Topic: Your fav impact wrench?

[Stev-o]

Wondering what type of impact you guys use on your cars/trucks when removing wheels?  I've been pretty old school and just using my trusty four-way but there has to be a quicker/easier way!

I know the battery operated tools are handy but then ya gotta make sure the battery is charged when ya go to use it and then the battery will only last so long. Hate when my cordless drill goes dead in the middle of a job and no spare batteries are charged!

Thinkin' I may just get this 120V model, the price is very reasonable and Porter-Cable seems to be a very good brand...


https://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-PCE211-7-5-Impact-Wrench/dp/B07255QCN4/ref=sr_1_19?keywords=lug%2Bnuts%2Bimpact%2Bwrench&qid=1658768863&sr=8-19&th=1

[RAFster122s]

Steve, that looks like a good option, beats the weaker Harbor Freight electric one in power and reliability is my bet...

The compressor needs of a big air powered tool has to be considered. You aren't going to be able to run one on a tiny pancake compressor. So the electric version will be more than sufficient for tire changing and some other wrenching if you need an impact wrench...

[Kelly E]

The DeWalt cordless drills and impact drivers work great and the batteries last a long time. You can get up to 6ah batteries that will remove a whole bunch of wheels.

[PeWe]

I bought a cheap but rather powerful one when I removed alternator from crank. Its bolt was locked with blue loctite so it sat really good.

For wheels I should buy a model with smooth slow start, let it run slow when I need.

The cheap one I have is more like on-off. Horrible the first threads for nuts.
Tested on my car but I did not like it.

Good if it can have torque control too if possible.

[Don R]

 I break them loose with a breaker bar, remove with my old C3 battery craftsman 3/8" impact. Hand start, run them down with said impact and then hand torque. I will use my air impact on big truck lug nuts though. 
 My former employer had a Milwaukee electric impact. I rattled 8" pipe flange bolts down and could not get them any tighter with a breaker bar. No doubt that it could overtighten lug bolts.

[calj737]

That PC impact won’t remove crap. It’s 450 inch/lbs of torque or 38ft/lbs. That’s barely enough to unwind your CB550 axle.

Decent battery powered impacts cost real $ and are definitely worth it. I have 3/8” and 1/2” models and they are the beans. I do have an air impact too so when my truck wheels need to come off, it takes 1/2” air or electric 165 ft/lbs of torque. My electrics last a full day (ratchets, impacts) and are super valuable to travel with.

[Stev-o]

That PC impact won’t remove crap. It’s 450 inch/lbs of torque or 38ft/lbs. That’s barely enough to unwind your CB550 axle.

Hey Cal....it states 450 Ft-Lbs Of Torque, not inch/lbs.   The Milwaukee only has 300...

https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-9070-20-2-Inch-Impact-Retention/dp/B00005T81G/ref=psdc_551236_t3_B07255QCN4

Dont need it for my 550!   Will use it on my '70 Corvette, need check pads and bleed the brakes...

[grcamna2]

I have an IR air impact which I bought 20 years ago,only used it less than 20 times:it's my back-up when all else fails but I don't have my shop or compressor anymore,so it sits in my roll-away in storage.
I have a lightly used Craftsman C3 1/2" dr. 19.2vt. cordless which I've adapted to run using a 20vt. Dewalt battery;that does ok if I only have it alone.. I would much rather not use any impact but instead use a 4-way wrench all the time,when it comes to removing wheel lug nuts only.
The Craftsman cordless does great for anything motorcycle or even auto related.

I like the 120vt AC industrial corded impact you've linked Stev-o;I'd like it better if I knew it was made in USA.
I think if I was going the corded 120vt. AC route,I would look around for an older US made industrial-duty unit for sale,then get it restored to new by a restoration expert who specializes in that using high quality parts Made in USA.
That would last for the rest of my life. 

[jgger]

I have a Milwaukee corded. The only down side with it is the spring system that holds the pin in the square drive falls out. Then you loose the pin and sockets will not stay on, it's a real pisser. Plus if you use one with a missing the pin it can break the pawl, then its too expensive to fix. Check how that pin is held in whichever tool you decide to buy,  it should look like the detent on an extension with a pressed in set up.

I have had 2 Mikitas and the Milwaukee both are good. The lower bps ( blows per second) seem to have much more torque to loosen tight stuff.

[calj737]

That PC impact won’t remove crap. It’s 450 inch/lbs of torque or 38ft/lbs. That’s barely enough to unwind your CB550 axle.

Hey Cal....it states 450 Ft-Lbs Of Torque, not inch/lbs.   The Milwaukee only has 300...

Actually it says both! Hence my confusion.

[jgger]

It also says it has a hex head style, but looks like a square to me. Perhaps this seller does not know wtf they are selling.

[Stev-o]

It also says it has a hex head style, but looks like a square to me. Perhaps this seller does not know wtf they are selling.

Typical ad that has incorrect info.  Nice thing about Amazon is that if I dont like the product for any reason, I simply ship it back for a refund.

