Bus tools ?

[peterbylt]

I have the Dewalt version, DCF899M1, I purchased the ½ version over the ¾ version DCF897B figuring it would be overall more useful to me.
The torque specs are the same.

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCF899M1-Brushless-Torque-Dentent/dp/B01D61NSUS/ref=pd_lpo_469_t_2/131-3135356-5316719?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01D61NSUS&pd_rd_r=be25b07e-ea13-4787-8442-df0faa187d02&pd_rd_w=HueqN&pd_rd_wg=Zt0d4&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=CV9QWX11C6QB4933CH71&refRID=CV9QWX11C6QB4933CH71&th=1

So far I have been thrilled with it, removing the tires on the Bus became much easier, this thing took those lugnuts off without issue.

I was a little concerned with the reverse thread lugnuts on the driver's side of the MCI, was not an issue.

I have yet to find a bolt that it would not loosen (or break).

I went back and forth for a while on the Dewalt vs Milwaukee conundrum the reviews were about even.

I finally went with the Dewalt to save a few dollars.
 
In the yard where I work on the bus there are a couple guys that work on other things, one of them refurbishes and sells old boats, he has always had trouble getting any of the trailer bolts loose.

Just after I got the Dewalt he was trying to get some badly corroded bolts loose that hold the spring shackles to the trailer, after watching him struggle with a breaker bar and a 4 foot pipe I brought out the Dewalt, to both of our surprise it took those bolts off in moments breaking only one of the eight.

He went out and bought one the next day.

Peter     
 

[Jim Blackwood]

I've got the 1/2" Milwaulkee, not sure which model. It's a very good tool but I doubt it would be enough for lug nuts. Might want to have some spare batteries at hand.

Jim

[Busted Knuckle]

OK just to clear something up, the Milwaukee I was loaned was a 1/2" drive BAD @$# SOMEBITCH! The Amish carpenter crew I work with are ALL about DeWalt everything they have is DeWalt and let me tell you some of that stuff is IMPRESSIVE, but that Milwaukee 1/2" impact the guy from the cabinet shop (YES CABINET SHOP! and don't ask me why they need such a badd @$# impact in a cabinet shop because I don't know and neither did William didn't know either, he just said "I don't know it's just what they bought") was hands down the BADDEST I have seen.
Also to top it all off I wasn't taking off a lugnut! It was a starter bolt of ALL THINGS! NO it should not have ever been that tight, but I wasn't the one who installed it, and NO it's not that tight now!

That being said I have used both my Porter Cable and borrowed DeWalt's 1/2" cordless impacts on lugnuts and not had any problems.
I am going to get me one of the exact same Milwaukee's as I was loaned because that thing just impressed the HELL out of me!
Yes I still have  1" air impacts an I/R a Chicago Pneumatic, a Snap-on (actually "Blue Point" but it's made for and sold by Snap-on) and some off brand cheapo that I got off a traveling tool peddler. (I bought a shop press, eng. hoist,  eng. stand, 3 heavy duty floor jacks, metal band saw, 3/4" socket set w/ratchet an breaker bar, battery tongs, and a heavy duty Scumacher battery charger all for $300 cash) and believe it or not that CHEAPO out did all three of the name brands for about 2-3 yrs before becoming a heavy duty door stop!
  BK 

[Glennman]

I needed a square Budd socket for removing my dual rear wheels.

Nothing else special so far.

Hey Hogi, your "doorman" here...

I purchased one of those low geared lug nut removal tools a while back. I've used it once, very successfully. It came with several sockets, including the square one. It has a ratio of like 1:75 revolutions (75 turns of the handle gets one turn on the socket. It will crank the lug nuts off by hand (so to speak). A handy tool for the bus.

[chessie4905]

Once you add an extension to an impact wrench, the torque is noticeably reduced unless it has no play and beefy enough to not flex.

[hogi6123]

Hey Hogi, your "doorman" here...

I purchased one of those low geared lug nut removal tools a while back. I've used it once, very successfully. It came with several sockets, including the square one. It has a ratio of like 1:75 revolutions (75 turns of the handle gets one turn on the socket. It will crank the lug nuts off by hand (so to speak). A handy tool for the bus.

I bought a torque multiplier too but with a multiplier of 3.  I thought that might be useful for other jobs too.  I haven't used it enough to know if I should have bought something else.  I still needed a long study bar on it for lug nuts but it does make the removal easier.

[kyle4501]

The best tool is a cell phone (with a good battery and strong signal). 

The second best tool is a credit card with enough limit to cover any need that arises. 

I have a torque multiplier (78 to 1 ratio) and use it with a cordless drill to remove the lug nuts. Must be very careful when using it to put them back on to not over tighten them - you can easily break stuff with this setup. 

I also use a 3/4" drive torque wrench to bring them to final torque.

Before I got the torque wrench, I used a pipe extension, a bathroom scale and some basic math to get the proper torque.

[belfert]

I have a torque multiplier.  I had to use it about four years ago to change a tire on the road.  We somehow bent some of the long BUDD nuts on the dual.  I carry a Makita battery 3/4" impact now that will remove most lug nuts as long as the tire jockey didn't overtighten with a 1" impact.

[kyle4501]

I made a stand to hold up the ratchet end of the extension to minimize bending stress on the nuts.

Also, it is important to make sure the reaction foot is flat against the wheel surface to prevent bending the studs.