A lug wrench is used to loosen and tighten lug nuts that keep tires attached to axles. There are two common designs: a bent-arm and a crucifix wrench. The latter is recommended for maximum leverage. Care must be taken not to damage the nut or socket.
Conveniently, a wrench is a tool designed to loosen and tighten nuts. The lug nuts are responsible for keeping the tires attached to the axles, which means they are usually held very tight. Professional mechanics typically use pneumatic sockets to accomplish this feat, ensuring the lug nuts will not come loose during normal driving. A lug wrench is designed to provide drivers with enough leverage to loosen lug nuts during a roadside emergency.
There are two common lug wrench designs that drivers may come across. One is a metal bar bent at the end closest to a socket wrench. The other common wrench configuration resembles a cross, with multiple sockets on each arm.
Both provide enough leverage for a driver to loosen lug nuts, but many experts recommend the crucifix wrench for maximum leverage. However, the bent-arm lug wrench features a pry bar on the opposite end, which can make removing hubcaps or other wheel covers much easier. Any type of lug wrench can be purchased at an auto supply store or department store.
The lug wrench most often comes into play with a flat tire. The driver usually removes the spare tire, car jack, and lug wrench from the trunk to replace the tire. Once the hub cap or wheel cover is removed, the lug nuts are revealed.
The driver must loosen, but not remove, all lug nuts before jacking up the car. This involves placing the wrench over a nut and applying downward force until the nut comes loose. Once the nut is loose enough to turn by hand, the driver repeats the process with the rest of the nuts. With a cross wrench, the driver must be able to apply both upward and downward pressure to the left and right arms. This extra torque is why many professionals prefer the cross-shaped wrench.
Great care must be taken not to remove the socket from a wrench. If the end of a bent-arm nut driver is not properly connected to the nut, excessive force can damage the nut or socket. A wrench made from softer metals may be less expensive than a forged steel model, but it may not be able to handle the toughest nuts. It’s not uncommon for car owners to replace their factory-supplied lug wrench and car jack with higher-quality tools from an auto supply store.
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