[HondaN600]

Had a flat this morning and had to change a tire.
No big news there.
The issue was that I had just had my tires rotated with and oil change and damn the lugs were on tight. No way was I going to be able to wrench them off with the little supplied lug wrench tool that Honda provides without it slipping off, rounding the nuts or hurting myself.
Had to call the wife to bring me my antique 4 lug size star wrench that has never let me down and a chunk of pipe for extended leverage that one nut needed.
Im going to contact my servicing dealer and ask them if they actually set with a calibrated torque wrench or just a big ass impact driver.
So I’m in the market for either a 24” long HD 1/2” breaker bar or a similar length torque wrench. I understand that the socket should be a 22mm but what about whether it needs to be a thin wall or regular wall socket?

Anybody know?

 

[jasonpp]

Regular 22mm will do just fine. Plenty space.

 

[lvdukerider]

I actually have one of these for each car from Harbor Freight. 1/2" drive extendable ratchet and a 1/2" drive flip impact socket set, there's another socket that comes with it so a total of four sizes. I've probably saved other stranded folks with it more times than I've used it for myself but it sure does come in handy on the side of the road.

 

[lvdukerider]

FWIW, I also carry a small tire inflator/compressor and tire plugs. Usually can just fill and plug the tire without even having to resort to switching to the spair.

 

[REALM]

I carry a collapsible breaker bar for just this reason… drives me nuts when shops just impact drive the crap out of lugnuts which seems to be the norm. Totally ripped off a lugnut one time, even with a breaker. Limped to the shop to get it replaced, ugh.

 

[Steveg203]

FWIW, I also carry a small tire inflator/compressor and tire plugs. Usually can just fill and plug the tire without even having to resort to switching to the spair.

I also carry one too and I don’t let the dealer touch my tires. I have a great tire shop that I’ve been going to since the 80’s that has a very well trained staff.

 

[HondaN600]

Good suggestions everyone.
So what about using a torque wrench to properly tighten?
In my many years, I’ve only ever tightened by feel and glad to report never had an issue.

 

[DudeCS]

Good suggestions everyone.
So what about using a torque wrench to properly tighten?
In my many years, I’ve only ever tightened by feel and glad to report never had an issue.

If buying a single dedicated 22mm or 7/8" socket for the lugs, find a "soft socket" (like this)... Amazon.com: ARES 59006-7/8-Inch 1/2-Inch Drive Non-Marring Impact Lug Nut Socket - Protective Sleeve Prevents Damage to Custom Rims & Lug Nuts : Automotive

For a torque wrench, look for a 1/2" drive with a range up to 150ft-lb. Most torque wrench measures torque in both directions and should not be used as a breaker bar. However, Tekton has one that only measures in the clockwise direction, so it can be used as a breaker bar to remove lugs. You can carry this torque wrench (comes with a hardcase) along with a 22mm or 7/8" socket in your car... Amazon.com: TEKTON 1/2 Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench (10-150 ft.-lb.) | 24335 : Everything Else

If you prefer to leave the torque wrench and socket at home, this is a nice collapsible breaker bar with sockets... Amazon.com: Gorilla Automotive 1721 Telescoping Power Wrench - Standard Socket : Automotive

Lug torque spec is 94ft-lb.

 

[fx_chip]

If buying a single dedicated 22mm or 7/8" socket for the lugs, find a "soft socket" (like this)... Amazon.com: ARES 59006-7/8-Inch 1/2-Inch Drive Non-Marring Impact Lug Nut Socket - Protective Sleeve Prevents Damage to Custom Rims & Lug Nuts : Automotive

For a torque wrench, look for a 1/2" drive with a range up to 150ft-lb. Most torque wrench measures torque in both directions and should not be used as a breaker bar. However, Tekton has one that only measures in the clockwise direction, so it can be used as a breaker bar to remove lugs. You can carry this torque wrench (comes with a hardcase) along with a 22mm or 7/8" socket in your car... Amazon.com: TEKTON 1/2 Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench (10-150 ft.-lb.) | 24335 : Everything Else

If you prefer to leave the torque wrench and socket at home, this is a nice collapsible breaker bar with sockets... Amazon.com: Gorilla Automotive 1721 Telescoping Power Wrench - Standard Socket : Automotive

Lug torque spec is 94ft-lb.

I just added the first and the third item to my Amazon wish list. Gracias.

 

[lvdukerider]

Good suggestions everyone.
So what about using a torque wrench to properly tighten?
In my many years, I’ve only ever tightened by feel and glad to report never had an issue.

I was a mechanic for 18 years in the 80's and 90's. It's always best practice to install by hand and tighten with a properly calibrated torque wrench to factory specifications.
That said very few shops do this due to time constraints. (My local Lamborghini dealer does I'm told). On my personal vehicles I will start the lugs by hand, do a initial tightening using my battery powered impact set very low in a cross pattern, then do a final tightening in a cross pattern by hand using my 1/2 drive ratchet giving each lugnut 1/8 turn after it seats. I'm usually very close to factory torque specification and have never had a problem with a wheel coming loose, damaged wheels studs, or removing a wheel on the side of the road.

