Quote:
Originally Posted by sc_rufctr
I don't have nor want an impact gun. What about "soft sockets"? I've hear mixed reviews.
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I have had them, and they are fine for hand use. some guys will take a baggie and slip it on the lug nut under the socket to soften the load.
The thing is, if they were over torqued with an impact, often any other method will cause damage. You can break a socket, round the nut, shear off a fancy Porsche nut, I have even broken a 1/2 inch breaker bar. Wrecked a four way tire iron too.
After I sheared two Porsche nuts, I broke out the impact gun and all the others came off with minimal damage and no shearing.
I think I was about twenty when I broke the 1/2 inch breaker bar. It was guaranteed for life, and I broke the replacement as well. After two bars and a day of screwing around, I loaded my engine block into the truck, and took it to a mechanic I knew. He got out the impact gun, and had that crank nut off in 30 seconds.
Impact tools have their place. If I didn't want one, and couldn't get my wheels off, I would probably drive the car to a garage. I hand torque my lugs on everything. It only takes one idiot to mess that up.