I know some of you guys use air tools and such. I've always found them to be a PITA - air hoses and electric cords and oil and stuff...

As an alternative, any value to putting something like this on my birthday list, specifically as it relates to working on a 928?

http://bosch.cpotools.com/drills/cor.../22618-rt.html

I have quite a collection of 18v Bosch tools (and batteries and chargers), and love them all, which is why I ask about this one specifically.

 

Gotta love truth in advertising. They rate it at a whopping 1950 in/lbs of torque. That equates to about 161 ft/lbs, which is on the light side. My 120V electric Makita is about 400 ft/lbs IIRC, and I've used every one of them on occasion.

 

This one is much more useful in power.

http://bosch.cpotools.com/impact_dri...hes/21618.html

 

I have never used a cordless impact wrench but I love my IR231C.

 

I have a baby 12V Makita.
Torque rated just around 70-75 ft-lbs so I don't overtorque the lug nuts
when I swap wheels with it.
Have seen the big boy 18V cordless in action when mechanics zip off lug nuts
without getting out the breaker bar.

Is there a Sears or Home Depot type store that has the Bosch Cordless?
That way you can try it out at the store.

 

I got a cheap Impact Wrench at Kragens (~$29 14.4v). It's only rated for 85 ft-lbs, but it's great
for changing tires. I use a 1/2" drive torque wrench to break the lug nut, and tighten the lug nut
to spec, but use the Impact to do the rest. Saves a lot of time and effort and I know it won't
over torque the lug nuts. I don't use it for anything else, but I think it was worth the cost. I take
it to the races where an air wrench is not practical and it's hot, so saving my energy is a blessing.

I had a Harbor Freight Impact Wrench with a higher rating (both battery voltage and ft-lbs),
but it was a piece of junk and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. The Bosch looks like it's a
lot better tool, so if you think you want it, go for it. But to tell you the truth, I wouldn't find
any use for the extra capacity. Of course I have some serious Air Impact Wrenches for the
big jobs at home.

 

You guys need to keep in mind that there are other uses for impact wrenches beyond changing wheels. Lugnuts don't need much, but getting into projects like taking 300ft/lb rear hub nuts off and such require the artillery. Assuming he doesn't have a compressor, getting a 160 ft/lb cordless doesn't make much sense.

 

I've tried moderate performing impact wrenches for the types of jobs that beg for such a tool and received only frustration in return. I suspect that a cordless unit would only be of general use if it had a capacitor the size of a car battery hanging off it.

 

Save your money. A modest battery powered torque wrench will meet most needs on a 928. For applications where a TON of power is need, Harbor Frieght sells air-powered high torque gun for under $100.

If you get a high powered unit and try to use it for low torque applications, it will be overkill.

I suggest getting the most convenient tool for common applications, then if needed, get what is needed for major projects.

I still use my handy dandy $29 special Black and Decker 9.6V cordless driver for lug nuts. Of course, I must first break them with a breaker bar (easily and quick) and of course I need to tighten with a torque wrench (quick and easy) but you need to use a torque wrench to get the right lug torque anyhow.

A friend lent his cordless torque wrench once for wheel changes and it was a really nice balanced, quality tool. Saved using the breaker bar. I liked the tool, but doesn't make for that much of time saver.

 

Lug nuts are not supposed to be impact-wrenched. Get a battery one that will be a good nut-runner but won't fracture the AL nuts and you'll be happy.

Fast-forward to a few other PITA projects like the motor mounts or eeven just a rack replace, and a decent cordless impact is a godsend. You'll still get the big bar out to break the nuts and bolts loose, but the twisting after that will be a lot fster/easier. I use my cheapo cordless electric drill for this stuff a lot, backed up by the small air impact, then the big air impact as needed.

I'm a big fan of air ratchets too, and would spend on a battery-powered version especially if I could find one with a belt-pack battery and a short plug-in coiled cable. That way it would be easy to get into tight spots like a ratchet without the battery bulk.

I also have a really slick Blue-Point air ratchet with a torque limiting head. Max is 35 lbs/ft so its pretty safe on most things 10mm and larger.

 

That is indeed the type of thing I was curious about.

I missed the bigger Bosch that Ed posted. Love the power, but wondering if it might be too big to get in some places.

I'm gonna try one out. Thanks for the comments all.

 

This is the Mikita that we use and I love it.

Very handy. Busts those damn exhaust bolts/nuts quickly.

http://www.makita.com/menu.php?pg=pr...&tag=BTW150SAE

 

You really hit the nail on the head-if one were to spend good money on the original posted, it would result in disappointment.
The use of an impact wrench is usually brief. There are some high-powered battery operated ones, but the do cost $.

Who said he has an air compressor, and if he does, does it provide enough air to power an impact? That is the problem most DIYers face.

Low torque applications don't even hit the radar for me. If I need an impact wrench, I need it because I've got large, highly torqued, or stubborn fasteners. I buy impacts for the tough tasks. Low torque means I'll do it the old-fashioned way, by hand. I think you're using pretzel logic in your overkill statement.

 

Dunno. He said he was tired of cords and air hoses. Just a hunch.

The most common use of non-air driven torque/impact wrench would be

1) Quick lug nut removal.
2)
3)
4)
5)

I don't know 2-5. It might be handy for breaking loose (or breaking altogether) rusty bolts from the undercarriage. I have fought with exhaust bolts several times. I am having a hard time coming up with other places on the car that actually have room to shove a impact gun into. Many places are challenging enough to get a socket wrench or breaker bar into.

I bought an air gun for the sole purpose of removing my axle nuts. There was no point to me owning one before then.

Maybe a good impact wrench is useful for removing suspension components, but like the axle nut removal, this would not be a common project.

The convenience of cordless is for where convenience is most needed: frequent items, or quick spur of the moment needs. I have probably done lug nuts about a hundred times - thanks to the aid of rinky dink cordless devices.

My 9.6 cordless is starting to get tired. If I had some insight as to what the other potential impact wrench opportunities are on the car, it might help me choose a handy tool. Without insight, I would just wait until a project came that was too big, and buy what is appropriate for that project.

So what else do people commonly use impact wrenches for on their 928s?

 

The biggest thing I've found the use for is the exhaust nuts/bolts. Works like a charm. The average user would have no use for on though. It's more of a mechanic tool. It won't actually benefit anyone that does not do mulitple cars, or frequent changes on the suspension. (won't help you there either, much)

I've used it numerous times just for pulling those rusty farkers out on the headers and cats. Saves me the grief of using a socket and my arms.

That, and to say you have a kick *** tool that you will only use a couple of times a decade.