Garbage Jack Handle

[Ryom]

A few tricks to keep up your sleeve... turn it in the tightening direction first to help break any corrosion loose, then try giving the handle a good whack with something hard before turning it loose. Instantaneous moment energy does wonders for loosening friction held fasteners, which is why impacts work so well.

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[olderthanyourdirt]

I have always kept a four-way tire iron in my vehicle. Recently, I got one of these with a Milwaukee socket set. We ended up needing it when our scout trailer blew a tire. It made a huge difference compared to just using a tire iron. I keep it under the back seat with a battery.

Me too, along with a collapsible 4 way. Have always had 4 way since my 62 Impala

 

[olderthanyourdirt]

So at 6100 miles I ran over a nail and I got out, removed the jack assembly and attempted to loosen the lug nuts. As I neared the critical force necessary to break them free the handle started to bend and distort. I lowered the spare and called AAA to come remove my wheel. The AAA guy quickly removed the lug nuts and off I went to the dealership only to learn the tire was not repairable because of the location of the puncture. So now I have a new tire. I tried the jack handle again just to see if perhaps the lug nuts had previously been tightened too much. No luck. That P.O.S handle is useless as a remover of the lug nuts. I now carry a lug wrench with me for future incidents. For Mav owners out there, try the jack handle on your lug nuts before a flat occurs and be prepared as you motor along. Ford should be ashamed of the metal quality of that jack handle.
f1jim

You have Ford Roadside assistance

 

[LGM30G]

I saw this on linkedin. It’s available at amazon.

RANSOTO Torque Multiplier Set Torque Multiplier Wrench Lug Nut Remover Labor Saving Nut Disassembly Tool with 11/16" 3/4”13/16" 17mm 19mm 21mm Sockets for Loosening Car Tire Lug Nuts https://a.co/d/3ZCG3X8

 

[f1jim]

You have Ford Roadside assistance

AAA is faster. Besides, they won't help cheesy manufacturing.
F1jim

 

[olderthanyourdirt]

AAA is faster. Besides, they won't help cheesy manufacturing.
F1jim

Most of the AAA contractors also contract with Ford and all the other manufacturers

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

So at 6100 miles I ran over a nail and I got out, removed the jack assembly and attempted to loosen the lug nuts. As I neared the critical force necessary to break them free the handle started to bend and distort. I lowered the spare and called AAA to come remove my wheel. The AAA guy quickly removed the lug nuts and off I went to the dealership only to learn the tire was not repairable because of the location of the puncture. So now I have a new tire. I tried the jack handle again just to see if perhaps the lug nuts had previously been tightened too much. No luck. That P.O.S handle is useless as a remover of the lug nuts. I now carry a lug wrench with me for future incidents. For Mav owners out there, try the jack handle on your lug nuts before a flat occurs and be prepared as you motor along. Ford should be ashamed of the metal quality of that jack handle.
f1jim

Thank you for the tip! I carry an 20v electric impact gun and a set of six-point metric deep well sockets, six rechargeable orange rotating magnetic beacons and a jump box. I carry more than that usually, and especially on a road trip.

 

[TKranbuhl]

Thanks to all for the heads up about the lug wrench and jack. Heading out on a couple of road trips shortly. Just came back from Discount Tire with a new set of Defender 2's and I'm sure those boys put the lugs on to stay.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Thanks to all for the heads up about the lug wrench and jack. Heading out on a couple of road trips shortly. Just came back from Discount Tire with a new set of Defender 2's and I'm sure those boys put the lugs on to stay.

Discount Tire will look up the torque specs for your vehicle and finish by hand torquing them to spec. Which will probably be 140 ft pounds.

 

[Veritable]

I have. Someone torqued on lugnut on my '72 Eldorado to death before I bought it. I even set my now son in law on it, nearly 300lb in football shape.

We stopped when the flex in the breaker bar became visible!

