1/4" hex impact with socket adapter

[signcrafter]

How well do these adapters hold up to high torque? I have a Milwaukee fuel impact and wondering if I can use it with one of the 1/4" hex to 1/2" square adapters and a socket to take off wheel lug nuts? I would think the impact would have the torque to do most lug nuts but thinking the weak link will be the shaft of the adapter. Anyone use a setup like this and snap any adapters?

I have a wheel bearing to replace on a family member's car and trying to see if my cordless impact with adapter will be good enough for most things. So I can do it in their garage instead of bringing it to my house where I have air impact but garage is full so would have to work outside in the cold.

 

[Askme42]

I'd break them loose with a breaker bar then spin them off with the driver.

 

[GingerKid]

You could try it, but I can tell you from experience that you won't have the torque to get most lugs nuts off. Anything that's been on there for a while with a bunch of **** on the lugs, or ones that were cranked down with a powerful impact you can forget about. Then you'll have to get out the breaker bar like the guy above me said

 

[dwright406]

I use my Milwaukee m12 impact driver with a 1/4" hex to 1/2" drive adapter to run lug nuts down before hitting them with my torque wrench.
The impact driver probably gets the nuts to about 90 ft lb, i set my torque wrench to 100 ft lb and only have about 1/16th of a turn until it clicks, every time.
This is at my job done daily probably 3-5 cars a day and I'm still using the original adapter that I started with.

 

[unashamedlaborer]

The Milwaukee adapters hang In there better than the snap on ones I have. Exception being anything over 3" where you lose the torque through the deflection of the shaft. M18 fuel is what I run and you will be up against it to take loose lug nuts. You are limited by the 1/4" shank. Look up the specs between it and the model with the 3/8" drive. It has a significantly larger torque rating. But as askme42 said just break them loose with a long handle ratchet and zip them out with the impact. If it doesn't shake them right off. It is apparent with this setup if it is gonna do it or not. It's not like a pneumatic impact where if you just keep whaling on it it will eventually come loose. You can audibly hear when the gun is at its limit. When you hear that if you continue you are just wasting battery and hurting your ears.

 

[unashamedlaborer]

I still run the 1/4" chuck with adapters though. I appreciate the versatility more than the extra horsepower. But give it a go with the Milwaukee adapters and follow up with a hand tool and you will surely be impressed by the torque they put Down. I run down 3/4" bolts (1-1/8" socket) with mine and no longer bother to follow up with the breaker bar.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The shank on any 1/4" hex to square drive is the weak spot. If it is going to break, it will break there.

The shank also flexes so it limits the amount of torque being transmitted. This is why I plan to go the other way. M12 Fuel 3/8" square drive and a 1/4" hex adapter.

 

[kctyphoon]

I used to use my m18 fuel impact driver to do the lugs on my cars. The adapters held up just fine.. I even used a 1\4" hex to 1\2" square adapter on a 37(?) Mm socket to take the axle nut off my Honda crv.. It worked fine for me but its hit or miss with breaking all bolts loose since its not a very powerful tool compared to some impact wrenches. Makita offers adapters that have a wobble square drive. I didn't use them all very much since I'm not a mechanic, and wind up buyinthe impact wrenches anyway - but all the adapters worked for me.

 

[stage20]

Ice changed trailer tires several times with my 1/4 hex dewalt with adapter. They aren't rusted on. I can count only a couple of times I couldn't get a stubborn lug I just popped in a fresh battery and boom pops loose. I keep breaker just in case. I haven't broken a China adapter or a Milwaukee. I have both.

 

[johndeereman]

back before switching all cordless over to m 18/m 12 line we used ridgid 1/4 impacts with the 3/8 and or 1/2'' adapter. we have snapped a few off which was never a good thing because by that point the end would be stuck in the quick change collet. rendering the tool useless.

 

[signcrafter]

Thanks guys. I do more construction work then auto repair so went with the M18 fuel drill/driver kit. I'd like to get the actual impact for sockets but I think the tool alone is around 200 bucks which is a little high for me after just spending 400 on the drill/driver kit. Guess I'll have to see how good the hex driver with adapter works.

 

[kctyphoon]

Sounds like u didn't take Advantage of the HD promo for $150 off..

 

[signcrafter]

Sounds like u didn't take Advantage of the HD promo for $150 off..

I bought it before that promo. I did get a free 80 dollar flashlight which is pretty nice.

 

[signcrafter]

So today I had a wheel bearing to replace and decided to see exactly what the impact could do. With a hex to 1/2" adapter it zipped off the lugs easily. Then I decided to try the axle nut and it took it right off. It didn't do well with the three bolts holding the bearing in but even a 3/8" breaker bar had a tough time. Took heat to get them out. But overall I was pretty impressed.

 

[allinon72]

I have a m12 3/8" impact wrench with a 1/4" driver adapter and have found that to be way more versatile than the other way around, at least for the work I do.