I have always used a breaker bar to remove them and a torque wrench when putting them back on (after hand tightening). Takes a little longer but I don't want to mess up my nice aftermarket wheels or lugs.

 

A torque stick for less than the required torque is quick. Use a torque wrench when all the lug nuts are on.

-- Chuck

 

I've been using a Milwaukee 18V ½" drive now FOR 16 YEARS. It goes to the track with me and sees use at home at least twice monthly. It may turn out to be the best tool purchase that I've made since I started buying automotive tools in 1968. The only tool that contests it is my 3/8" drive Snap-On ratchet that I bought in 1969.

I welded a ½" drive socket onto my Honda scissors jack and I use the Milwaukee to jack the car up at the track, too.

It's an animal !!!!!

ALWAYS use a torque wrench to install lug nuts.

This is a pic of my old soldier Milwaukee.

 

if your on a budget get the ryobi, if you want a lighter, smaller, "better" hand tool get a milwaukee. I didnt really know anything about tools back in the day and bought the cheapest I could which was the ryobi and it has never let me down after a ton of abuse... Did some research and the people who make ryobi also make ridgid and milwaukee. They do this to please the market for home diyer's which is ryobi. intermediate level is the ridgid and the pro's is milwaukee. I've been a milwaukee fan boy ever since I upgraded from ryobi.

They milwaukee has setting as 1,2,3 so that would probably work for you. and they are rumoring their one key app maybe able to program the tool to ftlbs. So I personally would spend some more money and get the one key even tho i personally dont use one key. I'd buy the one key if i was in the market for a 3/8 or a 1/2 inch impact because im pretty sure they'll allow you to set foot pounds on it. Which every mechanic wants/needs when installing lugs. They already allow you to program what your cutting with the saw zal in the one key app to prevent burning the blade up. I actually just picked up the milwaukee surge today and its crazy good, hydraulics in a impact.. so smooth and quite My hearing will thank me haha.

 

+1 I love Milwaukee too

 

18 Volt 1/2 in. Cordless Variable Speed Impact Wrench

Here's a disposable one when on sale and with a coupon is probably $80

 

My vote goes for the Craftsman C3, I've worked on plenty of cars and it had worked out great as an impact wrench working on suspension. Get the C3, it's affordable and yes the the battery last for a whole days worth of work

 

Yup! Worth its weight in gold. The newer Lithium batteries last longer, too. Plenty of reserved power.

BTW... I always use a torque wrench to do the final tightening of lug nuts.