rkirshner

ok so here is one of those questions that leaves me open for flaming but i did the search and if i knew the answer i wouldnt ask it
i am looking to buy a cordless light weight impact wrench for the obvious purpose of making wheel/tire changes more efficient. is there a best choice. also is there an ideal torque range that i should be looking for. some of these tools have high torque specs and while higher seems like maybe it would be better i wonder if too high would injure the lug nuts and bolts
thanks

krystar

u shouldn't need anything more than 150 lbft for lug nuts..and that's just for loosening. tightening shouldn't be more than 100. 90-95 lbft is usually oem spec

ritzblitz

I have an 18v(i think) Bosch Impactor cordless that works really well. The batteries last pretty long, and it will do lug nuts/bolts easily, as well as other stubborn bolts on your car.

m73m95

I use Dewalt products. I have both the 18v 1/2 and little 3/8 impacts. The 3/8 is light, and small. I go for it the most. It is strong enough to do lugs, but its all its got. The battery doesn't last long because of it.

If you're only swapping sets once, then the 3/8 would work. If you are ok with bigger and heavier, the 1/2 is the only way to go. The 1/2 does lugs all day long with no problem.


Shhh....Don't tell my Dewalt tools this..... but I kind of wish I had gone Milwaukee. They seem to be a little tougher, and better built. If I didn't have everything already in Dewalt, I would switch to Milwaukee. If this is your first cordless tool, and plan on buying a "collection", start off right and go Milwaukee.

OH, and also.... NEVER BUY NEW! Reconditioned tools are sometimes half the price, and carry the same factory warranty as new. I got a ReCon Milwaukee 1/2 drill, and the batteries were bad when I got it. They wouldn't charge. One trip down to the Milwaukee store, and they replaced both Lithium Ion batteries ($$$) without question.

certz

^ +1 - definitely go reconditioned. I have the DeWalt 1/2" and it is great. I would have liked the Milwaukee but could not justify the price difference for lugs.

Izzone

Ingersol Rand.....

MUSSBERGER

One of my techs put my Longacre to shame with his Dewalt.

sig_a

I have a high quality Milwaukee circular saw for 25 years. The Milwaukee cordless impact wrench is same high quality. It is new favorite tool in the garage. A joy to use. Worth every $$. Reconditioned sale may still be going on at CPOoutlets.com

911FM

I have a Milwaukee too. Works great.

FM

U4EEAH

I like my dewalt, had it for years. I have 4 other tools/flashlight with the same 18 battery, one charger, keeps it simple. Save you money on the lithium...lighter but less amp hrs and shorter life per charge. More torque is always better, doesn;t work so hard breaking em and won't tighten to maximum torque unless you let it hammer away. Zip em on and torque by hand

m73m95

Great link!! Thank you.


ToolKing.com also has some really good deals on recon tools.

Techno Duck

Also using the Bosch 18v impact. Very powerful and the battery lasts a long time. It made short work of a few very tight bolts on the spring plate when i took the rear suspension out last year.. i was pretty surprised it got them loose. As long as your using the right size impact socket i cant see damaging anything. You can control the power with the trigger anyhow. Amazon.com had the best price on it.

lawjdc

I use a Milwaukee 28v unit, but you have to use caution:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spSfTkUfF6A

rkirshner

thank yo all will be buying today

AlpharettaRK

Invest in a set of torque sticks, or at least 1 - an 85 or 100 ft/lb. These are springy extensions that prevent over-tightening with an impact wrench. They are not precise - you still need to final tighten with your touque wrench but these allow you to get the lugs tight with the impact with no fear of over-torquing.
Cheers
Randy