How much torque?

[AMink]

I purchased a Dewalt 1/2" 20v impact wrench hoping to use it for trailer and truck lugs. It is rated at 150lb ft so I figured it would work since the lug torque is less than 150. I was wrong. What is the minimum torque I'd need to easily remove the lugs? Dewalt has a 400# and a 700# 20v setup too. I'd like to stay with Dewalt since I already have several batteries and tools.

 

[bigceltic]

I have the Ryobi ONE 18V impact which has 300 ft./lbs and it easily removes my trailer and truck lugs. So 400 should prob be fine.

 

[seafish]

IIRC, 3rd gen lug nuts are tightened to 135#no more then #150.

That being said, you do need extra torque to break them loose.

 

[Boaring1961]

I have one of these:

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2763-22

It'll break loose the lugnuts without a struggle!

 

[RBridenbaugh]

'2005 3500 DRW lug nut torque spec is 155 ft-lbs, my 1/2" corded Milwaukee Impact Wrench (9072-20) has a rating of 300 ft-lbs.

No issues removing the lug nuts, although I change from summer to winter tires and back each year, so they don't have too much time to seize up with the salt they dump on the road during winter.

2005 Service manual has lug nut torque as 145 ft-lbs for 2500 series and 95 ft-lbs for 1500 series.

 

[Jim W]

I am old school and I do not like anything but hand tools to break the nuts loose and remove them from my axles. I will than install the lug nuts with hand tools and torque them to 125lb-ft for my truck. When I had my new summer tires and rims installed on my truck, my son helped me with the installation process. He started to use a Milwaukee impact driver to remove the lug nuts from my truck. Will he broke two studs on the rear axle, this was a $150 repair to replace the studs on the rear axle.

I do not know if this was from the impact tool or the last time I had the winter tires rotated by Discount tires and the lug nuts were over torqued. But I have never failed any lug nuts with hand tools. I use an 18" breaker bar to loosen the nuts and then just remove them with a ratchet and socket.

I change and rotate all of my tires now on my truck.
Just my $0.02

 

[DaveHess]

My 1/2" drive 20V Dewalt impact has no problems spinning either the pick-up or the trailers lug nuts. That's my go-to travel tool! Like Jim, I do not use the driver to put the lug nuts back on. I use a 1/2" drive ratchet and finish them off with a 1/2" drive torque wrench to 135# on the pickup and 100# on the TT or car hauler.

 

[crispyboy]

I have had just the opposite luck as Jim W. I have broken many bolts by using loosening a bolt with a hand tool vs. an impact wrench. The impact wrench has gotten some extremely rusted and stuck bolts loose on many vehicles and farm machinery. I do use the impact wrench to snug up bolts and then put a torque wrench on them to finish. The impact tools save my elbow, wrist and shoulder from undue stress.

 

[Mark31]

I am old school and I do not like anything but hand tools to break the nuts loose and remove them from my axles. I will than install the lug nuts with hand tools and torque them to 125lb-ft for my truck. When I had my new summer tires and rims installed on my truck, my son helped me with the installation process. He started to use a Milwaukee impact driver to remove the lug nuts from my truck. Will he broke two studs on the rear axle, this was a $150 repair to replace the studs on the rear axle.

I do not know if this was from the impact tool or the last time I had the winter tires rotated by Discount tires and the lug nuts were over torqued. But I have never failed any lug nuts with hand tools. I use an 18" breaker bar to loosen the nuts and then just remove them with a ratchet and socket.

I change and rotate all of my tires now on my truck.
Just my $0.02

After having lugs nuts very over tightened with an impact after a flat on my old S15, I won't let any one tighten lug nuts. I have an old SK 1/2" breaker bar that I use. I can see the amt of flex and feel it. I've never had a nut come loose and never had one I couldn't take back off when necessary. And I'm too old and set in my ways to change.