Just changed my mind about using impact guns on lug nuts after a tire shop incident in Austin

I was always one of those guys who zipped lug nuts on with the impact gun. Last month I was helping out at a friend's shop in Austin and a customer came back with a wobble. We pulled the wheel and two studs had snapped clean off from being overtorqued. Watching that guy have to explain to the owner how he'd been doing it wrong for years made me rethink everything. Now I hand start every nut and only use the gun to snug them down. Has anyone else had a bad experience with overtorqued lugs?

2 comments

2 Comments

parker_campbell15d ago

That impact's just for getting them started, torque wrench is the only way to finish.

caseyw1214d ago

@parkercampbell gets it right with the torque wrench, but the real hidden danger is people using impacts on aluminum wheels with steel lug nuts. That corrosion sandwich makes the nut seize and people just keep blasting until something snaps. Never had a stud fail on steelies funnily enough lol.