# Will a electric impact driver remove lug nuts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 26, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661 "2016-06-26T19:23:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://community.cartalk.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 6:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/21 "2016-06-27T06:45:48Z")
Do tire shops actually use a torque wrench to tighten lug nuts or just tighten them with their air impact driver? Do they make a air impact driver where you can set it to torque your lug nuts to a certain amount? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 6:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/22 "2016-06-27T06:53:12Z")
The good shops will use a torque wrench to tighten lug nuts. Some shops will use torque sticks. > **[10 Piece 1/2 In. Torque Limiting Extension Bar Set](https://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-12-in-torque-limiting-extension-bar-set-69870.html)** > > Use these torque extension bars to prevent over-tightening of lug nuts. Designed for use with standard or thin-wall sockets, each torque extension bar is color-coded and engraved with torque range for quick reference. The extension bars work with any... These work like torsion springs where no matter how much torque is applied to the fastener, the torque stick twists to limit the torque applied. I myself? I prefer the torque wrench. Tester ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 8:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/23 "2016-06-27T08:25:59Z")
@matt357 torque sticks ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://community.cartalk.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 8:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/24 "2016-06-27T08:30:52Z")
Does it matter if I get a 1/4 or 1/2 inch impact driver? ---
**Author:** ![Sloepoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sloepoke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sloepoke)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 8:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/25 "2016-06-27T08:49:23Z")
If you want to remove lugnuts you want 1/2 " . ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 8:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/26 "2016-06-27T08:50:34Z")
1/2" is recommended for common lug nuts, 1/4" is for small screws. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://community.cartalk.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 9:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/27 "2016-06-27T09:51:04Z")
I was thinking of getting this [http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-heavy-duty-electric-impact-wrench-68099.html](http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-heavy-duty-electric-impact-wrench-68099.html) is it strong enough to take off brakes? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 10:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/28 "2016-06-27T10:26:26Z")
230 [ft.lb](http://ft.lb) is enough to break off bolts and wheel studs if you are tightening when you should be loosening by mistake. The rating may be exaggerated but even 150 [ft.lb](http://ft.lb) should be enough for wheels and brakes. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://community.cartalk.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 10:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/29 "2016-06-27T10:55:14Z")
Will it work with torque sticks? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 11:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/30 "2016-06-27T11:08:09Z")
Sure, torque sticks work on any 1/2" impact. A few years ago a co-worker exchanged a broken torque stick for a replacement with the tool dealer so I guess there is a limit but you should have no problem with an impact like that. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/31 "2016-06-27T15:17:15Z")
_ **@matt357** _ @oldtimer 11 has indicated he has one of these HF Impact Wrenches. I too have had one for several years. I paid 40 bucks for mine on sale. I works great for removing and installing lug nuts (I snug them and finish with a torque wrench when installing them.). It’s heavy, long, and lacks some control features, but it’s inexpensive and works. It has forward (righty-tighty) and reverse (lefty-loosey), but its full ON or full OFF, no speed control. I like it for rusted, stuck fasteners. I have used it successfully for brake and suspension fasteners, but as I said, it’s fairly long and attack angles can be challenging. Consider buying the impact **wobble** socket extensions and/or impact **universals** sets (HF inexpensive) if used for other than lug nuts. You should be using impact sockets and accessories with an impact wrench. _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/32 "2016-06-27T17:42:26Z")
@galant Just leave the battery on the charger all the time. Modern battery chargers won’t just sit there continually cooking the battery and shortening its life. They’ll charge it to full, and then let it drop down a bit before maintenance charging. I have 2 chargers for my 3 Li-Ion batteries. 2 are on the charger all the time while the other sits on the tool. I’m never without power. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://community.cartalk.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/33 "2016-06-27T18:20:54Z")
@oldtimer How much would you say that HF impact wrench weights? ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/34 "2016-06-27T18:48:08Z")
I have a 1/2 inch Rockwell 120volt and it does not have the torque to loosen lug nuts. I always had to break them loose with a breaker bar first. I rarely use it anymore. But if you just wanted to speed things up it would do after breaking them loose. A friend has a 3/8 cordless that works with about the same torque. Yosemite ---
**Author:** ![bloody\_knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bloody\_knuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bloody_knuckles)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/35 "2016-06-27T23:01:01Z")
I bought a Kobalt 1/2 inch drive corded impact wrench at Lowes and then a set of torque sticks from Amazon. I change snow tires for 6 cars. That’s 12 tire changes per year. I have a high quality, quick rise, hydraulic jack and tire change overs a snap. I used to use a cheap jack and did all the turning of lug nuts by hand but, having the right tools to save time is awesome. I wish I had bought them sooner. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/36 "2016-06-27T23:42:16Z")
I’d say it weighs no more than 7.6 #. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://community.cartalk.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/37 "2016-06-28T01:49:19Z")
Is that supposed to be 7.6lb? Seems pretty heavy for an impact wrench. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/38 "2016-06-28T01:59:28Z")
It says shipping weight. That includes packaging. I think 6 lb to 6.5 lb is a reasonable estimate. For the impact wrench alone. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/39 "2016-06-28T03:44:07Z")
the HF website said that thing has max 250 ft-lbs of torque I know for a fact that thing wouldn’t cut it for me, for my typical brake and suspension work. Never mind the tool is physically way too long and that would actually be a problem Oh, and in case anybody’s wondering. These fasteners I’m thinking of were NOT overtightened by some eager beaver. They are just that tight, from the factory. That tool would probably burn up and start smoking, if I tried to use it for my purposes I think that tool might be okay for diy use, but realistically only for lug nuts Anything more than that is a bonus ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 4:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661/40 "2016-06-28T04:18:13Z")
The obsessive compulsives among us – me for example – tighten wheel lug nuts in 3 stages, first, in the recommended sequence pattern, to 1/3 the final value, then 2/3, then to full specified torque. I don’t think shops typically do that tho. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/will-a-electric-impact-driver-remove-lug-nuts/93661.md?page=3)