I Deserve a Flippin T-shirt

[CarsonChris]

I almost lost my front passenger side. It was an error by me not double checking the lug nuts after I replaced shocks. I got that weird wobbly feeling as I was coming to a stop on an off ramp. Still had one lug nut on. Took one lug off of the remaining three tires and limped home with four lug nuts on each. Had to replace the studs on the front. That was 17 years ago. Now I make sure everything is double checked or more. I will usually do a test drive and then a re-tighten.

 

[Mark_88]

I've only ever used a star wheel wrench...

Tighten them to snug with the wheel up and then go around twice doing the across nut pattern...but I go by my strength to tighten...which may or may not be decreasing with age...but I just realized that I did buy a torque wrench recently and haven't tried it...maybe a good chance to test it out...100 ft/lbs seems a bit excessive...since my head bolts are only 95 ft/lbs...hmmmm...

 

[Tuner710]

Hey Adsm08, I torque all lug nuts whenever I pull a wheel at 100 lbs for 1/2" studs, crosswise pattern after snugging up with breaker bar. Same experience, can remove them easily with the long handled ratchet. Never had a problem pretty sure its right.
Mistakes happen, rushing complacency frustration all factor in. Been there, done that and like it or not probably will again.
Glad it came out ok

 

[Mark_88]

That is kinda relative too though. I torque most wheels to 100 ft.lbs, give or take. That is plenty for 90% of the passenger vehicles on the road. I can still easily take those off with my small 1/2 ratchet which is about 2.5 feet long.

This is the problem I have with service centers putting my tires on with air guns...that is why I had such a problem cracking them with a 12" star wrench recently...had to use a box end extender the last time...and if you've ever had one of those slip you will know why I'm not fond of doing things that way...but it works...

Might invest in a 21 mm long socket for the lug nuts to go with my Johnson bar...always carry that for those tough nuts...

 

[adsm08]

This is the problem I have with service centers putting my tires on with air guns...that is why I had such a problem cracking them with a 12" star wrench recently...had to use a box end extender the last time...and if you've ever had one of those slip you will know why I'm not fond of doing things that way...but it works...

Might invest in a 21 mm long socket for the lug nuts to go with my Johnson bar...always carry that for those tough nuts...

Just put a long socket on a breaker and jump on it.

My sister might weigh 100 lbs and has NO upper body strength.. When she first left for school I bought her a breaker bar and a 19 socket and showed her how to bust lugs loose by jumping on the breaker.

 

[Andy D]

I do the star pattern in 3 stages doing the last stage with the car's lug wrench. That way, the wheels can changed on the road. That is a more common occurrence than losing a wheel because the lugs weren't torqued to 100 foot/pounds

 

[Mark_88]

I do the star pattern in 3 stages doing the last stage with the car's lug wrench. That way, the wheels can changed on the road. That is a more common occurrence than losing a wheel because the lugs weren't torqued to 100 foot/pounds

Yeah, that's what it comes down to in my book...can you do them on the side of the road without busting a gut trying to loosen them...

 

[FritzTKatt]

I just keep a cheater pipe over my lug wrench. Breaker bar in the tool box for the 13/16 lugs I have, most are 3/4 though.

Usually when I start to bend the lug wrench I know it's tight HAHA.

 

[4.0B2]

I didn't read the 3 pages of thread.... but I had that happen once. Front Left tire came off once.

 

[dieseldane]

That is kinda relative too though. I torque most wheels to 100 ft.lbs, give or take. That is plenty for 90% of the passenger vehicles on the road. I can still easily take those off with my small 1/2 ratchet which is about 2.5 feet long.

Your "small" half inch rachet is 2.5 feet long? How long is the big one?

 

[adsm08]

2.5 ft might be an over estimation.

I think this is my short one:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=682694&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

This is my long one.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=682694&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

This is the monster.

 

[Mark_88]

Well, the monster would certainly be perfect for tightening up that game controller...lol...

I suppose that was put there for size reference...you must have strong arms to be able to wield that puppy with a Kong Balls sized socket on the end of it...

 

[dieseldane]

My buddy has one of those style of snap-on rachets like you posted in the 3/8 drive variety. He's stripped the teeth in that thing I can't even count how many times, and that's without a cheater pipe or anything.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

In order to get a "flippin t-shirt" wouldn't you actually have to have flipped?

My buddy has one of those style of snap-on rachets like you posted in the 3/8 drive variety. He's stripped the teeth in that thing I can't even count how many times, and that's without a cheater pipe or anything.

They hold up really good in our tractor shop.

I got a 3/8 drive 80t (or whatever their new one is) with a longerish and I LOVE the thing. Beats the tar out of my clunky craftsman that switch from forward to reverse to somewhere in between at random. I got so mad working on my V8 swap, I would be fighting with a stubborn something and the dumb thing would shift gears on me midswing...

 

[FritzTKatt]

Then take it to the sears store and get a new one...