Wheel Lug Sockets

[mobiledynamics]

I've never had a use case for a -wheel lug socket with the sleeve on it-. Does the sleeve wrap the socket end ?
I run some pretty priced forged wheels, etc......and just use my SO thinkwalls, and wrap the end with red electrical tape so it's nice and bright ?

Am I missing out with the wheel sockets. I'm thinking Koken....at least considering it.

 

[midshipmen89]

I have a set, but they don't come out often. Some of the trucks I work on are card carrying pavement princesses with $20k worth of American Force or Forgiato rims on them; the customers can be exactly as particular as you might expect. Requesting we replace their lugnuts because of socket marks, for instance.

On those, I'll use the fancy sleeved sockets as a CYA more than anything else. They're also handy if the customer insists on watching you work on their precious base model Corvette - they can reassure that guy that I actually care.

 

[Steve_P]

I have the 21mm Koken with the short extension. Yes, the plastic sleeve wraps around the end. I personally didn't need this as I can use a typical thick wall impact socket with all of my vehicles- like you are doing. But c'mon, do you only have tools that you 100% need?

The Koken is extremely thin walled, so don't expect it to last forever if using it with an impact. There have been at least a couple of people here that have cracked them.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Here is the thing which I'm not wrapping my head on. The socket needs to be thin enough already to fit into the hole.....so it's not like the sleeve is anything but decorative.

Even if the end is wrapped/insulated, the metal end of that socket is not bottoming out on it.

I've run some pretty exotic wheels with some fancy hardware. Eon's ago, I bought myself a fiberglass lined socket.....pricey and turned out it was soft as ####

 

[Steve_P]

Here is the thing which I'm not wrapping my head on. The socket needs to be thin enough already to fit into the hole.....so it's not like the sleeve is anything but decorative.

Even if the end is wrapped/insulated, the metal end of that socket is not bottoming out on it.

I've run some pretty exotic wheels with some fancy hardware. Eon's ago, I bought myself a fiberglass lined socket.....pricey and turned out it was soft as ####

The purpose of the plastic sleeve is to protect the finish on the wheel if you're not being careful and hit it before you manage to seat it on the nut. If you are careful, and not trying to impersonate a NASCAR pit stop, you don't need this. I like the Koken one with the extension as you're then ready to use the torque wrench on it. Yes, not a big deal, we all have sockets and separate extensions, but it's easy and an excuse to buy another tool- which will actually get used.

 

[KnurledNut]

 

[mobiledynamics]

Ok. I see now. This is to minimize operator Oopsies

 

[Pexto]

So, not to hijack the thread, but the cheap 19 and 21 impact sockets I have (Kobalt and Stanley) are forever getting lugnuts stuck inside them. Which annoys me. Do better quality wheel lug sockets avoid this problem? Should I be looking for sockets with off-corner loading features?

 

[KnurledNut]

Ok. I see now. This is to minimize operator Oopsies

Its easy to ding wheels, even being careful. A lot of mechanics just dont care, and the majority of customers arent pulling out a magnifying glass.
There was that one lady that wanted all her center caps in the same position and requested it be fixed.

 

[signcrafter]

So, not to hijack the thread, but the cheap 19 and 21 impact sockets I have (Kobalt and Stanley) are forever getting lugnuts stuck inside them. Which annoys me. Do better quality wheel lug sockets avoid this problem? Should I be looking for sockets with off-corner loading features?

I'm guessing you are using them on chrome capped lug nuts that swell, swollen nuts. They **** and I bought a set of sockets that are .5 mm bigger made just for these. 19.5, 21.5, 22.5, etc.

 

[kbeefy]

I have a couple sets, almost never use them.
But I'm no nascar pit crew, I make sure all lugnuts start by hand before putting a tool on them.

 

[Pexto]

I'm guessing you are using them on chrome capped lug nuts that swell, swollen nuts. They **** and I bought a set of sockets that are .5 mm bigger made just for these. 19.5, 21.5, 22.5, etc.

It's a good guess, but no, most of my lug nuts are old and unplated. Thankfully my nuts are not swollen (much)! The problem is worst on my 2005 Tundra; those lugnuts are slightly rounded off. Maybe I should just replace the lugnuts.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

There was that one lady that wanted all her center caps in the same position and requested it be fixed.

As a courtesy, did you weld her steering gear straight so that the center caps would never go out of sync?