Havent made up my mind yet but for 80 bucks I may just order it and give it a shot.

Thanks all

[74cb750]

I have a Milwaukee 18 volt impact that came w/ the regular drill I wanted for a few bucks more. Not impressed w/ it. Definitely not enough power. Next time I'll buy an air impact drill.

[Stev-o]

I have a Milwaukee 18 volt impact that came w/ the regular drill I wanted for a few bucks more. Not impressed w/ it. Definitely not enough power.

Yeah, not surprised by that. exatly why I am not considering an 18V. 

Ordered the PC I linked above, will report back once I try it. 

[Kelly E]

We have the smaller of the two 20v DeWalt impacts. It's strong enough to break an 8mm motor mount bolt on the KZ1000 when I was just cinching them up.

As far as pneumatic impacts go we have two. An old $20 HF set with the gun, sockets and a pneumatic ratchet. We also have an HF 1/2" Earthquake gun that is always in reverse. It's the go-no-go gun, it will remove or break it.

[Gurp]

I want to get one of the High torque Milwaukee M18 jobs. But haven't had the spare money to pony up for it.
If I wasn't already on the M12/M18 platform I would get a Earthquake XT 1/2. For the DIY guy they are great. Buddy of mine has the 3/8 and the 1/2.
The 3/8 does a good job too. It's no Milwaukee but at that price point it doesn't need to be.

I still break out my corded rigid sometimes. It does a good job. Usually I just use the 450lb 1/2 Milwaukee and a breaker bar.

[Stev-o]

I have a Milwaukee 18 volt impact that came w/ the regular drill I wanted for a few bucks more. Not impressed w/ it. Definitely not enough power.

Yeah, not surprised by that. exatly why I am not considering an 18V. 

Ordered the PC I linked above, will report back once I try it. 

I ordered the PC and in just over 3 hours, was delivered to my home!  Gotta love Amazon.
Ordered the SAE impact sockets too as I only had metric sizes.

Will be testing it next week on my Corvette, have a brake issue to address.

[Gurp]

I have a Milwaukee 18 volt impact that came w/ the regular drill I wanted for a few bucks more. Not impressed w/ it. Definitely not enough power. Next time I'll buy an air impact drill.

Those 1/4 impact drivers are great on small stuff and carpentry. I use a 1/4 at work a lot for quickly removing small fasteners m same at home but break out the 3/8s Impact for any auto work.

[Tracksnblades1]

My childrens’ Xmas present was a Milwaukee Fuel 1/2 drive impact…

Always a cheater pipe as a young guy. Then an air impact as an older guy. Now besides charging batteries, the new impacts are up to par…

But when none of them will break it loose, the 1 inch extended anvil air impact will…either break it loose or break it off…

[Bailgang]

I've got a 1/2 inch drive Chicago Pneumatic that I bought new 40 years ago from a Snap On dealer back when CP were still good. Still works great.

[MrGardman]

I am with Bailgang. My air CP, I purchased from Snap On about 45 years ago. I just keep air tool oil in it whenever I use it. It still has the leather protector on it. I used the crap out of it when I was still wrenching on cars and it still does anything I want it to.

[Stev-o]

Tested the Porter Cable yesterday and very impressed with the power of this electric tool. One push of the trigger and the lugnut is off in 2 seconds!  Well spent 80 bucks...

[CycleRanger]

Tested the Porter Cable yesterday and very impressed with the power of this electric tool. One push of the trigger and the lugnut is off in 2 seconds!  Well spent 80 bucks...

Just don't use it to put those lug nuts back on. 
That electric one is nice, perhaps more versatile in some cases since a long extension cord is a lot lighter than a compressor.

I have a Husky 1/2 pneumatic impact and a really long air hose. It's kinda overkill for some things. After watching many repair videos on youtube I'm considering a getting a battery powered ratchet.
They seem like real time savers.

[Stev-o]

Tested the Porter Cable yesterday and very impressed with the power of this electric tool. One push of the trigger and the lugnut is off in 2 seconds!  Well spent 80 bucks...

Just don't use it to put those lug nuts back on. 

Hey Ranger....I did use it to put them back on but took care not to continue to let the tool tighten them to it's full potential. As I've always done, I'll tighten them with my trusty four-way.

[Gurp]

Tested the Porter Cable yesterday and very impressed with the power of this electric tool. One push of the trigger and the lugnut is off in 2 seconds!  Well spent 80 bucks...

Just don't use it to put those lug nuts back on. 
That electric one is nice, perhaps more versatile in some cases since a long extension cord is a lot lighter than a compressor.

I have a Husky 1/2 pneumatic impact and a really long air hose. It's kinda overkill for some things. After watching many repair videos on youtube I'm considering a getting a battery powered ratchet.
They seem like real time savers.

Depending on brand I find them disappointing myself.
They don't really break stuff free so you still need to break them loose with a ratchet.
The 1/4 in Milwaukee Fuel M12 is pretty stout for a 1/4 drive though. The 3/8 stuff feels a little lackluster though.
At least in my opinion.
As far as just running stuff in quickly they are great.