Recommend a battery powered impact?

[Joe Gonsalves]

Just my 2 cents, I have both Craftsmen 1/2" and 1/4" drive impacts guns. The 1/2" I use all the time the 1/4" I used only once. The Craftsmen 1/2" has plenty enough torque for almost all my needs. If you have to choose go 1/2" with which ever brand you like best. You can always use an adapter to step down to 3/8" or up from 1/4" drive. If you can get the 1/4" drive real cheap like I did, when Sears closed down, then by all means get it. But you may not use it much if at all.

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[Doug V]

I'm looking for recommendations for a battery powered impact. Not sure if I need a 3/8" or 1/2". Most of my stuff is 3/8" but can easily grab 1/2" sets. Just wanna remove my wheels, do some suspension work and mild stuff like that. Just tired or wrenching everything manually. I'm obviously not a pro, so I don't need the highest end gear. Just want something powerful, reliable and good battery life. While you're at it if you got suggestions for a good digital torque wrench that would be helpful too.

Suspension might require more than mild stuff. Wheels are 150ft lbs. And doing maintenance on all wheels will need a lot of battery. If you are looking for a strong battery powered impact, take a look at a 20v Ingersoll Rand W7153-K22. Not the cheapest but it works on everything.

 

[Strokerswild]

I landed in the Ryobi cordless camp long ago due to the number of different/unique tools in the line, and have no complaints about my 18V impact.

No complaints about any of their tools, in fact. I think I've only had one 2ah battery fail in at least a decade (I should have kept track of when I bought each item). Solid stuff for what I do. I must have almost a couple dozen of the various tools right off the top of my head.

If I really have something stubborn, I have an old corded Makita that will twist many things off nicely.

 

[JetGray_Mach1]

For your application this is ideal. For wheel and pretty much everything else. I have been using this for years now no complaints. Its got plenty of power but its also relatively light, you can tighten your wheels good amount, then use the torque wrench to get them to spec.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-20V-MAX-XR-Cordless-Impact-Driver-Tool-Only-DCF860B/329528442

If you end up needing a high torque impact wrench, for stuck suspension, crank bolt, etc. You can always purchase this one, same battery can be used. I have had very positive experience with all my Dewalt tool set.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-20V-1-2-in-High-Torque-Impact-Wrench-Tool-Only-DCF961B/328393371

Ryobi is fine but they tend to be cheap/heavy, I dont like that. Milwaukee are great and so is Craftsman.

 

[BrakeFade]

This little baby right here is one of the best cordless impacts I've ever used. I've used it to replace all kinds of control arms, suspension parts, and recently shocks & struts on my daily beater Honda Accord. It claims to have 550ft/lbs of "nut busting" torque. I haven't had any issues with it breaking anything free.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...-in-Impact-Wrench-Tool-Only-2563-20/330542470

 

[robvas]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-20V-1-2-in-High-Torque-Impact-Wrench-Tool-Only-DCF961B/328393371

Ryobi is fine but they tend to be cheap/heavy, I dont like that. Milwaukee are great and so is Craftsman.

Ironic to complain about weight and then recommend one of the heaviest impacts out there...

And Craftsman can suck a fat one

 

[JetGray_Mach1]

Ironic to complain about weight and then recommend one of the heaviest impacts out there...

And Craftsman can suck a fat one

Dewalts high torque one is pretty heavy. I was talking about the mid-torque one compared to Ryobi. You always got to be an a-hole or what?

 

[robvas]

Dewalts high torque one is pretty heavy. I was talking about the other one compared to Ryobi. You always got to be an a-hole or what?

Don't take it personal. I'm just keeping people honest.

BTW Ryobi's impact driver that's most similar to that Dewalt weighs the same 2.5lbs

 

[JetGray_Mach1]

Don't take it personal. I'm just keeping people honest.

BTW Ryobi's impact driver that's most similar to that Dewalt weighs the same 2.5lbs

I was just sharing my positive experience with it. And I did say it tends to be heavier. Perhaps they have lost weight over the years, I had Ryobi before and they were always cheaper, bulkier and heavier.

 

[Hoofer]

 

[m3incorp]

The Ingersol Rand is known to be outstanding and used by many professionals, but it is expensive. The DeWalt is outstanding and highly recommended, especially for lugnuts and its torque adjustability. It is a little on the heavy side, but I haven't run into a bolt it couldn't loosen. I tend to change my wheels back and forth depending on the outdoor temperature, and I use the Dewalt constantly.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

Get whatever brand you're already invested in, then you can reuse your current batteries across multiple tools. Take it from an ex mechanic and current maintenance tech in heavy industry, get a compact 1/4", an high torque 3/8 drive, this will be your go to gun for 95% of what you do, and an upper mid/low end high torque 1/2" for the stubborn or rusted bolts that are too much for the 3/8" to handle. Get a lightweight in the 3/8, you don't want to get fatigued to early. The 1/2 gun, don't worry about weight, you want as much power as you can afford, its not like you will be using it all the time so weight is not a concern.

 

[JetGray_Mach1]

Electric ratchet wrench are also excellent. Love mine and we used it regularly when I worked at Ford.

 

[YOR SLO]

Electric ratchet wrench are also excellent. Love mine and we used it regularly when I worked at Ford.

Long reach or regular?

 

[JetGray_Mach1]

Long reach or regular?

I guess regular? See attached example, 3/8 would be sufficient Imo.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...ss-3-8-in-Ratchet-Tool-Only-DCF513B/318631244

I will never forget wedging against the frame once though lol

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