Can you use a breaker bar to tighten?

Quick Answer

No, you should not use a breaker bar to tighten bolts or nuts. A breaker bar is designed for loosening tight bolts and nuts, not tightening them. Using a breaker bar to tighten can cause damage due to overtightening.

What is a Breaker Bar?

A breaker bar, also known as a torque wrench, is a long handled tool used to provide increased leverage for loosening stubborn bolts and nuts. It consists of a long metal handle or lever with a socket wrench fitting on one end.

The key difference between a regular ratchet and a breaker bar is the hinged joint. A ratchet has a pivoting head that allows you to swing it back and forth to tighten or loosen a fastener. A breaker bar does not have this pivoting head and instead relies solely on the length of the handle to provide torque and leverage.

Key Features

• Solid metal handle, usually 1-3 feet long
• Socket wrench fitting on one end
• No hinged joint like a ratchet
• Provides high amounts of leverage

Breaker bars are designed specifically for loosening extremely stubborn, rusted, or over-torqued bolts and nuts. The extra leverage from the long handle allows you to generate far more torque than you could using just a standard ratchet or wrench. This makes it easier to break loose stuck fasteners.

Why You Should Not Use a Breaker Bar to Tighten

There are a few key reasons why using a breaker bar to tighten bolts and nuts is not recommended:

Over-Tightening Damage

The extreme leverage provided by a breaker bar makes it very easy to over-tighten a fastener. Even a relatively small amount of force applied to a breaker bar handle can translate into thousands of foot-pounds of torque. This can lead to damaged threads, stripped bolt heads, or cracked components. Over-tightening with a breaker bar can easily cause irreparable damage.

No Precise Torque Control

Proper tightening requires tightening bolts and nuts to a specific target torque value. This ensures the fastener is tight enough to function properly without being so tight it damages the assembly. Breaker bars do not allow for precise torque control. There is no way to reliably limit the torque you apply like you can with a torque wrench or ratchet.

Cumbersome for Faster Jobs

A breaker bar’s length that provides excellent leverage for stuck bolts makes it unwieldy for jobs where you need to quickly tighten multiple fasteners. A standard ratchet or wrench is far more convenient when you need to swiftly move from fastener to fastener.

Better Options for Tightening

While you should avoid using a breaker bar to tighten bolts and nuts, you have several good options:

Torque Wrench

A torque wrench is the best tool for tightening to a precise torque specification. It allows you to dial in the exact required torque value and will “click” when you reach that value during tightening. This takes the guesswork out of tightening while preventing over-tightening damage.

Ratchet

A standard ratchet is also an excellent option for tightening many bolts. The short handle prevents over-tightening. The pivoting head allows you to quickly move from fastener to fastener. Use torque sequence tightening when tightening multiple bolts on an assembly.

Adjustable Wrench

An adjustable wrench provides decent leverage without being unwieldy. Open-ended wrenches allow for speedy tightening jobs. Combined with the proper use of torque sequence tightening, they are reliable simple tightening tools.

Proper Use of a Breaker Bar

While breaker bars are not for tightening, they serve an important purpose in loosening stuck fasteners and should be part of every mechanic’s toolbox. Here are a few tips for the proper use of a breaker bar:

– Always pull directly in-line with the axis of the bolt or nut you are loosening. Avoid bending sideways as this can damage the fastener.

– For maximum leverage, hold the breaker bar handle as far away from the socket fitting as you can.

– Stand on the breaker bar handle to apply body weight if needed for very stubborn bolts. This can safely generate extreme amounts of torque.

– Make sure the socket is properly seated on the fastener head before applying force. Use penetrating oil if rust is present.

– Don’t extend the handle with a pipe for additional leverage. This promotes unsafe levels of torque.

Conclusion

In summary, while breaker bars are designed for loosening stubborn bolts, they should not be used for tightening. The lack of torque control and potential for over-tightening damage make a torque wrench, ratchet, or wrench far better options for tightening bolts and nuts properly and safely. Only use a breaker bar for its intended purpose – breaking loose stuck fasteners – not installation.

Tool	Good for Tightening?	Reasons Why
Breaker Bar	No	No torque control, overtightening risk
Torque Wrench	Yes	Precise torque control
Ratchet	Yes	Prevents overtightening
Adjustable Wrench	Yes	Moderate leverage

Here is a quick recap on using a breaker bar to tighten bolts and nuts:

• Breaker bars should only be used for loosening, not tightening.
• Overtightening with a breaker bar can damage threads, heads, and components.
• A torque wrench, ratchet, or wrench are safer options for tightening.
• Properly use breaker bars only for their intended purpose of breaking loose stuck fasteners.

Breaker Bar Safety Tips

When used properly, breaker bars are very safe tools. But because they apply extreme amounts of torque, you need to take some basic safety precautions:

• Inspect for cracks or damage before each use. Do not use if damaged or bent.
• Ensure you are pulling directly inline with the axis of the bolt.
• Position yourself so that a slip will not result in injury.
• Wear eye protection in case a fastener breaks or tool slips.
• Do not use cheater pipes or extenders for additional leverage.
• Use properly sized quality sockets that fully engage the fastener.
• Keep the bar properly lubricated to prevent sticking.

Following basic safety practices will allow you to fully utilize your breaker bar’s immense loosening power while protecting yourself.

How to Loosen a Stuck Bolt with a Breaker Bar

Here is a step-by-step guide to safely and effectively loosening a stuck bolt with a breaker bar:

Materials Needed

• Breaker bar
• Quality impact socket set
• Penetrating oil
• Rags
• Eye protection

Instructions

1. Select a socket that properly fits the bolt head from your socket set.
2. Fit the socket securely onto the breaker bar.
3. Apply penetrating oil generously to the stuck bolt and allow it to soak in for 5-10 minutes.
4. Position yourself safely beside the bolt with plenty of room in your intended direction of force.
5. Place the socket firmly on the bolt head, ensuring it is fully seated.
6. Pull slowly in a straight line aligned with the axis of the bolt.
7. Increase force gradually, using your body weight if needed for maximum leverage.
8. If the bolt begins turning, continue turning slowly while maintaining steady pressure.
9. Stop if the bolt does not move after several attempts with full force.

Tips

• Avoid sudden jerking motions which can round bolt heads.
• Try tightening slightly before loosening to help break corrosion.
• Heat rusted bolts with a torch to break corrosion bonds.
• If unsuccessful, let penetrant soak longer or try a stronger penetrant.

Maintaining Your Breaker Bar

Proper maintenance will keep your breaker bar working safely and effectively for years:

• Clean – Keep handle and socket fitting free of dirt, grease, and rust.
• Lubricate – Apply light oil periodically to prevent sticking.
• Inspect – Check for cracks or damage before each use.
• Replace – Replace immediately if bent, cracked or heavily worn.
• Store – Keep in a clean, dry place not exposed to weather.

Simple maintenance tasks like cleaning and lubrication take just minutes but are crucial to your breaker bar’s longevity. Inspecting for damage ensures safety. Proper storage prevents deterioration. Keep your breaker bar maintained for optimal performance.

Conclusion

Breaker bars are invaluable tools for loosening severely stuck bolts and nuts, but should never be used for tightening fasteners. Their extreme leverage makes them likely to over-tighten bolts, resulting in part damage. For tightening tasks, a torque wrench, ratchet or wrench are safer options that allow controlled tightening. Using the proper tool for each automotive job not only produces better results but also greatly reduces the chance of damage or injury. Understanding when and when not to use a breaker bar is critical for mechanics.