Impact Wrench

[bake]

Looking to buy an impact wrench for use to do wheel swaps mainly and perhaps some DIY projects. I am OK with corded, but will consider a battery operated unit if the performance is good. Is there a particular make and model you would recommend?

[MechEngineer408]

Milwaukee 3/8 stubby impact. Will take off wheels and pretty much anything else on the car no problem.

[aus]

Agree with Milwaukee FUEL stubby, but I'm looking for a 1/2"
.

[Pheonix]

Originally Posted by aus

Agree with Milwaukee FUEL stubby, but I'm looking for a 1/2"
.

Most battery operated impact wrenches are pretty good and perform the same for home uses. I would just go with whatever battery system you already owned.
Milwaukee Fuel M18 has 1/2.
Here is mine 1/2

[amrazM]

M18 Milwaukee fuel impact gun

[Jerezblack.m3]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...-21P/314250371

[pbonsalb]

Milwaukee are great. I have all sizes, but recommend the mid torque as a good compromise. The stubby is small and won’t do a wheel if the nuts are a little corroded.

[SAMM3Y]

I think I prefer detent pin over ring style, m18 3/8 Milwaukee would be my choice. stubby is great for tightish access. Knock off batteries/charger can help bring down the price if you buy tool only and eBay the rest.

[BayE30]

Originally Posted by MechEngineer408

Milwaukee 3/8 stubby impact. Will take off wheels any pretty much anything else on the car no problem.

this. Can take off lug nuts with ease, and super compact.

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by Jerezblack.m3

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...-21P/314250371

Got this package for 269 on "Cyber Monday" - looks good so far, but it's pretty bulky.

[nekbreaker]

I got the 1/2 inch earthquake from harbor freight 1200 of torque no issues for what I used work just fine for me

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by BayE30

this. Can take off lug nuts with ease, and super compact.

Not if you live in an area where there is any corrosion. I have the stubby, mid, high and others. Under good conditions it does E9xM3 wheels no problem. Under less than ideal conditions, it struggles. Under bad conditions, it fails.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by Ximian

Got this package for 269 on "Cyber Monday" - looks good so far, but it's pretty bulky.

That one is a beast. I have one. It won’t ever struggle with a lug nut. But it weighs 7 lbs and is not the one I reach for to do E9x M3 lugs nuts. I reach first for the M12 1/2 stubby and 2nd for the M18 mid torque. Never had to use the M18 high torque. There is a new mid that used nearly as compact as the stubby.

[6ixSpd]

The above Milwaukee suggestions are great. Their ratcheting impacts are such a nice piece of kit, I have a DeWalt ecosystem otherwise I'd have all those...

FWIW, the DeWalt DCF899B I've been using for 3 years has never failed to break loose any bolt on the car, even on my old daily that had seen ten years of Canadian salt-road winters. It makes wheel swaps an absolute breeze. Battery lasts a ridiculously long time, too. Only downside is that it's a bit heavy.

[roastbeef]

i have a bosch 1/2" impact. great power and the battery lasts a very long time. it also shares the same battery as my drill and light, so you can "save" a little bit of money just buying the tools only without the battery, charger, and case.
downside is its about $450.

[SilverSlug]

Not to threadjack, but can anyone recommend a good option for a torque wrench to compliment that impact wrench?

(after all, if the wheel comes off, it's gotta go back on!)

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

Not to threadjack, but can anyone recommend a good option for a torque wrench to compliment that impact wrench?

(after all, if the wheel comes off, it's gotta go back on!)

I have an acdelco torque meter in both 3/8 and 1/2. Fantastic value for rotor rings that need 10inch/lbs or using the 1/2 for lugs.

[SilverSlug]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

I have an acdelco torque meter in both 3/8 and 1/2. Fantastic value for rotor rings that need 10inch/lbs or using the 1/2 for lugs.

Very nice. Both wrenches are available on Amazon in the same link...

How often do you find yourself torquing something below 10ft/lbs?



https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-ARM60...psc=1&th=1

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

Very nice. Both wrenches are available on Amazon in the same link...

How often do you find yourself torquing something below 10lb/ft?


https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-ARM60...854&psc=1&th=1

inch pounds. i only use it as often as i need to change rotors.

[pbonsalb]

I think valve cover bolts are under 10 lbs. Most aluminum bolts and very thin long steel bolts are under 10 lbs. And as roast beef noted, rotor to hat bolts on 2 piece rotors.

I do enough work that I have 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 torque wrenches that’s will take me from a few inch pounds to 600 lbs. I don’t have electronic angle torque versions but am considering one or more. I have used the dial pointer that you can attach between the wrench and socket.

Precision, CDI, Snapon are good names and there are probably others. I think Harbor Freight Icon is also pretty good - it did well in a grassroots Motorsports magazine test.

Honestly, for my wheels, I reach for a cheap clicker that I have had for 20 years. It looks like the $20 HF one. Occasionally I test it against another and it has always been fine. You can use those little electronic torque boxes like in roast beef’s picture to test torque wrenches.

[smyles]

Originally Posted by Pheonix

Most battery operated impact wrenches are pretty good and perform the same for home uses. I would just go with whatever battery system you already owned...

/\ THIS /\

Milwaukee's are nice, but their battery prices are just nuts.

[torrque]

Just don't torque all the way to the end suspension bolts, including wheel nuts with the impact wrench.... I mostly use it to remove things when stuck. I did snap a bolt by mistake once, I think it was a steering end link. Never since, I like to torque things by hand.

When I swap wheels, I also initially hand tight the bolt for a couple of rotations, just to make sure it caught on the thread, before trying to drive it with the impact wrench. One of the wheel lugs on my GT350 got stripped when I took her for a tire change; an idiot drove the bolt from start with the impact gun, guess what, it was not properly seated....

As for what I used, I have this, but it's due for a replacement, I wore it out

https://www.amazon.com/Craftsman-Pac...a-903035127243

It's rated at 200 , but it barely does about 80, which is fine for me... I think the best is still the Milwaukee recommended in this thread.

Good luck