1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

HELP! What's this tire mark MEAN?!?!

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by cyberpriusII, Oct 25, 2020.

  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    24" breaker bar helps with lug nut removal. Were those lug nuts installed by "pros"? That would explain the need to stand on the wrench.

    I'd second a floor/style bicycle pump; that's all I ever use now, even for a near completely deflated tire, say after a plug repair.

    Tire marks in my experience are always indicating what corner the wheel came off of. It's the only sensible way to mark them.
     
    cyberpriusII and fuzzy1 like this.
  2. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ... very frequently discounted at Harbor Freight, though just about any stray section of iron pipe, large enough to fit over the lug wrench handle, is sufficient.
     
    cyberpriusII and Mendel Leisk like this.
  3. Prius Maximus

    Prius Maximus Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2004
    929
    774
    1
    Location:
    Northeastern IL
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I'm too lazy (old, decrepit?) to use a breaker bar anymore. cordless impact wrench is the way to go... but it does cost a few extra bucks
     
    cyberpriusII and Mendel Leisk like this.
  4. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    For auto and motorcycle work, I've never ever had an issue with using PVC tubing; much lighter, cheaper, and doesn't rattle in the trunk. It's more than strong enough to snap a lug right off. My "nuclear option" is a 6 foot long piece of 3 inch oil field pipe. ;)
     
    fuzzy1 and cyberpriusII like this.
  5. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2009
    1,135
    1,560
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    O.K. I guess I am a little girl who still worships her father.

    But, I also forgot that he taught me what he called the "gorilla" trick with the pipe extension, oh, so long ago.

    And, in my first car, I NOW remember I did carry a piece of pipe that fit over the "tire wrench."

    So, I have no one to blame for my extremely sore hip and leg than myself.

    but, the idea of a PVC extension is extremely appealing. Light, cheap and "workable." What diameter and what length for the "normal" passenger car are we talking about?

    I am also toying with the idea of buying the $50 Harbor Freight Impact wrench, though I probably will not. I want to get back to rotating my own tires (yes, insane, but I enjoy it --maybe).

    [​IMG]
    kris
     
    #25 cyberpriusII, Oct 27, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2020
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Corded electric impacts seem to be going the way of the dodo. Sadly? They seem cheaper to buy, no bulky battery and a charger. Maybe they can't match the torque of the battery powered??
     
  7. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2009
    1,135
    1,560
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
  8. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'll have to give it a try, with the upcoming winter tire swap. It would certainly lighten the load in the trunk.

    And would be a good addition to the smaller niece's vehicle tool kit. When her hand-me-down Explorer had a flat, she could do almost all of the tire change herself, except that she just didn't have the body weight to break loose the lug nuts with the regular wrench.
     
    cyberpriusII likes this.
  9. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I have a section of stout PVC here, 1½" or so, that I used a few times for some breaker action. It is shorter now than it was when I conscripted it for that job, and one end of it is very jagged and sharp, and my recollection is that shards of it went flying far and fast.
     
    cyberpriusII and fuzzy1 like this.
  10. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ^^ Any recollection what schedule it is/was, 40 or 80? White or dark?

    And what size vehicle was it used on? That Explorer will need something more stout than my Prius.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I'd get a breaker bar; they're cheap. 1/2" drive by 24" maybe?

    Taking a regular handle ratchet wrench and extending it with a pipe is likely overtaxing it's mechanism, could break it.

    Ok I guess a "cheater" would be ok to extend the Toyota lug wrench, say left in the car. I'd be inclined to use a steel plumbing/gas pipe. You could tape it to reduce rattles.
     
  12. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2009
    1,135
    1,560
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I still have not seen a recommendation in terms of size and schedule. I think I will go with 1" schedule 80. Maybe 18-inches.
     
  13. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    This might be a place to mention two things I routinely do:

    (1) I use a torque wrench, and 76 foot-pounds, when I put the lug nuts on.

    (2) I have a little jar of anti-seize. I never put it anywhere, except a little dab now and then (from the tip of a jeweler's screwdriver) in the little gap between the captive washer attached to the lug nut and the bottom of the lug nut itself, where it bears down on the washer. And I spin the washer back and forth a bit so that little dab is spread around on the bottom of the nut.

    When I go to take the lug nuts off, it just isn't ever an uncivilized experience in the least.
     
  14. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2009
    1,135
    1,560
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Well, I spent another bit of cash on a Slime tire pump :cry::cry::cry:. Hmm....

    I found the Slime Garage kit on EBay, made a bid and $38.80 later....The kit seems pretty good. Retails for around $85 USD.

    Only issue is that it "screws onto" valves. Prefer the "press and clamp system." Buying an $8 extension hose solved that issue. It has fairly long reach,seems solid. Kit includes tire depth gauge. Works well so far. Time will tell.

    120V Garage Tire Inflator with Accessories Kit | Slime – Slime Products

    kris
     
  15. LesGas

    LesGas Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    11
    13
    0
    Location:
    Lyndhurst, Va.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  16. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Here's the collection of cheater pipes I use with breaker bars. I manage to bend one of the smaller ones on an FWD axle nut; moved up the 1&1/4 inch PVC + "nuclear option" (6ft metal pipe) which popped it loose quite easily. I have similar ones to the middle pipe in the picture stored in every car with a breaker bar+correct socket size. Just like in use, I store the breaker bar inside the pipe so no rattles.

    FullSizeRender.jpeg
     
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  17. LesGas

    LesGas Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    11
    13
    0
    Location:
    Lyndhurst, Va.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    might want to consider picking up a 13/16” impact socket to go with and keep it handy in the vehicle should you need it. That’s what I use.