Impact wrench on painted wheels?

[Emt1581]

This weekend I borrowed my dad's air impact wrench which totally sucked because I used a 1-2gal tank and it took forever to refill. But I digress. The wheels were steelies and alloy (swapped out snow tires on a subaru). However, I just ordered SVE Drifts for my GT. By the end of the day the socket I was using was all kind of ringed up from the lug nut well. On a painted wheel, do the black impact sockets chew up the paint? If so, what's the solution to using an impact wrench with painted wheels?

Thanks!

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[ctandc72]

You have to buy 'tuner' style lug nuts (they should come with the SVE wheels anyway) that are thinner with a spline drive. They will come with a socket. It's thin enough on my 19" SVE S350 wheels, they don't make contact or mess up the wheel paint. You could always get some of this:

https://www.amazon.com/Performix-07...TF8&qid=1522093399&sr=8-3&keywords=rubber+dip

Plug up both ends of the socket with masking tape etc and coat the socket in it.

 

[Paul@PKAUTODESIGN]

You need to use a slim lug nuts with a key and then the socket to the key this will help.

Or you need a slim socket itself.

 

[GT Nate]

They also make rubber coated lug nut sockets.

 

[Emt1581]

Thanks for the replies.

Next question...is it ok to use an impact wrench with one of these spline keys/sockets? I've seen concern expressed with using an impact wrench due to how thin it is.

Also, what do you torque them down to?

Thanks!

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

I just break them loose with my breaker bar, then spin them off with my cordless impact driver (DeWalt). I don't see a need to use an impact driver to remove them completely, just to spin them off once they're broken loose. There's very little movement, though I'm using the Gorilla locking lugs, rather than stock or tuner lugs.

As for torqueing them, I don't see any reason you'd go less than the 150 ft/lbs specified for the stock lugs, as it's more of a function of the stud, rather than the lug.

JR

 

[NightmareMoon]

Definitely find a socket or lugs to give you enough clearance that you're less likely to damage the finish on the wheels. Tight clearances are a recipe for damaged paint/finish. You can also wrap the socket with some sacrificial tape (which should be softer than paint).

 

[Braski]

I haven't used my air impact since I got my electric!

 

[melwff]

this is the type of socket you are looking for
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MIkaiK18CP2gIVFWt-Ch3XzANqEAQYBCABEgIMh_D_BwE

 

[Emt1581]

I haven't used my air impact since I got my electric!

I'm looking at the Dewalt XR Impact Wrench. I have $450 left on a giftcard from Lowe's so that's what I'm leaning toward.

 

[Jake49]

this is the type of socket you are looking for
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MIkaiK18CP2gIVFWt-Ch3XzANqEAQYBCABEgIMh_D_BwE

I have this exact socket and it works great. I usually break the street wheels loose with a ratchet first then spin the nuts off with a cordless impact driver. Reinstalling reverse order, just barely snug them with the impact and torque to spec by hand.

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