tight lug nut rant - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

stayalert · #1 10-24-2005, 09:23 AM

Been there before on other cars...but it still angers me

I have my car on jack stands and am slowely bringing it back to roadworthiness....Last night I went to remove the rear wheels...grabbed a 3/8 drive 17mm, an 1/2 > 3/8 adapter and my 18" breaker bar...broke the adapter (wrong tool, at least its Crafteman

) switched to 1/2 drive, 18' breaker bar with ~4 foot steel pipe. All of the lugs came free without any apparent damage but man do I ever find that frustrating

At least the caliper bolts all came free with about the right resistance...the rotors popped right off with a tap tap from the hammer...man those lug nuts though....That 18" breaker bar got a workout....

I use air tools for many things but putting wheels on is not one of them.....rant off....

Brian Carlton · #2 10-24-2005, 09:27 AM

It's really amazing how little 80 ft.-lbs. actually is. If I struggle a bit, I can remove them with a 1/2" ratchet. Since I'm old and tired, I usually use an 18" breaker bar. With the bar, they are removed effortlessly.

Any air wrenches near these wheels is definitely out of the question.

stayalert · #3 10-24-2005, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

It's really amazing how little 80 ft.-lbs. actually is. If I struggle a bit, I can remove them with a 1/2" ratchet. Since I'm old and tired, I usually use an 18" breaker bar. With the bar, they are removed effortlessly.

Any air wrenches near these wheels is definitely out of the question.

100% agreed. At least I know from here on out the wheels will be removable with ordinary means.

techguy512 · #4 10-24-2005, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

It's really amazing how little 80 ft.-lbs. actually is.

Isn't it supposed to be 80 n-m? This is really only 59 lb-ft.

Biodiesel300TD · #5 10-24-2005, 10:22 AM

I got some used tires put on a Toyota pickup sometime ago. I put used tires on because I was looking for a diesel Benz, and didn't want to spend $300 for new tires for a truck I was getting rid of in a short while. I should have left that place quicker than I came. The sales guy had many teeth missing. When they lifted the truck with the floor jacks I thought they were going to break the truck in half, I have never seen a regular car twisted that much. It made me very nervous. When I went to get the tires off to do some work I could not get the lugs loose. I tried a air wrench and breaker bar. After some cursing I ended up bending the lug wrench, but I got the lug nuts off. If I was fixing a flat on the side of the road I wouldn't have been able to get them off. How does that help me? I was raving mad. Thats the last time a go to Bob's Tire Barn, or whatever it was called. Used tires, probably not again. Live and learn I guess.

Brian Carlton · #6 10-24-2005, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techguy512

Isn't it supposed to be 80 n-m? This is really only 59 lb-ft.

110 N-m.

andmoon · #7 10-24-2005, 10:25 AM

I was having a little trouble w/ the torque wrench on the lug bolts. I couldn't get them to tighten in a smooth manner so it was hard to get the correct setting.

kip Foss · #8 10-24-2005, 10:35 AM

If you want an eye opener check out the pressure gauge in your local tire shop, esp. if they do truck tires. The shop I USED to use in Corpus set their compressor to 175psi. Works great for busting semi lug nuts but not too well when thightening mini van wheel nuts. Took me an oxy torch, cold chisel, large hammer, breaker bar and socket to finally get these buggers off. In my 62 years I have only ever seem one shop that used a torque wrench when installing tires.

Before you get tries installed check the shop's air compressor's gauge. Chances are that it is set waaaay to high.

techguy512 · #9 10-24-2005, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

110 N-m.

Yup. You're absolutely right. No wonder my wheels
fell off.

stayalert · #10 10-24-2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techguy512

Yup. You're absolutely right. No wonder my wheels
fell off.

I HATE when that happens....

pawoSD · #11 10-24-2005, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techguy512

Yup. You're absolutely right. No wonder my wheels
fell off.

The worst part is repairing the undercoat from all the scraping on the road!

techguy512 · #12 10-24-2005, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The worst part is repairing the undercoat from all the scraping on the road!

Thank goodness for the low frictional coefficient of rust.

Habanero · #13 10-24-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kip Foss

If you want an eye opener check out the pressure gauge in your local tire shop, esp. if they do truck tires. The shop I USED to use in Corpus set their compressor to 175psi. Works great for busting semi lug nuts but not too well when thightening mini van wheel nuts. Took me an oxy torch, cold chisel, large hammer, breaker bar and socket to finally get these buggers off. In my 62 years I have only ever seem one shop that used a torque wrench when installing tires.

Before you get tries installed check the shop's air compressor's gauge. Chances are that it is set waaaay to high.

Dad always had his compressors set at 175. Tank pressure doesn't mean crap, that is why they put that little knob on the bottom of the impact wrench. You don't have to run it wide open all the time.

kip Foss · #14 10-24-2005, 04:02 PM

Having that little adjustment screw on the wrench, knowing what it is for, knowing when to use it, and actually using it correctly do not always follow in course. When you have been busting semi lug nuts off all day long you sort of loose your feel for mini van wheel nuts. And besides 175psi makes things go so much faster.

stayalert · #15 10-24-2005, 04:12 PM

I can think of no justifiable reason to use an air tool to install lug nuts.