A couple of weeks ago the TPMS sensors I had on the Promaster seemed to show the R front tire was a few pounds low. I added some air and a week later it still seemed a bit low. Hummm... Possibly a rim leak? I decided to remove the wheel and take tire to (warm) basement and put soapy water on it. This 2.5 ton van calls for 145 ft/lbs torque on the bolts. Wow! My torque wrench will do it BUT it's at the extreme edge of MY strength. This is controversial but I have over the years applied a small amount of anti-sieze compound to lug bolts. And, I reduce the torque by 20% (approx 116 ft/lbs). This ensures I car remove a wheel if I have too.
Trying to remove wheel with my usual large 4-way lug wrench, the wrench was starting to bend. I tried a 1/2" sliding tee wrench with a cheater pipe... It bent. I resorted to a 2 foot pipe wrench on the socket before I broke these loose. Wow! That does it.
My dad had a huge 3/4" breaker bar that I kept but didn't know why. I dug it out. Went to Harbor Freight and bought a 3/4" to 1/2" adapter and a 21mm socket. I also bought a 1/2" breaker bar (for in the van). I found some heavy tube that will slide over the breaker bars for more leverage.
Over the last week or so I've given these tools a coat of "find me" yellow and orange. With that 3/4" bar I should either break the lug bolt or the socket!
Oh... the tire? I never could detect any slow leak. I put it back on van and it seems to be just fine... Time will tell. Ken
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Trying to remove wheel with my usual large 4-way lug wrench, the wrench was starting to bend. I tried a 1/2" sliding tee wrench with a cheater pipe... It bent. I resorted to a 2 foot pipe wrench on the socket before I broke these loose. Wow! That does it.
My dad had a huge 3/4" breaker bar that I kept but didn't know why. I dug it out. Went to Harbor Freight and bought a 3/4" to 1/2" adapter and a 21mm socket. I also bought a 1/2" breaker bar (for in the van). I found some heavy tube that will slide over the breaker bars for more leverage.
Over the last week or so I've given these tools a coat of "find me" yellow and orange. With that 3/4" bar I should either break the lug bolt or the socket!
Oh... the tire? I never could detect any slow leak. I put it back on van and it seems to be just fine... Time will tell. Ken
. And yes it works great but is messy.