 

[14v6]

I always retorque after state inspections or whenever someone else removes a wheel. They usually have on or two nuts torqued to overkill. Probably a liability thing. I always keep a breaker bar in the car and a 22m impact socket. This can all be done for less than $20 at Harbor Freight.

 

[JLH]

This...

 

[HondaN600]

I always retorque after state inspections or whenever someone else removes a wheel. They usually have on or two nuts torqued to overkill. Probably a liability thing. I always keep a breaker bar in the car and a 22m impact socket. This can all be done for less than $20 at Harbor Freight.

Great advice.
Since you mentioned Harbor Freight, did you get your torque wrench from them?
I like Harbor Freight for tools that I won’t use everyday however I wouldn’t want to get something with questionable accuracy.
But for a tool that will not get much use, don’t want to spend an arm and leg either.

 

[14v6]

Great advice.
Since you mentioned Harbor Freight, did you get your torque wrench from them?
I like Harbor Freight for tools that I won’t use everyday however I wouldn’t want to get something with questionable accuracy.
But for a tool that will not get much use, don’t want to spend an arm and leg either.

I have an old Craftsman torque wrench whose locking collar broke after 30 years of use so I got a Tekton (I think) from Amazon. The effort to torque feels the same with each so they are most likely calibrated.

As I get older, don't really need most of the tools collected over the years.

 

[lvdukerider]

Back in te 80's I was a Snap On poster boy. I still have most of my expensive "professional" tools but I'm a Harbor Freight poster boy these days. Yea there's still some things there that are junk but overall they've really stepped up their game. I don't think I'd have a problem with one of their torque wrenches.

 

[carpayments4life]

I also remove and torque all of the lug nuts, after a State Inspection.
In 2003, I had to return to have them crack the nuts, because they were so tight that I thought I would snap them off.
And now we're back to not letting other people wrench on my cars.

 

[louierg]

Had a flat this morning and had to change a tire.
No big news there.
The issue was that I had just had my tires rotated with and oil change and damn the lugs were on tight. No way was I going to be able to wrench them off with the little supplied lug wrench tool that Honda provides without it slipping off, rounding the nuts or hurting myself.
Had to call the wife to bring me my antique 4 lug size star wrench that has never let me down and a chunk of pipe for extended leverage that one nut needed.
Im going to contact my servicing dealer and ask them if they actually set with a calibrated torque wrench or just a big ass impact driver.
So I’m in the market for either a 24” long HD 1/2” breaker bar or a similar length torque wrench. I understand that the socket should be a 22mm but what about whether it needs to be a thin wall or regular wall socket?

Anybody know?

Torque to specs. Will cause run out. My experience is the lugs are not torqued to specs. If you had that much trouble the lug bolt may have been stretched, thus weakened. After a rotation have them guarantee torque. Bring a wrench to measure the bolt torque before leaving.

 

[calimondin69]

Had a flat this morning and had to change a tire.
No big news there.
The issue was that I had just had my tires rotated with and oil change and damn the lugs were on tight. No way was I going to be able to wrench them off with the little supplied lug wrench tool that Honda provides without it slipping off, rounding the nuts or hurting myself.
Had to call the wife to bring me my antique 4 lug size star wrench that has never let me down and a chunk of pipe for extended leverage that one nut needed.
Im going to contact my servicing dealer and ask them if they actually set with a calibrated torque wrench or just a big ass impact driver.
So I’m in the market for either a 24” long HD 1/2” breaker bar or a similar length torque wrench. I understand that the socket should be a 22mm but what about whether it needs to be a thin wall or regular wall socket?

Anybody know?

i went and bought special set of heavy duty sockets meant to be used with a impact wrench and a 24 in 1/2 inch breaker bar, after i have any work on my wheels and tires I unload all the lug nuts and set proper torques, i dont believe dealer mechanics use any torque wrenches just over tighten

 

[HondaN600]

i went and bought special set of heavy duty sockets meant to be used with a impact wrench and a 24 in 1/2 inch breaker bar, after i have any work on my wheels and tires I unload all the lug nuts and set proper torques, i dont believe dealer mechanics use any torque wrenches just over tighten

I think your basic mechanic, including Honda mechanics as well, just hold that trigger until it stops turning. Unless I’m mistaken, aren’t pneumatic impact wrenches more powerful than cordless? Some 1/2” cordless can torque up to 500 ft. lbs! That’s a ton of torque seeing that our little lugs only need less than 100 ft. lbs.
Do their impact wrenches have limiting factors?
They must know that over torquing can be bad, right?

 

[JLH]

I think your basic mechanic, including Honda mechanics as well, just hold that trigger until it stops turning. Unless I’m mistaken, aren’t pneumatic impact wrenches more powerful than cordless? Some 1/2” cordless can torque up to 500 ft. lbs! That’s a ton of torque seeing that our little lugs only need less than 100 ft. lbs.
Do their impact wrenches have limiting factors?
They must know that over torquing can be bad, right?

A lot of tire shops these days use torque sticks. (Proto JFC1503 $255.98 WHEEL TORQUE MASTER KIT 9PC | Zoro.com I'm not sure about Honda dealerships. I did check the torque on all 4 wheels after our dealer rotated our tires & they were all torqued @ 95 ft. lbs.