[eventually, I applied rust remover wd-40. 48 hours later, it was just another tough nut ]




my father's jack when I was growing up looked something like that.

One morning at donuts, one of the guys in the club came in in disbelief, holding the manual for his '49 Cadillac.

The jack had about a 3" base. The instructions were to attach it to the rim! At which point, you'd use a jack stand.

And bad as that might be on its own, consider how few roads were paved instead of gravel in 1949. And this was a Cadillac!



I had my 2002 E-150 about halfway up on the jack that came with it, threw in the towel, and went and bought a craftsman SUV jack. (which would later be in the van when it was stolen, and removed before it was recovered) .

So at 6100 miles I ran over a nail and I got out, removed the jack assembly and attempted to loosen the lug nuts. As I neared the critical force necessary to break them free the handle started to bend and distort. I lowered the spare and called AAA to come remove my wheel. The AAA guy quickly removed the lug nuts and off I went to the dealership only to learn the tire was not repairable because of the location of the puncture. So now I have a new tire. I tried the jack handle again just to see if perhaps the lug nuts had previously been tightened too much. No luck. That P.O.S handle is useless as a remover of the lug nuts. I now carry a lug wrench with me for future incidents. For Mav owners out there, try the jack handle on your lug nuts before a flat occurs and be prepared as you motor along. Ford should be ashamed of the metal quality of that jack handle.
f1jim

Just read your post about the Maverick jack handle. Went out to the garage and pulled out my jack handle for my 2024 Maverick and tried it out. It works just fine. Very sturdy. Loosened the lug nuts with no problem what so ever. It's no match for a good 4-way but it's not garbage as you said. Either someone over tightened your lug nuts or its user error.

 

[Optimus]

I live in the Rust Belt, so anti-seize went on the lugs the very first time I took the tires off (which was within 800 miles of buying new).

I also spread a bit around the center bore hole/flange and hub face to help prevent the wheels themselves from rusting in place.

 

[f1jim]

Just read your post about the Maverick jack handle. Went out to the garage and pulled out my jack handle for my 2024 Maverick and tried it out. It works just fine. Very sturdy. Loosened the lug nuts with no problem what so ever. It's no match for a good 4-way but it's not garbage as you said. Either someone over tightened your lug nuts or its user error.

Not only did the factory tool not work on the lug nuts from the factory install, when I got the truck back from the dealer with the new tire on it wouldn't budge the lugs again!!! A 4 way at home had no issues. I assure you, after a lifetime(69yesrs) of wrenching on cars I know how to remove lug nuts. It's possible the factory AND my dealer both overtightened the lug nuts but if the supplied handle won't budge them without bending and distorting I won't ever take that chance again. 4 way safely stored in back of the seat!
f1jim

 

[22_Mich_Mav]

I just blew a tire last week and used the factory lug wrench. While I agree it’s junk it worked well enough to get the job done. The design is a joke because it wants to fold up constantly. Also using it to raise the jack is even worse…the old scissor crank worked better

 

[scott1070]

I tried mine the day I brought my 2025 home. It worked flawlessly.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

So at 6100 miles I ran over a nail and I got out, removed the jack assembly and attempted to loosen the lug nuts. As I neared the critical force necessary to break them free the handle started to bend and distort. I lowered the spare and called AAA to come remove my wheel. The AAA guy quickly removed the lug nuts and off I went to the dealership only to learn the tire was not repairable because of the location of the puncture. So now I have a new tire. I tried the jack handle again just to see if perhaps the lug nuts had previously been tightened too much. No luck. That P.O.S handle is useless as a remover of the lug nuts. I now carry a lug wrench with me for future incidents. For Mav owners out there, try the jack handle on your lug nuts before a flat occurs and be prepared as you motor along. Ford should be ashamed of the metal quality of that jack handle.
f1jim

Have you thrown it away already?
Or can you snap a picture and post it to show how badly it bent up.
Pictures are always a great to document something.

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