Removing Lug Nuts with Cordless "drill"

[hderr]

I'd like to find a cordless drill for removing lug nuts that have been
torqued to 90-100 ft-lbs. Smaller the better, yet big enough to
handle the job. I'd appreciate any experience that you might have and
possible recommendations and drills to stay away from.

Thanks,

[arniecoleman]

Hank,

You're probably going to need a cordless impact wrench, rather than a drill, to break the torque on the lug nuts, unless you break the bolts "manually" first, then spin them off with the drill. I've got a DeWalt that has worked well for the last couple years (although I don't use it too frequently since I got the Maverick). Seems like I paid either $180 OR $230 for it at Home Depot.

[Larry]

I picked up a cordless impact wrench at Harbor Freight for about $40. The old axiom "you get what you paid for" applies. Removal works once you break the nuts, and they get pretty close to torqued when you install the nuts. But its much heavier and bulkier than the DeWalt mentioned by Arnie.

[Chris_Swearingen]

I use a cordless 18v ryobi drill to run them on and off, especially off the extended front studs. It makes changing wheels lots faster. BUT..
I use a breaker bar to break them loose and a harbor freight torque estimating ratchet to torque them down.

[Randy Hickman]

I have an 18v DeWalt cordless impact wrench, but I find I still have to break the lugs manually (torqued to 75#). I also have a DeWalt hammer drill that I affectionately call "the arm breaker." I haven't tried it on lugs, though. Overall, I've been pretty happy with the DeWalt stuff.

[Ceolmhor]

I have an 18v DeWalt cordless impact wrench, but I find I still have to break the lugs manually (torqued to 75#).

We use one of these, too, and have found that if you grab the socket and crank on it just a bit by hand while the impact wrench is doing its thing, it's enough to break it loose.

Haven't used it on the S2000, though. Tire Rack made a point of recommending against using them either to loosen or tighten lug nuts. Anyone know why? I wouldn't thought that careful use of one, especially to loosen lug nuts, would be an issue.

Rudy

[khammack]

My 14.4v DeWalt works well up to about 88 ft lbs. so you would want something with a little more power than mine.

[mannix]

We've got a Snap-On cordless impact wrench and a variety of drills. We still break the lugs loose with a bar, but use the electrics to spin them off.

The Snap-On _will_ break the lugs free, but it takes just as long as starting them with a bar, and rattling on the lugs eats the (14.4v) battery pretty fast.

I really like the Snap-On impact, but I only use the "impact" piece of it for things like strut top-nuts, occasional stubborn bolts/nuts - otherwise, a drill works just as well - loosen by hand, jack up, spin off, etc.

I have a 14.4v Dewalt drill that has seen about 10 years of sliding around autocross sites, as well as a newer (~4 year old) 18v Dewalt (which has also been slid around autocross sites since day one). Both are great, both are strong enough to seat/center the wheel when spinning nuts back on.

IMHO, unless you need a true cordless impact (for other stuff), just get a good drill & loosen by hand - the time spent is the same.



Iain

[mjmauro]

Last year I purchased a cordless impact from Pep Boys for $90.00 after a rebate deal. It was recommended by several on the RX-8 Forum and was a good price. I am able to break the lugs loose without any problem that are torqued at 95-100 ft lbs.

It has held a charge very well so far and at that price, it is well worth the purchase. It is branded Goodyear Racing and comes with case, charger (obviously) four sockets and an extension.

[ncaruso]

I also use my 18 volt DeWalt with a breaker bar for initial tightening and loosening.

[mitrebox]

Last year I purchased a cordless impact from Pep Boys for $90.00 after a rebate deal. It was recommended by several on the RX-8 Forum and was a good price. I am able to break the lugs loose without any problem that are torqued at 95-100 ft lbs.

It has held a charge very well so far and at that price, it is well worth the purchase. It is branded Goodyear Racing and comes with case, charger (obviously) four sockets and an extension.


I picked one up from Pep Boys as well, 24V Goodyear, that works really well for me as long as I don't over torque the lug nuts.

Watch the Sunday Pep Boys ads -- they do have sales on it from time to time. :cool:

[Jutt]

I have an 18v DeWalt cordless impact wrench, but I find I still have to break the lugs manually (torqued to 75#). I also have a DeWalt hammer drill that I affectionately call "the arm breaker." I haven't tried it on lugs, though. Overall, I've been pretty happy with the DeWalt stuff.

Yeah, I've got a corded 1/2" DeWalt impact at home. I think its around 250lbs torque. Its been great, seems to be good quality so I would assume that their cordless impact would be just as good.

[hderr]

Last year I purchased a cordless impact from Pep Boys for $90.00 after a rebate deal. It was recommended by several on the RX-8 Forum and was a good price. I am able to break the lugs loose without any problem that are torqued at 95-100 ft lbs.

It has held a charge very well so far and at that price, it is well worth the purchase. It is branded Goodyear Racing and comes with case, charger (obviously) four sockets and an extension.

I think this Pep Boy tool is what I'm looking for. I've been using the breaker bar and then the mighty 9.6 V Dewalt to spin the lugs off.

I was thinking I might be able to save a step using a cordless impact or such. The time saver is I don't have to let the car back down after forgetting to break the nuts loose. :D Can't tell you how many times I've done that.
And each step saved is one less thing I need to remember to do.

We don't have Pep Boys up here, but I'll check around and see if others
offer something similar.

Thanks for all the notes.

[Matt Leicester]

I've seen the GoodYear impacts at Sam's Club as well.

Matt Leicester

Still changing tires the old fashioned way...