On Sat, 17 Feb 2018 16:48:03 -0800, ultred ragnusen
> wrote:

>Can you teach me more about lug bolts & related tire tools on this vehicle
>whose tires I rotated today and which I plan on rotating every 4K miles (6K
>km).
>
>First question is what is the practical difference between these three 21mm
>(13/16ths) "sockets" for the lug bolts on the car I was working on today?
>http://wetakepic.com/images/2018/02/17/socket_ends.jpg
>1. The standard lug wrench (green) has 6 points, each at a sharp angle.
>2. The impact socket (black) has 6 points, each at a semicircular angle.
>3. The standard socket (chrome) has 12 points, each at a sharp angle.

The impact socket is superior for that application - whether using an
impact driver or not. A 12 point socket is better in situations where
fine motion is required.
>
>Second question, are these "cut marks" on a lug nut normal?
>http://wetakepic.com/images/2018/02/17/dented_nuts.jpg

Yes, they are there from the factory.
>I always use deep sockets, which fit over the whole nut, so I know I didn't
>make these marks - but what did make the marks? Are they factory original?
>If so, why?
>
>Third question is related to this combination pictu
>http://wetakepic.com/images/2018/02/17/torquewrench.jpg

>Where this question is a combination question of:
>a. Why is the green 21mm "lug wrench" so very short compared to all others?

To make it fit in the jack bag
>b. What's the practical difference, if any, with respect to torquing lug
>bolts to 85 foot pounds (115 N-m), between the two types of torque wrenches
>shown?

The Micrometer adjusting "click" is easier to use.
>c. Does anyone even use that bottom-most "auger style" ratchet bar for fast
>removal anymore? (I don't have power bolt-removal tools so that's why I use
>it.)
A "speed handle" is very handy for spinning nuts on and off after
breaking them loose and before torquing. I still use mine a lot. - not
just for wheel nuts,
>And, the most important question, for torquing lug nuts, is
>d. Does the torque change depending on the length of the socket extension
>bar?

No.
>
>Fourth question is more of an observation than a question, where I combed
>the tires for rocks and nails, as I always do when I rotate the tires every
>4K miles, when I saw this tiny little steel dot embedded in the rubber in
>each of the front tires.
>http://wetakepic.com/images/2018/02/17/splinter1.jpg
>
>That tiny dot turned out to be this funny-shaped steel sliver, pointy side
>was pointing into the tire in both front tires.
>http://wetakepic.com/images/2018/02/17/splinter2.jpg

Looks like a small staple.
>
>The question is whether these embedded rocks and splinters, of which I
>always find between 50 and 100 in each tire (mostly tiny pebbles and bits
>of glass stuck in the tiny sipes of the tire tread) would eventually fall
>out as the rubber wears (negating the need to periodically pick them out at
>each tire rotation)?
>http://wetakepic.com/images/2018/02/17/splinter3.jpg
>
>In summary, I ask these basic questions simply to learn more about how to
>better rotate tires every 4K miles (6.5K km).


You are best to rotate only front to back on MOST vehicles -and MUST
do so with "directional" tires.

In over 40 years Ihave NEVER done side to side rotations. (and I'm a
mechanic)