Changing a wheel cheaply - big breaker bar vs cordless impact wrench?

They're not THAT close. 40 miles...

I think I'm just going to end up buying the $60 little torque extension thing so I can least get it somewhere in the correct neighborhood for the 40 mile drive.

 

Found a borderline affordable torque wrench...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08543L2DY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_NJNQVADTXZB84VE5KCNF

I think I'm going to bite the bullet and buy this thing instead of messing with all the weird Math and Science and Welding trying to jury-rig something.

Still going to go to TA for a retorque though, not going to fully trust an Amazon tool that's 1/4 of the usual price...

 

As much as I love this style of scientific redneckery, I'm not sure I trust using it on the machine that's feeding me and my family.

So I broke down and bought a proper torque wrench. Cheapy-chinesey but still full size proper 600 lb/ft, $270 or so.

 

Hopefully it's a good deal, one of those things where something is way overpriced for no reason and the Chinese figure out a way to make it way cheaper but still functional, if less durable. Like Harbor Freight stuff.

I guess we'll find out how accurate it is when I go to get the nuts retorqued. Then I'll know if it's a good deal or a rip off.

[Edit] ooo, I just had an idea. I can first test the cheapy wrench on the existing already tightened lug nuts to make sure it clicks over somewhere around 450-475. That way I can be sure it's not a total piece of junk. Science!

 

Lol. I asked how to change a wheel "cheaply", not "as expensively as humanly possible"

I already ordered a torque multiplier for $70 instead of $1000. Scared to even check how much their torque wrenches are...