300C Jack and Lug Wrench Issues

[mannionr]

i got a flat in my 300c the other day. I took the spare out, took out the jack, and figured out how to get the lug wrench off the jack. I don't understand how you are supposed to use that horrible wrench to get the lug nuts off. It's not strong enough, nor does it give you enough leverage to get the lug nuts off. So I was unable to get the lugs off. Secondly I was unable to get the so called lug wrench back attached the jack. Very frustrating. The manuel is no help. Any suggestions would be helpful. I'm about to just got out and buy a lug wrench. I have a different floor jack ready to use.

Thanks
Ryan

[JGarten]

OEM Lug wrenches are a (cruel) joke...they fail when you need them most (think dark, rainy highway). I bought a folding lug wrench for <$10 at Big Lots (regional cheap depertment store). Tucks away neatly next to the spare tire.

[NautcaSprt6]

Originally Posted by JGarten

OEM Lug wrenches are a (cruel) joke...they fail when you need them most (think dark, rainy highway). I bought a folding lug wrench for <$10 at Big Lots (regional cheap depertment store). Tucks away neatly next to the spare tire.

I want me one of these.
Do any online retailers have these?

[VanillaYilla]

I haven't had the pleasure of changing a flat yet so thanks for the heads-up mannionr on the difficulty of this equipment and thanks JGarten for giving us a line on the wrench - I will be looking for one of these real soon.

[Meister]

Even a decent-sized spanner can leave you in the lurch when the last fellow to rotate your tires ran the torque up to 130 ft.-lbs. or more with his air-powered impact wrech.

And if it's the wife's turn to get the flat forget it.

For less than $40 delivered you can purchase a 12v electric impact wrench that will make short work of removing and replacing lug nuts, even for a gal.

Make sure that the assortment of sockets has one that fits (probably won't - all I've seen are SAE). Otherwise get one pronto at your nearby auto supply.

The approx 120 ft.-lb. capacity impact wrench will eventually break loose nuts tightened well beyond factory-recommended specs (110 ft.-lbs), and will zip them up to almost a perfect 110 if you'll stop hammering at about the third tap. It'll safely get you or yours to to a tire repair shop, and without a sprained back or worse.

[JGarten]

Great idea (12v impact wrench). Do you think it will stow well with the spare tire? Absolutely right about the monkeys overtightening the lugs. Sam's Club, Costco, Wal-Mart all use torque wrenches to check the lugs (one reason to aviod the (minimum wage) monkeys at the local tire store!)

[mannionr]

I mean the wrench isn't even formed or made to be used for loosening lugs. My old cars (mustangs, hondas) all have normal one socket lug wrenches which worked perfectly. I don't know if they cut costs trying to combine the two or what, but what a debacle. My car has been in the garage 2 days while I was trying to figure out this mess. Tomorrow I'll be going to the auto parts store to buy a lug wrench.

[Meister]

Originally Posted by JGarten

Great idea (12v impact wrench). Do you think it will stow well with the spare tire? Absolutely right about the monkeys overtightening the lugs. Sam's Club, Costco, Wal-Mart all use torque wrenches to check the lugs (one reason to aviod the (minimum wage) monkeys at the local tire store!)

It will if you remove it from its plastic case, JGarten. I decided to keep the full sae set of sockets, and supplemented it with 17, 19 & 20 or 22 mm metrics, so I could do the good neighbor thing if someone had become stranded. The case is maybe 10" x 8" x 4" and takes up very little room in the trunk itself.

[JGarten]

Meister, I finally "got" your previous posts! That folding lug wrench I bought is (most likely) SAE and you pretty much had to scream "metric" at me before it sunk in (I'm really not too bright some days). It was the "mm" sizes that finally clicked. Looks like I get the chance to rectify my mistake before I get caught out in the rain trying to change a metric lug with an SAE wrench!

[3 CNOTES]

Originally Posted by NautcaSprt6

I want me one of these.
Do any online retailers have these?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45786
Not the best quality, but it will do the job much better than the OEM joke of a tool.