Shop essentials
Cordless impact wrench
Twenty lug nuts off in a minute. The tool that turns a tire rotation from a chore into a job.
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Where to buy
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Why you need it
- Lug nuts torqued by a shop’s impact gun are brutal to break loose with a hand wrench.
- Speeds up suspension, exhaust and brake work where bolts are rusted.
- Use it to remove, not to install: final tightening of lug nuts is always with a torque wrench.
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What to look for
- 1/2-inch drive with 300 ft-lb or more of breakaway torque for lug nuts.
- Impact-rated sockets (black, thick-walled). Chrome sockets shatter.
- If you already own a cordless platform, stay on it; the battery is half the cost.
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Goes with
Oil change
Torque wrench
Drain plugs, filter housings and lug nuts all have a spec. This is how you hit it.
Starter kit
Oil change
Socket set
Drain plug, splash shield, battery terminals, air box: one set covers nearly every fastener on the car.
Starter kit
Lifting & safety
Floor jack
The fastest, safest way to get a car off the ground for an oil change or tire rotation.
Starter kit
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