Electric impacts any good?

[water]

I'm trying to figure out an easy/safe way to install/remove wheel spacers. I was thinking an electric impact would work...assuming they're any good.

If you have experience with them, lmk. Or any ideas on how to easily install/remove the spacers. Of course I'm talking about up front.

**Updates**

So I ended up purchasing a Dewalt DW292. I didn't really want a cordless version b/c its main purpose was for my garage and I wanted consistent, reliable impact power. Well after using this tool for a short while, all I can say is I WISH i got one of these sooner. Seriously its made life so much better. I have nothing but good things to say except for the fact that its large and heavy - but that's the nature of the beast so I expected as much. I got mine on ebay for about $120 - not refurbished but brand new. So far its broken loose any bolt I've tried it on with ease - and its fast! All i need now is a lift hehehe. Anyway, I hope this helps anyone who was thinking of getting an electric impact!

[murda-c]

breaker bar to remove, torque wrench to put on.

that's teh safest way.

Electric impacts are good though, if you get a good one.

[water]

Eh i usually work on the car alone so nobody's around to step on the brakes...

[racepar1]

Set the PARKING BRAKE! There is no need for anyone to step on the brakes to loosen/torque wheels. You really want to torque the lug nuts when you install them anyways. As for electric impacts, the expensive ones are usually pretty good. The cheap ones are exactly that, CHEAP. Just like pretty much everything else you can buy.

[water]

I specified up front for a reason.

[azndoc]

IR that's what I use.

Works awesome.

[quentinchan]

Snap-on is great!

[racepar1]

Loosen and torque the lug nuts with the car still on the ground! DUH! :tweak: Before you set the car down just snug them up with a rachet and socket, then torque them with the car on the ground. I do that every single time I remove my wheels and I have done it both with and without hub-centric rings. NO PROBLEMS!

[water]

Loosen and torque the lug nuts with the car still on the ground! DUH! :tweak: Before you set the car down just snug them up with a rachet and socket, then torque them with the car on the ground. I do that every single time I remove my wheels and I have done it both with and without hub-centric rings. NO PROBLEMS!

? I'm talking about my spacers.

[racepar1]

IR that's what I use.

Works awesome.

Everything that ingersroll-rand makes is good shit! +1 for ingersroll-rand.

[xsparc]

elec impacts are the shit, well the nice ones are. i have a makita(sp?), its a little tinny thing but it rocks, i can usualy hit 65-80 ftlb with it and the bat lasts for days

[water]

IR that's what I use.

Works awesome.

8049? I figured IR was a safe bet but cordless would be bad ass.

[racepar1]

? I'm talking about my spacers.

You're running spacers THAT thick!!!??? Like the kind that bolts to the hub and has their own studs for the wheels! WOW, I think it's time for new wheels there buddy! But yes, get yourself a good electric impact and you'll be good. I missed that in your OP.

[s13silvia123]

the good ones are good. let me chime in on this. its really handy when youre at the tracks. and its worth it. as long as you have a torqe wrench with you. its all good.

[water]

You're running spacers THAT thick!!!??? Like the kind that bolts to the hub and has their own studs for the wheels! WOW, I think it's time for new wheels there buddy! But yes, get yourself a good electric impact and you'll be good. I missed that in your OP.
Umm they're just 15mm but yes they are bolt on.

[Healtoeae86]

Everything that ingersroll-rand makes is good shit! +1 for ingersroll-rand.

yup! Ingersroll FTW!

You want Ingersroll 2530 cordless 1/2 impact (search for it on ebay, got mine for $250 shipped brand new and it comes with 2 batteries and charger)

If you got the dough for air tools IR 2115 ti (3/8 impact) and 2135 ti (1/2 impact) love both these things!! the 1/2 can blast of anything.

[water]

the good ones are good. let me chime in on this. its really handy when youre at the tracks. and its worth it. as long as you have a torqe wrench with you. its all good.


That's what I was thinking about too...makes track days a breeze. I've been reading reviews around the web though and I'm getting mixed ones. Especially when it comes to battery powered. Which ones have you had good experiences with?

[racepar1]

The battery powered IR ones are definitely good. Just be sure to have an extra battery and the charger with you. As long as you don't cheap out you'll be fine. And 15 mm bolt on spacers? I wouldn't think that is deep enough to clear the lugnuts.

