A general WARNING to all Toyota owners

[SHAUGHN_33]

The tire iron in my 2000 runner is almost a deadly weapon. I'm sure the rest of you have noticed the sharp, almost chisel like appearance on the end of your lug wrench. As we all know, it's a tool for removing the center caps of the rims. The issue is this: If you do things without thinking about them first (like me) it can cause serious bodily injury. Allow me to paint you all a picture.

It's 4th of July weekend, I'm working on taking my wheels off to plasti-dip them for a cheap, decent looking mod. I got one done on Saturday and put it back on but it got dark and i couldn't do any more. On Sunday I wake up, go outside and start loosening the lug nuts on wheel number two. I got 5 out of 6 broke loose then went directly to the ER.

"How did we just go from loosening lug nuts to the ER?" you might ask. Let me tell you, as I'm sure you will all get a kick out of this one. On lug nut number six, I slipped off the lug wrench (I was using my body weight to break the nuts free, same way I have always done it) and immediately noticed that there was a sharpened wrench sticking right through my shoe. I then proceeded to notice that the same exact wrench sticking through my shoe was ALSO sticking two inches into my shin. Being as I knew that lug wrench belonged in neither of those places i proceeded to remove it (very very quickly) and then went to the ER where they put me back together with 5 stitches. Sunday ruined.

The End

LESSON: Don't use this lug wrench improperly, because it will ruin your day, just like it ruined mine

 

[SMEE]

WOW. Will think of you everytime I pick up a lug wrench for the rest of my life. Thanks for that

 

[Net4n6]

I am sorry but somehow I laugh by myself reading your post.:gun5:. It's not funny but stupid me.
Take care.

 

[Thai]

Glad that nothing worst happened...thanks for the heads up!

 

[SHAUGHN_33]

I am sorry but somehow I laugh by myself reading your post.:gun5:. It's not funny but stupid me.
Take care.

Oh no, I beg to differ. It is, in fact, extremely funny. I keep looking at that wrench and saying "I cant' believe that f-ing happened." It is okay to laugh about it, I am lol. Just thought I should let you all know, since it does seem to be a slight safety issue, even if it was my own stupidity that caused it.

 

[Maritimer]

It is nasty. I also make a point of wearing gloves when loosening tight bolts as I almost sliced the skin off my knuckle last month when it gave. Luckily it didn't slice all the way through and it healed in two weeks instead of four. :rant:

 

[R.A.]

NOTE TO TOYOTA: Must idiot proof lug wrench to avoid lawsuits.

 

[Pikeman]

I use a small Star wrench instead of the factory one. Better leverage and as proven by the above story much safer.

 

[jwyshrek]

Glad to hear it was 'just a flesh wound' (in British accent).

But as long as you live and learn (from mistakes), its all good.

Anyone that has worked on cars and trucks long enough knows that s**t will happen. Not a matter of if...a matter of when. Murphy's Law.

 

[K.C.]

Glad you are okay.

I always use a breaker bar & be sure I don't rush things.

Me + rush = no good

 

[JohnsD90]

Any Pics? I generally just stomp on it and get it to crack, then i just twist it off, from the sound of it you were pushing down on it and it went into your shoe and ankle?

 

[KAILUAZ]

+1 for the breaker bar and gloves.

 

[JB.]

Funny story, reminds me of some good times.

I'll never forget this.

 

[tacosmasher]

Yeah, i always carry a 1/2" socket breaker bar with me.

 

[noneckrex]

Where are the pictures??

 

[SHAUGHN_33]

I didn't have the time to take before pics, but i will snap a few of the stitches and the hole in the shoe asap

 

[gigger]

Whoa that's brutal. I use a breaker bar and a screwdriver or a pointy rock for centercaps.

 

[Uneek]

I prefer to use a piece of pipe as an extension over the OEM lug wrench (if I don't have the correct socket size).

Also, this applicable to more than just Toyotas. My past Nissan and Mazda has the same setup for lug wrench on the opposite end. I think my dad's Chevy had the same thing.

 

[KidVermicious]

Where are the pictures??

This thread is useless without pics. I'm very upset that the OP did not stop to photographic this horrible inury before removing the tire iron from his shin.

What if I puncture my own shin with a tire iron because I didn't get to see graphic pics warning me not to puncture my shin with a tire iron? What then, I ask?

 

[JasonCz]

Good to hear you survived!


I was wrenching on one of my mountain bikes yesterday. I was removing a pedal, and pulling up as hard as I could, when the pedal finally broke free my hand went flying into the chain ring. One of the teeth decided to go completely through the center of my pinky nail. Now the whole thing is black and ready to fall off. Talk about painful.

MORAL: Toss a couple of these into every tool box you own (and the back of your car).