Lug bolts, sockets and tools

[Bob Rossato]

> Listers- while we're talking about lug bolts, can someone please give
> me a recommendation on a brand of socket that will not round the corners
> of my lug bolts? I have Craftsman sockets now and they don't cut it. I
> can get Kobalt and Husky locally with ease; Snap-On with some effort
> and Facom via mail order. Who makes the best 17mm 1/2" drive socket,
> suitable
> for use on lug bolts, cost no object?
>
> Taka

Personally, I prefer Snap-On.  I use their 17mm 6pt 1/2" drive socket with a
24" breaker bar.  That combination has only failed to remove lug bolts once
for me.  Years ago the monkey lads had done their best to make sure the
wheels on my brother's 5ka could never be removed.  I stood on the end of
the 2ft breaker bar and was bouncing up and down on it to try and loosen
them.  I weigh 220 lbs so that's 440 lb-ft of torque and they failed to
budge.  But neither did the socket and breaker bar fail.  I was flexing the
bar pretty good bouncing on it but it held.

Snap-On are definitely pricey.  I'm fortunate to get a 25% discount through
work but even then they can be hard to justify, but the way I look at it I
buy tools to last me a lifetime.  Proto also makes good sockets that have a
similar flank drive system as Snap-On and are cheaper.  I have a set of
their impact sockets and ratcheting wrenches and I'm very happy with their
quality.

Bob