[racepar1]

If you got the dough for air tools IR 2115 ti (3/8 impact) and 2135 ti (1/2 impact) love both these things!! the 1/2 can blast of anything.

LOL! I have both of those! BITCHIN impact guns!

[s13silvia123]

That's what I was thinking about too...makes track days a breeze. I've been reading reviews around the web though and I'm getting mixed ones. Especially when it comes to battery powered. Which ones have you had good experiences with?

the one healtoe86 stated

[CarloSR]

I have a LongAcre electric impact gun high and I love it, still I re-check all nuts manually.

EDIT: This one http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/product/1482/Tools

[water]

^24v sounds cool but I can't find tq specs for that thing anywhere.

[JohnJohn86]

what I did in mine with the spacers, I use a screw driver and stuck it in the caliper and into the vent of the disc. Works great and save money.
You never know how much torque u have in the electric impact gun and they are not that strong.

[krappy]

i have a snapon 1/2 and 3/8 impacts they are wonderful!

[SleepySR]

i bought one of these http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=yes&tool=power&item_ID=80476&group_ID=19913&store=snapon-store&dir=

and a accu-torq socket that puts it at 80ftlb every time

[Jpooks_S13]

Used a snap-on elec. impact on alot of stuff on my car..works wonders however you will want to use a tq. wrench to double check when tightning and will save your life when getting a stuck bolt out :)

[clark]

noone uses a tiny portable air compressor and impact gun?

man, you guys are gonna make me go out and get an electric impact now

[LB.Motoring]

Its all about a Van with these babies for the Track days...

http://www.mobilsat.com/Flyaway-transportable-satellite-internet/images/generator-600.gif
http://toolmonger.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/post-h-hero.jpg
http://www.expeditionexchange.com/powertank/DSC05538.jpg

[punxva]

i use my 18volt snap-on one and love it, can basically fix most problems with some 1/2in sockets and the impact, it wasnt cheap, but well worth it, plus working at a shop i only have to pay it off in payments to my heros, the snap-on guys

[tbowzer]

Good to bring to the track/autox. With a full charge, they will usually last for the whole day.

[JVD]

Everything that ingersroll-rand makes is good shit! +1 for ingersroll-rand.
Ya dude. I just got an impact(air) from them. I bet it could snap wheel studs no problem. Haha. So much torque.

I love nice tools...

[water]

OK guys, thanks for all the ideas and input. I'm definitely getting one now - i really hate having to rely on other people for shop tools and help plus these will make track days so much easier. Much appreciated!

[CoasTek240]

I have a 24volt rigid brand elec impact. It works great, but its a bit big. Its much bigger than the air counterpart.
I think if i could do it again, i would get a pancake compressor or even a smaller ~20gallon compressor and a snapon air gun.

just my opinion.
If anyone wants my rigid Gun ill sell it for $150.
Well over $300 new.

[water]

I am bumping this so people can read my review and hopefully benefit from it.

[wow-thats-a-cool-car]

the big deWalt impact is awesome I have one my self it puts out like 350 ft pound of torque. But for your problem use a breaker bar and a big piece of pipe for leverage.

[water]

No man my problem was solved using JohnJohn86's approch. I never had a leverege problem. The impact takes away the need anyway.

[Bubbles]

I came close to buying the badass Snap-On one but I realized I'm way too strong not to use the guns.



Or.....

it could be the fact that buying anything Snap-On requires a loan and I drive a shitty car non-professionally and can't justify it.

[!Zar!]

Revivalllllllllll

I keep seeing these milwaukee 2450-22 things for dirt cheap all over the place < $100.

From the specs, it has enough torque for menial tasks such as wheel removal.

Thoughts?
Milwaukee M12 Hex Driver Review | Tools In Action (http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2009/05/milwaukee-m12-hex-driver-review/)

[atom]

Not even close to enough IMO. Thats 70 ft-lbs, and thats the peak output. Even a typical 18v with 40-50% more tq can struggle on really stubborn nuts at times. I would try piecing together an 18v kit on ebay for like ~$160ish.

[slydin240sx]

Its all about a Van with these babies for the Track days...


http://www.expeditionexchange.com/powertank/DSC05538.jpg

I had this exact same impact! 1/2-3/8's interchangeable ?

