Which impact wrench?

[Emt1581]

I usually use a tire iron to get wheels off but between swapping sets of snow tires and working on brakes/suspensions, I'm thinking about buying an impact wrench to make it significant quicker and easier to do.

Which impact wrench do you use? Does brand/model matter or will the HF cheapie do?

Thanks

-Emt1581

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[Mootang]

I use a Matika impact driver 1/4" with a 1/2" adapter to a 19mm socket. I'm running aftermarket wheels and aluminum lugs. I will use a breaker bar to break the lugs off, lift car, then use impact to remove. To install, I use impact to seat it, then drop car, and hand torque them down. Impact driver makes it so quick per wheel, especially when you have extended ARP studs which takes forever for the lugs to go on and off.

EDIT: I also have a heavy duty DeWatt 20V XR Brushless 1/2" impact wrench for those stubborn bolts. I used it on the stock front sway bar bracket bolts. Sounded like I was jack hammering the car and I was at the highest setting :eyebulge:

 

[Warhead]

I found an electric 1/2" drive on Amazon, a Craftsman rechargeable and it works nicely. However, it does not have the torque to break the lugs free (150 lbs is pretty stout, torque spec on the S550). I use a breaker bar as well, and also picked up a nice 150 lbs rated torque wrench and needed deep sockets from Amazon for a great price.

I would highly suggest torquing to 150 per the spec.

 

[Emt1581]

If ya'll aren't using these to break the nuts free or tighten them down....why use an impact wrench?? Won't drill do the same turning to get the nuts off once loosened?

Thanks

-Emt1581

 

[ahl395]

I have a Dewalt XR 1/2" 20V Impact wrench. 1200ft/lb breakaway torque and 700ft/lb reverse torque, higher than most air guns out there.

Takes off lugs like nothing lol, and very good at loosening other bolts too. Battery lasts awhile as well.

If ya'll aren't using these to break the nuts free or tighten them down....why use an impact wrench?? Won't drill do the same turning to get the nuts off once loosened?

Thanks

-Emt1581

The "impact" part is what is good at loosening things. A drill doesnt have that. Well some do, but its not made for the same purpose and doesnt have the same torque behind it.

 

[jstump2490]

If ya'll aren't using these to break the nuts free or tighten them down....why use an impact wrench?? Won't drill do the same turning to get the nuts off once loosened?

Thanks

-Emt1581

Because drills are not really used on cars. Impact guns have socket attachments built in, drills do not. I would be MOST people that have impacts have impacts that can break the lugs free, it is only the lower power battery guns that can't. My battery Craftsman impact can't break lugs off the Mustang but my air Campbell Hausfeld does it with ease so the battery gun doesn't get used much anymore.

 

[Top_Notch]

I researched this for quite a while. I am having issues with my hands but still do a lot of work on my cars. I have always only used hand tools being a shade tree, but decided to power up to make jobs simpler. I ended up with a Milwaukee M18 Fuel 3/8 (friction ring) impact. It has plenty of power to do lug nuts. The size allows me to get into smaller spots. It has good balance. It is plenty strong. It came with 2 lithium ion batteries and charger. It has different level settings to zap down bolts and a battery indicator. There are larger batteries available if needed (for capacity, not power). I just did a wheel bearing and one battery was sufficient for the job. There are more expensive ones and more powerful (and bigger/heavier too), but for the size and cost this one works great for me. It's not a bargain brand, but buy once...cry once.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2758-22

 

[Emt1581]

The "impact" part is what is good at loosening things. A drill doesnt have that. Well some do, but its not made for the same purpose and doesnt have the same torque behind it.

Right, I get that. I was just asking the first two that said they didn't use them for loosening or tightening....what the hell is the point?

And if using a breaker bar (which I do have) a hand drill can take the place of spinning the wrench to pull the nuts off. I might give that a try.

Thanks for sharing.

-Emt1581

 

[Mootang]

Right, I get that. I was just asking the first two that said they didn't use them for loosening or tightening....what the hell is the point?

And if using a breaker bar (which I do have) a hand drill can take the place of spinning the wrench to pull the nuts off. I might give that a try.

Thanks for sharing.

-Emt1581

My drill is big and heavy to hold. I use the impact driver for other mods too, nit just lug nuts. Like I mentioned earlier, I have two different impact wrenches, one regular one that seem to work everywhere else like around the house. The heavy duty one for the stubborn bolts. When I did all my mods, that impact wrench really helped with suspension, ride height, OPG, body kits, and various other mods too.

For the lug nuts specially, I still use it because I have ARP extended studs, which are like an infinity times longer than stock. It will take me forever to screw the lugs on by hand vs the impact driver. Just depends on you application and get non-marring deep sockets for protection of the wheels.

 

[ahl395]

Also I would get a non-impact socket for your lugs as the black finish on them is harsher than the standard chrome of a normal socket.

Also get a short 1/2" extension to keep the gun slightly away from the wheel.

I didnt have either of these things last time I had the wheels off and I paid the price :headbonk: Luckily not visible unless your up close to the wheel so it doesn't bother me too much.

 

[jstump2490]

Also I would get a non-impact socket for your lugs as the black finish on them is harsher than the standard chrome of a normal socket.

Also get a short 1/2" extension to keep the gun slightly away from the wheel.

I didnt have either of these things last time I had the wheels off and I paid the price :headbonk: Luckily not visible unless your up close to the wheel so it doesn't bother me too much.

Using standard sockets on an impact wrench is NOT a good idea. They are not designed to withstand the hammer action of the gun and will break. There are special impact sockets with nylon inner sleeves that prevent lug marring.

 

[ahl395]

Using standard sockets on an impact wrench is NOT a good idea. They are not designed to withstand the hammer action of the gun and will break. There are special impact sockets with nylon inner sleeves that prevent lug marring.

Touche that would be a safer route. That being said I've never seen one actually break and I'm a mechanic lol.

 

[jstump2490]

Touche that would be a safer route. That being said I've never seen one actually break and I'm a mechanic lol.

Fair enough, I am not a mechanic, just doing what the instructions say hahaha

 

[ahl395]

Fair enough, I am not a mechanic, just doing what the instructions say hahaha

Probably better off that way :cheers: :lol:

 

[Mootang]

Touche that would be a safer route. That being said I've never seen one actually break and I'm a mechanic lol.

I have lol. My 19mm socket cracked on the side from just the small impact. It was a cheap socket anyways and I do have a whole set of impact sockets, but don't use them that much as they are heavier. I will use them on stubborn bolts though.

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