a set of flip-sockets in 2 of the vehicles I normally drive to help other drivers if needed.
Costco Michelin jump boxes were given to everyone this Christmas and each car also has standard jumper cables.
Cheers
Jim
Metal-Marc
Well-known member
Impressive first post. Congrats!
What made you decide to jump into this conversation?
rzims
Well-known member
I just bought 2 of these and the corresponding sockets. 1 to keep in the old truck and 1 to put in my wife's car.Find the cheapest and longest breaker you can find, probably at least 24" long and 1/2" drive .
1/2 in. Drive 25 in. Breaker Bar
Amazing deals on this 1/2In Dr 25In Breaker Bar at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.www.harborfreight.com
Menard's has a 30" version but I doubt there are any in your area.
Then something similar to these, just make sure to get a set with the appropriate sized socket for your car.
www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-impact-flip-socket-set-3-piece-62491.html
aka Larry
Well-known member
We also can't assume the OP was turning the 4-way lug wrench in the correct direction.
We have a guy here at work that was told to change the tire on our 4'x8' utility trailer. After about 15 mins he came to ask me what he was doing wrong so I asked him to show me how he was attempting to remove the tire. Sure enough he was turning the lug wrench clockwise.
You'd be surprised at how many people have never heard the mantra of "lefty-loosey" & "righty-tighty".
We have a guy here at work that was told to change the tire on our 4'x8' utility trailer. After about 15 mins he came to ask me what he was doing wrong so I asked him to show me how he was attempting to remove the tire. Sure enough he was turning the lug wrench clockwise.
You'd be surprised at how many people have never heard the mantra of "lefty-loosey" & "righty-tighty".
We don't need to assume, but we do need to know how to read:
I'm a petite middle-aged woman and I had a flat tire on my car yesterday afternoon. I know how to change a tire, but I was unable to loosen 3 out of 4 lug nuts. I used a lug wrench (the crossbar type) but I just couldn't get them to budge. I had to find a man to ask, thankfully I was in a parking lot. But had I been on the side of the road, this could've been potentially dangerous.
I'm not sure if I'm just too weak, or if the lug nuts were possibly overtightened. Would a breaker bar be better or should I look at something like these roadside impact wrenches that run off the car's battery via the cigarette socket?
I guess I could get both. I guess the point is that a man removed the remaining lug nuts with the lug wrench, so clearly I was not strong enough. Is a breaker bar gonna help me in this situation? I was trying to use my weight with the lug wrench, and I tried pulling and pushing. I exhausted myself. I asked the man to help and he loosened them like it was nothin'.
I would appreciate advice. This is the second time I've had a flat and was not able to loosen the lug nuts. I don't want to be in this situation again.
Didn't the OP indicate that she could not get three loose?
aka Larry
Well-known member
Hope you don't have those SS clad lug nuts...
As others have suggested HF breaker bar and a proper sized socket and maybe short extension to clear the fender bulge...
The only other suggestion would be to keep a square of cardboard to work on (gravel poking the kneecaps isn't a great feeling)
As others have suggested HF breaker bar and a proper sized socket and maybe short extension to clear the fender bulge...
The only other suggestion would be to keep a square of cardboard to work on (gravel poking the kneecaps isn't a great feeling)
andyvh1959
Well-known member
Sexist comments aside, and avoiding anything with a battery that you might use once a year if that often, means a 1/2" breaker bar at least 24" long, with another 24" length of pipe to fit over the breaker bar handle is the best option. May also conder a deep well socket as it positions the breaker bar further out from the wheel.
A torque wrench is a good idea, but since she is asking for roadside easy tools its not likely she already has a torque wrench capable up to 150 ft-lb. Again, breaker bar and an extension pipe with a deep well socket (also make sure the socket will fit into the recess for the lug nut).
Next time you have the car in to get the tires rotated, have the technician "properly" torque the lug nuts so you know they aren't way over-tight, by using a manual torque wrench. I found that out after the muffler-monkeys at the local Quick-Lube spun the lug nuts on NASCAR style with no regard for the threads or over torque. I busted three studs getting them LOOSE with a 3/4" breaker bar and extension pipe. All the lug nuts screeched as I loosened them, once loose I could not turn them by hand. I replaced a bunch of studs and lug nuts, chased all the other threads with taps and dies to make them usable.
A torque wrench is a good idea, but since she is asking for roadside easy tools its not likely she already has a torque wrench capable up to 150 ft-lb. Again, breaker bar and an extension pipe with a deep well socket (also make sure the socket will fit into the recess for the lug nut).
Next time you have the car in to get the tires rotated, have the technician "properly" torque the lug nuts so you know they aren't way over-tight, by using a manual torque wrench. I found that out after the muffler-monkeys at the local Quick-Lube spun the lug nuts on NASCAR style with no regard for the threads or over torque. I busted three studs getting them LOOSE with a 3/4" breaker bar and extension pipe. All the lug nuts screeched as I loosened them, once loose I could not turn them by hand. I replaced a bunch of studs and lug nuts, chased all the other threads with taps and dies to make them usable.
wssix99
Well-known member
Get rid of the 4-way wrench. They haven't been useful since the '80's...
Just get a proper iron in the correct size from a local junk yard. Cheap, easy, works like a breaker bar and will scare the **** out of anyone you point it at.
Just get a proper iron in the correct size from a local junk yard. Cheap, easy, works like a breaker bar and will scare the **** out of anyone you point it at.
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