Extend leverage on lug wrench idea..good or bad

[0roo0roo]

..

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

In the old days we just kept a length of pipe in the trunk.

 

[0roo0roo]

ah yes pipe..i guess i shoulda thought of that

though my idea might have more effect if it applies force on both ends of the wrench evenly...though its less convenient.

but it is a good idea for the stupid lug wrench in the trunk they give us these days. i'll get a pipe for that. the camry even comes with a stupid lug wrench with a sharp ended handle as if it were used for prying stuff, but it only makes it dangerous to have a sharp end of the handle. if you stand on it and slip....

 

[PottedMeat]

nothing wrong with that.

 

[thescreensavers]

PVC pipe = cash

 

[zerocool84]

In the old days we just kept a length of pipe in the trunk.

This

From what I know it's called a cheater bar

 

[CraigRT]

I use a floor jack handle on my 1/2" ratchet all the time.. That shit will break anything loose

 

[dawp]

yes, but do you keep the jack in the trunk all the time? i know i don't and the handle stays with the jack.

 

[0roo0roo]

i just don't see how toyota really thinks that tiny short wrench they give you in the trunk would work. you'd literally have to hammer it with something else on a stubborn nut. maybe they think you'd smack it with the tire jack

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

yes, but do you keep the jack in the trunk all the time? i know i don't and the handle stays with the jack.

The reason us old timers had a length of pipe in the trunk was because most cars had a ratchet type jack back then instead if the scissor type common today. Between scissor jacks and donut spares, not to mention, manufacturers who assemble the jack/spare tire and build the rest of the car around it, leaves me wishing for the cars of the past.

 

[helpme]

I usually have a breaker bar handy, but if I don't... The pipe or handle of the jack works great as previously mentioned.

If those fail but you have a hammer, just whack on the wrench... and hope it's one that you can get replaced free if it busts!

 

[thomsbrain]

I regular torque wrench will give you a lot more leverage than the wrenches included in car kits, and then you can torque them to spec when you put them back on.

 

[jlee]

I regular torque wrench will give you a lot more leverage than the wrenches included in car kits, and then you can torque them to spec when you put them back on.

Don't use torque wrenches to break stuff free!

You need leverage? This is leverage.

Yes, we broke a breaker bar.

Twice.

 

[LTC8K6]

ah yes pipe..i guess i shoulda thought of that

though my idea might have more effect if it applies force on both ends of the wrench evenly...though its less convenient.

but it is a good idea for the stupid lug wrench in the trunk they give us these days. i'll get a pipe for that. the camry even comes with a stupid lug wrench with a sharp ended handle as if it were used for prying stuff, but it only makes it dangerous to have a sharp end of the handle. if you stand on it and slip....

You need the prying end if you have hubcaps...

If you are old, you remember having to pry off hubcaps...

 

[exdeath]

Don't use torque wrenches to break stuff free!

You need leverage? This is leverage.

Yes, we broke a breaker bar.

Twice.

Looks about what it took to get the reverse threaded 14mm allen bolt broken loose for my crank pulley. Should have seen all the cardboard boxes and blankets on the fender and in the engine bay for when it broke loose with me hanging on it at 200+ lbs and bouncing. Sounded like a gunshot when it finally went.

 

[zerocool84]

Don't use torque wrenches to break stuff free!

You need leverage? This is leverage.

Yes, we broke a breaker bar.

Twice.

DAMN WOW!!!!

The worst I had was when I spun a drum in my old Bug and had to have my 300+lb buddy help me with a 6ft breaker bar.

 

[jlee]

DAMN WOW!!!!

The worst I had was when I spun a drum in my old Bug and had to have my 300+lb buddy help me with a 6ft breaker bar.

Yeah, I think after the second 1/2" drive breaker, the guy at Autozone wasn't going to replace them for me anymore... I bought a 3/4" and it let loose with the bang that exdeath mentioned. It sounded like we broke something..but nope, just cracked the axle nut loose.

 

[StageLeft]

I hate getting that axle nut free. I have done three and each time was sure something bad was about to happen as I am deadlifting up a very long bar!

 

[Gillbot]

In the old days we just kept a length of pipe in the trunk.

This ^

Be careful though, i've seen many people break wheel studs and such by applying too much force sharply. Usually a slow movement helps it break free but a "jerk" might cause a snap.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Oddly enough, on my dad's '78 GMC to get the lug nuts off we ended up breaking two or three sockets before going to the tire iron. The tire iron DID hold together. Even the impact socket broke.

 

[StageLeft]

Oddly enough, on my dad's '78 GMC to get the lug nuts off we ended up breaking two or three sockets before going to the tire iron. The tire iron DID hold together. Even the impact socket broke.

Not surprised. In fact I really AM surprised that the 1/2" breaker bar I have did not snap when I took off a couple of axles. The torque must have been absurd because I had a lever several feet long but the damn thing held together. I should remember this, though, I think a tire iron with a pipe on each end (maybe two people working) would exert crazy torque before actually breaking apart.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Not surprised. In fact I really AM surprised that the 1/2" breaker bar I have did not snap when I took off a couple of axles. The torque must have been absurd because I had a lever several feet long but the damn thing held together. I should remember this, though, I think a tire iron with a pipe on each end (maybe two people working) would exert crazy torque before actually breaking apart.

The Porsche Carrera GT's lug wrench actually had a 4:1 planetary gear set because it took about 250lb-ft of torque. The car had a single nut in the center.

Here's the harbor freight equivalent:
http://www.harborfreight.com/torque-multiplier-lugnut-remover-93645.html

 

[jlee]

This ^

Be careful though, i've seen many people break wheel studs and such by applying too much force sharply. Usually a slow movement helps it break free but a "jerk" might cause a snap.

I thought it was the other way around, which is why a good impact gun can often loosen something without breaking it.

 

[Gillbot]

I thought it was the other way around, which is why a good impact gun can often loosen something without breaking it.

My personal experience with "cheater bars" has been the exact opposite.

 

[StageLeft]

It may be an unfair comparison to compare the rapid torque of an impact gun with hand-torque. Maybe, though I'm not sure why