Recommendations for cordless impact wrenches
 

Hi all, im thinking of getting a cordless impact wrench and would like some recommendations from all you tool gurus. I ask because although ive done research on some options (makita, dewalt, milwaukee, etc) I believe that they may be too powerful for the jobs ill be using it for, with some ranging from 700-1700 ft lbs of tq. Heres some of the things i would like to use the impact wrench for:

removing wheels
suspension work as sways and shocks
brake work and discs and calipers
Exhaust work as removing cats and catback

I dont necessarily need a brand recommendation, but maybe on how much power should i be looking for in a power wrench for the jobs mentioned above.

As always, thanks for the advice :tup:

I would recommend just getting the most powerful one you can. I feel like Milwaukee lately have been making some really good tools for the price. I work at pretty big shop and a lot of people seem to be ditching snap on for Milwaukee now..

I've got the 18v makita and have used it without issue to remove the 36mm front axel nut on an old f150. I believe it's only 300ish ft lbs on the wrench so im not quite sure what you do with 1000 ft lbs. Anyway, if I were to buy again I'd value overall size (getting in tight spaces) way more than high torque for automotive use. I believe Milwaukee makes a compact / snub nose wrench.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-...rdless/2766-20

I have this one from Milwaukee and it's awesome, it's a little large but it hasn't been too much of a problem. I have yet to find a nut or bolt it can't loosen.

When I was still at the power plant. We switched from DeWalt to Milwaukee. The DeWalt's batteries wasn't lasting long. And the tools didn't hold up to daily usage. When going out to do something. Instead of packing 4~5 DeWalt batteries. You packed 2 Milwaukee's. The tools would last about 3~6 months before we junked them. When I left. We was still on the first batch of Milwaukee tools.

Dewalt 1/2" impact 14V min.

Perfect for the wheels and chassis on the 370.

Torques the lug nuts perfectly. Batteries are 3 years old.

Picked this up this last summer:

Dewalt 20V XR High Torque 1/2" Impact

Has done a fantastic job with wheels and everything else I've thrown at it. It's a million times better than the 19.2V Craftsman impact it replaced.

Hey Rusty. What did you do at the power plant?
I work at one to , I am in operations.

I retired as the senior control room operator at a combine cycle 2 on 1. I was responsible for the whole plant. I started there during the construction of the plant. So I know where all of the dead bodies are buried at. :eek:

I recently got a M18 FUEL™ 1/2" High Torque Impact Wrench
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-...rdless/2763-22
Only used it once on all 4 wheels so far but worked great.

Be careful when using high torque rattle guns to tighten wheel nuts ... that has stripped more studs than any other source. I always set mine (DeWalt, 10 years old and still keeps trucking') at low torque and finish with torque wrench having missed a race many moons ago having to replace a stud

Oh yeah never use it to tighten wheels, only for getting them off and hand then torque wrench for putting them on.

Anyone have experience with the Ryobi ONE+ model? I'm looking at that one to keep consistency with my batteries.

I only use the impact for removing nuts and bolts, never installing them. There is too much of a risk of messing something up. If I'm feeling lazy I'll use a pneumatic ratchet wrench to run it in then use a torque wrench to put fasteners back on.

Cool, i am in the control room to.

This is the one i had my eye on, but then had second thoughts of it being overkill for what i need it for. But yes, this is a very nice pice of machinery :tup:

Ill look into it, thanks!

This is one of three contenders, just behind the milwaukee m18 and a makita model i cant remember.

Im curious, how did the craftsman fare against the jobs you did with it?

I saw this as an option if the other three were too powerful for the jobs im thinking of doing.

Thanks for the tip! This is precisely what has me overthinking what to get. Although im just considering it for loosening bolts, to tighten ill just use natural powa!!! My muscles :rofl2:

It's probably overkill, but i'd rather have too much power than not enough

I got this one because it is compact and makes it easy to navigate under the car in difficult and tight spaces with the smaller head. Plenty of torque too at 135 ft lbs max.

I have had my wheels on and off at least 10 times in the last 2 months since I went to the track twice in Nov and once in Oct.

I zip them on and off with it. I do not even check the final wheel torque. Dont need to.

https://www.ebay.com/i/292345460380?...D1383632071288

To get into the control room. You have to wait for someone to quit, die, or get fired. When I retired. I was 1 of 2 left from the original crew. :eek: Guys would come and go to pad their resume. :shakes head:

Give you guys a heads up. Where I work at part time now. We deal with most of the battery operated power tools. If you buy any of them. Try a get the commercial version of it. As they are better built and normally have metal gears vs plastic. Plus I get to see with ones have the most returns too.

Anyone looking at the Harbor Freight "Earthquake XT" model? 1200ft-lb and has excellent reviews... price tag is a little higher - around $210 after coupons.

The Craftsman did ok. It took lug nut off but if the battery wasn't fully charged it would start to struggle. Honestly the craftsman isn't in the same league as the Dewalt and Milwaukee stuff.

With Sears circling the toilet and the Craftsman brand belonging to Stanley Black and Decker now I wouldn't even consider a Craftsman power tool until there is some brand stability established.

Great youtube review of it by everyone's favorite Canadian. He's got other videos regarding Dewalt and Milwaukee stuff to.

Awesome. Gonna have to put it on my wishlist. Listening to that guy talk about tools got me strangely turned on.

AvE's youtube channel is definitely on my favorites list. Some of his videos are even better than that one if you're looking for a good laugh.

His voice reminds so much of michael buffers :icon17:

He's definitely one of my fave youtubers

I use the Ryobi ONE+ impact wrench, and I must say I've been fairly impressed given the price point of this thing.