Is your impact wrench just not remove lug nuts no matter how hard you try?
Everyone struggles like that with their tools sometimes; me included.
I own a DeWalt 20V cordless impact wrench as shown in the image below.
The DeWalt impact wrench is quite good but sometimes it might also run into some common impact wrench problems.
So, to help you out, I wanted to make a list of possible reasons why this might be happening and what you can do in each case.
Related: Should You Use Impact Wrench To Tighten Lug Nuts? Yes or No
Impact Wrench Will Not Remove Lug Nuts
- Incorrect Socket Size
The most obvious first suggestion I have is that your socket size should always match the size of the lug nut.
A size too small won’t fit around the nut, and a size too big won’t be able to grip around it tight enough to remove it.
Also, it would be not easy to detach or attach the socket to the anvil if the size is not correct.
It’s a really simple mistake to make, but a common one.
I’ve even done it myself sometimes, because it’s an easy absent-minded thing to do.
But, just switch the sockets around and find a matching one. That should be enough to get the lug nut out.
My video below will show you how to change the socket, and also the anvil.
I have one small set of socket from Bosch, and I can choose the suitable socket that match the lug nut.
The anvil should have enough room to properly fit inside of the socket. But, that doesn’t mean you should use one that’s too big.
Find something perfectly sized like I have as shown in the image below.
With the right socket wrapped around the lug nut, that thing should usually come off without any hassle.
Tips: Use a Correct Adaptor to convert impact wrench to impact driver is possible
- Weak or Dead Battery (For Cordless Impact Wrench)
Those of you that have a cordless impact wrench, like I do, need to make sure the battery has enough power.
If the impact wrench has no power, read this post to troubleshoot.
Keeping it fully charged most of the time is important.
To check the battery level of the battery, simply press the battery indicator as shown in the image below.
If your battery indicator is not working, read this post.
You can see here that, if possible, I always keep my impact wrench’s battery fully charged.
A battery that’s dying or just on low power might not give the wrench enough strength to remove tight lug nuts.
Signs of weak dying battery include it might not holding charge or can only charge up to two bars no matter how long you charge it.
Or the battery just simply lost its charge after few days.
View the video below to check the voltage of DeWALT battery to make sure it is output correct voltage.
If your DeWalt 20V charger is having problem, read this post.
- Incorrect Torque Setting
Your DeWalt impact wrench comes with multiple torque settings for a reason.
Even mine has 3 different options, I know some cordless impact wrench from DeWalt even offer 4 speed settings.
It’s important to always use the correct torque setting or you might feel the impact wrench is not strong enough when using it.
Too low or too high can cause under or overworking, which isn’t good for getting the lug nut out, sometimes even cause the impact wrench to jam.
Tips: Check if the impact wrench is leaking grease as insufficient grease might also cause it to jam
Slide your torque setting all the way to the left so its at minimum and test it out on the lug nut.
Slowly make your way across the multiple levels until you finally find the one that removes it smoothly for you.
Yeah I understand that you might already adjusted to the highest speed and torque setting but still having problem removing the lug nut.
Tips: Continuous usage of the highest speed and torque might get your impact wrench to get heat easily
The next thing to check could be the “Rotation Direction” on your impact wrench.
- Wrong Rotation Direction
I know this is a funny mistake to make and one that’s too obvious, but rotating your impact wrench in the wrong direction could be the reason for this.
Sometimes I made this mistake and tightened the lug nuts I wanted to remove instead of removing them.
Just check the directional switch on your device to find out if that’s the case or not.
Here’s what it looks like. It should be spinning left to loosen the lug nuts.
If you have it spinning in the wrong direction, it’ll overtighten the nut instead. That brings me to my next thought.
- Lug Nuts Overtightened
Impact wrenches are normally pretty strong, but they’re not unstoppable.
If a lug nut is overtightened, your device just might not be strong enough to remove it. It’s not a common thing to happen, but it’s still a possibility.
This can happen especially to users with cordless impact wrenches, because those are relatively weaker and the impact wrench won’t spin the tight lug nuts.
Unfortunately, if that’s the case, you’re going to have to take care of things the manual way.
Take out your “Manual Impact Wrench”, insert the socket to the lug nut, and use your weight to apply lots of pressure on the lug nut.
I do this by just standing on it, which gets it looser.
Once that happens, I just use the impact wrench because the job is easier now and that does the trick!
- User Error – Applying Backward Pressure
Human errors are just as probable as machine errors, and at this point it sounds to me like it might be a human error.
Specifically, you could be applying backwards pressure.
Putting pressure on the lug nut in the wrong direction goes against the wrench’s original rotation, and makes it difficult to remove.
The “impact” in the impact wrench means it would push forward to give out the momentum and torque.
If your impact wrench is not output impact force, read this post.
Look below and you can see how I’m pushing slightly towards the nut while trying to remove it. This is what you should do too.
As long as you do that and keep the impact wrench steady, that will be enough to get the wrench off if there are no other problems present.
Conclusion
That bothersome lug nut should have come off by now if you followed my suggestions.
Just make sure to go through each of these tips and your problem will be solved eventually, just like it is for me when I struggle to get a lug nut to come off.
