Matt Lane

Looking for a good quality cordless impact wrench primarily for (steel) wheel bolt removal. Hate buying cheap tools. Let me re-phrase that: "I will now stop buying cheap tools!"

Anyway, looking into the Milwaukee 1/2 inch 2662-22, 18V Lithium, 450LB/FT, variable speed.

Does this sound like the "right" Milawaukee model? Any other quality suggestions, besides Snap On which is even further out of my budget?


http://www.milwaukeetool.com/NewsAnd...licationId=990


Thanks for the input!

Best,

Matt

93 FireHawk 968

I've got a 3 year old "Cheap" 1/2 impact wrench that has performed excellent. Loads of use with not a single issue. Paid $50.00 for it from Harbor Tools.

amso3

I bought a new Snap-On 1/2 inch on e-bay for about $225. It is very good. We have a MAC 1/2 in. on the race trailer and that is just as good as the Snap-on. Millwaukee is a good brand, but i have not used one

PorscheDoc

Milwaukee usually makes good products. I have used the snap on gun as well which is a great product, but only a 1 year warranty on batteries....and it is very expensive. I picked up the Bosch impacts (big 1/2" and their smaller 1/2", I can't remember the model numbers offhand). The big impact torques to 360ft/lbs and was only $240 shipped to my door. The batteries are warrantied for 3 years as well, which is more than most companies. I have been extremely happy with it and it is used in a professional setting daily. I cringe now when I actually have to pull out the air hose to use a tool.


Now with that being said.....please start your lug nuts by hand first. With everyone getting these cordless impacts for track use, I have seen more stripped lug nuts, studs, and bolts over the last couple of months to keep me very busy in just wheel stud repair, lol. Guys load the nuts/bolts in the gun and just hammer them on without starting them by hand = crossthreading.

bgiere

i have used the Longacre gun for 3 seasons and it has been flawless. very good product.

Matt Lane

Thanks guys, good input.

I was looking at the Longacre one as well, assumed it's just a re-brand of unknown quality. Glad to hear it's worked out.

Hmmm...

Racerrob

I have probably the previous model Milwaukee. It has been bullet-proof. I have only changed the batteries. I do not usually use it to break the lugs as that tends to chew the battery quicker, but it will do it.

Krokodil

I use a 1/2" Milwaukee 18v and it is excellent. Breaks the bolts loose no problem Can run through a complete race weekend (probably 5 wheel changes) on one battery.

Cheers,

f1rocks

Have the 28 volt Milwaukee and I stopped using my air impact wrench in the garage cause this does everything I need. It sees use at more than just track events and has held up very well.

MUSSBERGER

I have the Longacre but I have to admit that one of the kids who works at my shop has a Dewalt that is stronger.

U4EEAH

I use 18v Dewalt mainly to have same battery for many tools i have, 3 years, flawlwss

Dwane

Mastercraft Maximum

Mark in Baltimore

Matt,

I bought the Milwaukee 9079-20 18 volt Ni Cad impact wrench from Grainger (https://rennlist.com/forums/racing-a...inger-com.html) for $209 when they were blowing them out to make way for the Li Ion version. Although they are no longer available online, local Graingers may have them. The guy at the Grainger store said that the newer ones were smaller and lighter but that they did not seem as beefily made as the Ni Cad version. He preferred the Ni Cad one.

Upsides for the lithium batteries is that they maintain their strength very well before needing a recharge but once they, petered out, the power would abruptly drop. Also, the Grainger guy said that the Li Ions didn't work as well in colder temps. The strength of Ni Cads drop before a charge is needed, but they work in cold weather. Lithiums don't suffer from a memory effect, but the NiCads do.

That all said, my Milwaukee is an amazing tool and runs on one battery (comes with two batteries) throughout a three day weekend of multiple tire changes. It has never failed to break a bolt loose. It is heavier than the newer one you are looking at. I do consider this tool to be one that I will have for the rest of my life. Hopefully, the Li Ion one is as well-made as the tried-and-true Ni Cad model.

schwank

I have the Milwaukee 18V LithIon and even fully charged it has a very hard time taking off lugnuts that were torqued to 93ft-lbs. Don't know why as it is rated far more than that. I see guys using far cheaper ones at the track and no one seems to have an issue.

Seems like it can tighten them pretty well but... does not do what I need it to dok. Have gone back to a breaker bar for now.

Crazy Canuck

Snap On 18V. Works like a charm.