Wheel nut impact wrenches, a few questions:

[911hillclimber]

I'm finding torqueing up wheel nuts getting a bit painful 'the day after', 20 x 911 nuts @ 92 lbft in succession and all that is hurting.

Trying to work smarter than harder, thinking of a 1/2" impact wrench, mains or battery.
This is infrequent use and probably only for wheel nuts.

My main question is one of accuracy.

Is such a tool capable of torqueing up to a set level or do you need to go around the car with a torque wrench after to tighten/ slacken the nuts?

If this is the case, seems that an impact wrench will not help avoid stretched wrists!

I've never needed an impact wrench in my long life, so not sure what to expect.
I'm sure some on here know the answers!

[CraigB]

I have a Dewalt impact wrench, but here is no way of setting the torque to a particular level. I use it to remove the bolts and then refit them, but careful when doing so not to over torque them. I then use my manual torque wrench to tighten up each bolt to the specified torque setting.

Whenever I have had tires changed or removed at the garage, they seem to follow the same process, so not sure if you will be able to achieve what you are trying to with just an impact wrench.

[Bruce M]

Get a digital torque adapter and use it with a longer breaker bar, for less wrist effort

[911hillclimber]

Thanks both.
I had thought about the breaker bar as i have one, didn't know you could get a 'torque head' so to speak. Sounds ideal.

[misteralz]

I've got the Parkside impact driver from Lidl and it's been an absolute game changer for this sort of stuff. It's got five different torque settings so I go for the one under and follow up with the torque wrench.

[911hillclimber]

It is that final twist to torque that is the growing problem x 20 nuts.
A simple length of alum tube slipped over the torque wrench will do the job now I’ve thought about it!

Not very elegant though….

[Bruce M]

I thought a breaker pipe on a torque wrench was a no-no and changed the torque but I could be talking nonsense

[Gary71]

I thought a breaker pipe on a torque wrench was a no-no and changed the torque but I could be talking nonsense

Nope. All good

[Cortina]

Now don't start by telling me what the "book" torque setting is .............. I know !!!


... but have never used it . Somewhere between 65 and 70 ft lbs .... on road car and rally car , and rally 928 ..... never had one loosen.

92 ftlbs just "feels" far too damn tight to me (esp with road going alloy nuts !!) ......... see first line ! This would make life easier ..... but I hear the response already .

[Nine One One]

Our local Lidl did have some extendable 1/2 drive ratchet bars at £9.99 they are old stock, as the shop down here seems to get the left overs from elsewhere.
Exactly the same as the this on the USA site
https://www.lidl.com/products/491671_A

They also have digital torque adaptors I think about the same price as the one on Ebay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326266263902

I can have a look tomorrow and see if either are still on the shelves?

[911hillclimber]

I used to use 70 lbFt until scalded by a specialist about 10 years ago on these very pages.

As a motorsport orientated car my 911 uses steel open wheel nuts, alloy nuts are not allowed. (I think these are VW Camper Van wheel nuts?)

I'm going for a tube of alum to slide over the wrench I have which will 1/2 the effort I need to apply for the same torque.
Also you have the ratchet indexing which a breaker bar does not have.

All a bit awkward and ungainly, but at £10, ideal, and will save my wrists.

Have looked at Machine Mart's offerings, seems most 1/2" wrenches are all the same length.

[Bruce M]

You can also get a torque multiplier, some designed for wheel nuts & push the reaction force against the wheel spokes or another lug nut. I use mine for high torque axle nuts and such like, pushing against a long lever.

[sladey]

The impact wrench still save a lot of time and effort Graham so still worth it.

[Ralph]

You can also get Torque Sticks which are used with impact wrenches and prevent overtightening. Available in different torques.

https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/automotive/ ... /f/F257267

[911hillclimber]

Thank you Ralph, never seen those before.
One of those (the 911 and Boxster are the same torque) and an electric gun will do the jobs.

Undoing the nuts is always a little easier (my wheel nuts don't stay still enough to corrode in place...) but the gun will help in that too as sladey says.

Old age creeping up on me!