[h2v7]

i tried the one from autozone once

and would not loosen bolts so yea but what can you expect from autozone

[wangan_cruiser]

18 Volt 1/2" Cordless Impact Wrench (http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-12-cordless-impact-wrench-67845.html)

heres what ive been using. ive used it from loosen lugs, install new suspension arms and auto to 5 spd swap and its good.


milwaukee do makes good tools. they are on the same page with dewalts

[wangan_cruiser]

i tried the one from autozone once

and would not loosen bolts so yea but what can you expect from autozone


you have to have a proper torque to loosen bolts. 212 ft lbs of torque is enough.

[wangan_cruiser]

Not even close to enough IMO. Thats 70 ft-lbs, and thats the peak output. Even a typical 18v with 40-50% more tq can struggle on really stubborn nuts at times. I would try piecing together an 18v kit on ebay for like ~$160ish.

with that price you could get a 211 ft lbs torque for $109.XX

18 Volt 1/2" Cordless Impact Wrench (http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-12-cordless-impact-wrench-67845.html)


if you really want to break bolts like shit. go get yourself the ones with +400 ft lbs torque

[KansaiDrifter]

Snap-on is great!

^This is true haha. I've had my Snap-On 1/2" Drive cordless impact for this tire changing season and I can't figure out why I didn't do this earlier! Saved sooooo much time changing tires it's crazy. I've never ran out of battery power in the full day, not even close. I bought it because my new job has a weekly Snap-On truck so it was convenient. It's expensive, but underrated imo (Rated at 400ftlbs). I've used cordless 1/2" drive Dewalts and they don't even come close to the torque actually put out, maybe the 3/4" drive Dewalt would be similar. Yeah I'm extremely happy with mine.

[s14j]

for about 4 years iv had the goodyear impact wrench, couldn't be happier gets the job done fast. battery is getting weaker though might buy me another one because i really liked it. its cordless and not to heavy. i thought it was good i got it on special or 69 bucks too.

[miggypq21]

I have this one for suspension and wheels.

CT6850, Impact Wrench, Cordless, 18 Volt, Slide-on Battery, 1/2" Drive (U.S.) (http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=yes&tool=power&item_ID=89708&group_ID=19913&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog)

This one for engine stuff and everything else.

CT4410A, Impact Wrench, Cordless, 14.4 Volt, Slide-on Battery, 3/8" Drive (U.S.) (http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=yes&tool=power&item_ID=90337&group_ID=21565&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog)

This one for interior and underbody panels.

CTS561CL, Screwdriver, Cordless, 7.2V (http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=power&item_ID=81864&group_ID=22812&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog)

I got them all on the cheaps and I use the fuck out of them. Work at BMW lol

[s13silvia123]

Revivalllllllllll

I keep seeing these milwaukee 2450-22 things for dirt cheap all over the place < $100.

From the specs, it has enough torque for menial tasks such as wheel removal.

Thoughts?
Milwaukee M12 Hex Driver Review | Tools In Action (http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2009/05/milwaukee-m12-hex-driver-review/)

i use to make prototypes for Milwaukee tools, hands on they are better than most

[AutechKouki]

I have this one for suspension and wheels.

CT6850, Impact Wrench, Cordless, 18 Volt, Slide-on Battery, 1/2" Drive (U.S.) (http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=yes&tool=power&item_ID=89708&group_ID=19913&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog)

This one for engine stuff and everything else.

CT4410A, Impact Wrench, Cordless, 14.4 Volt, Slide-on Battery, 3/8" Drive (U.S.) (http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=yes&tool=power&item_ID=90337&group_ID=21565&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog)

This one for interior and underbody panels.

CTS561CL, Screwdriver, Cordless, 7.2V (http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=power&item_ID=81864&group_ID=22812&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog)

I got them all on the cheaps and I use the fuck out of them. Work at BMW lol

^^^^^ THIS!!!
I work at acura and use these daily. They are by far the best damn impacts you can buy. Hell the 3/8" impact has enough torque to rip off lug nuts.

[azsr20det]

so i have a extra subframe with rear suspension, and ive gotten most of the bolts off with regular wrenches, but some are very stuck and im just a weak little man lol

what one of these would be best suited for me?
im sure it would be nice to have in general after this project i plan to use it for

[Chrischeezer]

got a DeWalt 1/2 and 3/8 drive
worth every penny,
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k141/ChrisCheezer/newpics006.jpg

[Tearlessj]

You guys paying $500 for an electric snap on impact are crazy.

Here's what I do,
Break lug nuts with tire iron
Take lugs off with impact
wheel off

Simple.