Lug wrench - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

697498chevy · 03-14-2011, 07:01 PM

Rotated the tires on my truck Saturday . First time since the tire shop put on new tires . I have a 20" 4 way lug wrench and it was all I could do to break the lugs loose . I tork mine to about 100 ft lbs and this was way over that . Just wonder if y'all had run into this before and if you have a cheater bar on your wrench ? By the way I'm 6' and too close to 300 lbs .

Shyguy · 03-14-2011, 07:30 PM

Some tire shops put the lug nuts back on with an impact wrench and does not check the torque.

It happened to me once when I was on a trip and had the tires rotated at Sam's Club.

truckster · 03-14-2011, 08:18 PM

I always use a torque wrench. Depending on the vehicle and the wheels, I usually go between 75 and 85 ft-lbs.

I went to a tire store one time and said to the guy, "Do you use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts?" He assured me he did. Then I watched as he cranked down the lugs with the impact wrench and went behind it with the torque wrench. Of course, if your impact wrench puts 150 or 200 pounds of torque on a lug, it's not going to be hard to reach 75 with the torque wrench.

**leddzepp** · 03-14-2011, 08:25 PM

I have this happen a LOT at tire shops. They put the lugs on with an impact wrench and tighten them WAY too much.

Andy4639 · 03-14-2011, 08:36 PM

I just had new wheels installed today. Torqued to 110 ft lbs. with a torque wrench not a air gun!

darush01 · 03-14-2011, 09:03 PM

I had the exact opposite happen, i had new tires put on my ranger ( first set i didnt do myself) and by the time i made it to work the next day my front left wheel was about to fly off and i lost all but one of my lug nuts
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697498chevy · 03-15-2011, 07:07 PM

THANKS for all the replies . I used to take off my wheels and leave them when I needed new tires . May hafta go back to that . Sure glad I wasn't on the side of the road with the O.E lug wrench when I found out my lugs were way too tight .

dhaymaker · 03-15-2011, 07:44 PM

I was putting together a little 4WD (insert import name here) for a friend who was overseas. Had some friends pick up the tires I had bought and had mounted and they put them on the vehicle for me before I got to the shop. Later, we had some problems with the brakes and couldn't hardly remove the lugnuts. They tightened the lugnuts so tight (probably with an impact) that it distorted some of the brake parts and goobered the wheels where the lugnuts seated. Been using the impact to run them down to so-so tight and finishing with the torque wrench ever since.

truckster · 03-15-2011, 07:49 PM

Now I drive home from the tire store, loosen the lugs, and give them the proper torque with a torque wrench.

697498chevy · 03-16-2011, 07:24 PM

Reading Popular Mechanics today and they have a good piece on this very topic .

03-14-2011, 07:01 PM	#1
697498chevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 266	Lug wrench Rotated the tires on my truck Saturday . First time since the tire shop put on new tires . I have a 20" 4 way lug wrench and it was all I could do to break the lugs loose . I tork mine to about 100 ft lbs and this was way over that . Just wonder if y'all had run into this before and if you have a cheater bar on your wrench ? By the way I'm 6' and too close to 300 lbs .

03-14-2011, 07:30 PM	#2
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: Lug wrench Some tire shops put the lug nuts back on with an impact wrench and does not check the torque. It happened to me once when I was on a trip and had the tires rotated at Sam's Club. __________________ '67 Chevy C-20 short stepper - build complete, 454/SM-465. '75 C-30 Single Cab DRW-350 small block/NP-435. '77 GMC-6500 Dump Truck, 427 Tall Deck. '92 GMC K-3500 Duallie, 454/4L80E.

03-14-2011, 08:18 PM	#3
truckster Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 8,021	Re: Lug wrench I always use a torque wrench. Depending on the vehicle and the wheels, I usually go between 75 and 85 ft-lbs. I went to a tire store one time and said to the guy, "Do you use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts?" He assured me he did. Then I watched as he cranked down the lugs with the impact wrench and went behind it with the torque wrench. Of course, if your impact wrench puts 150 or 200 pounds of torque on a lug, it's not going to be hard to reach 75 with the torque wrench.

03-14-2011, 08:25 PM	#4
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 20,117	Re: Lug wrench I have this happen a LOT at tire shops. They put the lugs on with an impact wrench and tighten them WAY too much. __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man RIP FleetsidePaul

03-14-2011, 08:36 PM	#5
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,945	Re: Lug wrench I just had new wheels installed today. Torqued to 110 ft lbs. with a torque wrench not a air gun! __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

03-14-2011, 09:03 PM	#6
darush01 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Louisville ky Posts: 398	Re: Lug wrench I had the exact opposite happen, i had new tires put on my ranger ( first set i didnt do myself) and by the time i made it to work the next day my front left wheel was about to fly off and i lost all but one of my lug nuts Posted via Mobile Device

03-15-2011, 07:07 PM	#7
697498chevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 266	Re: Lug wrench THANKS for all the replies . I used to take off my wheels and leave them when I needed new tires . May hafta go back to that . Sure glad I wasn't on the side of the road with the O.E lug wrench when I found out my lugs were way too tight .

03-15-2011, 07:44 PM	#8
dhaymaker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Peyton, CO Posts: 448	Re: Lug wrench I was putting together a little 4WD (insert import name here) for a friend who was overseas. Had some friends pick up the tires I had bought and had mounted and they put them on the vehicle for me before I got to the shop. Later, we had some problems with the brakes and couldn't hardly remove the lugnuts. They tightened the lugnuts so tight (probably with an impact) that it distorted some of the brake parts and goobered the wheels where the lugnuts seated. Been using the impact to run them down to so-so tight and finishing with the torque wrench ever since. __________________ don "The DRBMan" 2014 Audi A4 (The Wife's Daily Driver) 2017 HD Ultra (The Cruiser) 2003 HD Fatboy (The Ride) 2001 Chevy Suburban (Another back up!!) For the first time in forever, not a single 67-72 Chevy truck, Blazer, or Suburban on the property! Basically retired and getting the new Motorhome ready for some traveling. Doing a bit of work on the house getting it ready to sell! LOL!! Last edited by dhaymaker; 03-15-2011 at 07:45 PM. Reason: formatting issues...I'm picky!

03-15-2011, 07:49 PM	#9
truckster Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 8,021	Re: Lug wrench Now I drive home from the tire store, loosen the lugs, and give them the proper torque with a torque wrench.

03-16-2011, 07:24 PM	#10
697498chevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 266	Re: Lug wrench Reading Popular Mechanics today and they have a good piece on this very topic .



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