JasZ

What kind of pnuematic impact wrench would you need to properly torque the wheel lugs to the proper torque automatically without having to use a manual torque wrench for the final tightening? You would have to be able to somehow set the torque with some precision.

Thanks,
JasZ

510dat

Good luck finding a pneumatic wrench that has a torque setting; I don't think they exist. Usually those "professionals" who put your tires on just grossly over-tighten the lugs and leave it at that. I've read in an off-road truck mag about a guy who had two wheels fall off because the lugs were tightened so far the threads were stripped off.

EVERY single time I have had to remove a lug put on by an impact wrench, it's been over-tightened. I just do it by feel; get it snug, and half a turn past that. When I do it that way, I've never had a problem getting the lugs off by hand later, and I've never had any loosen up.

n8vz

use a torque stick with pneumatic wrench... it is suppose to avoid over tightening

JasZ

what is a torque stick?

Darren

An impact gun is designed only for removing stubborn nuts/bolts, or those where you can't get a long handeled wrench on. They can be used to spin things on very quickly, but should not be used to tighten as you can't be sure how tight you are putting them on. For example, impact guns are torque rated in ft/lbs. Lets say you have a home garage gun rated at 400 to 500 ft/lbs. Depending upon which setting you use, and they are usually just numbered one through four, you could potentially apply 500ft/lbs of torque to your lug nuts. That would be very bad as the usual torque rating is somewhere between 80 and 100 ft/lbs. So you could easily ruin the nuts and/or studs, in addition to your brake rotors by warping them if you hammer them on with a gun. The best and safe method is to look up the torque spec. and buy yourself the right tool for the job. It only takes a couple of extra minutes to do the job right.

n8vz

http://www.torquestick.com/

JasZ

Sweet, thanks.