Cordless combo for automotive work

[Harrison2]

can someone recommend a good drill and impact driver combo, ive done a search and there is mixed opinions as expected but id just like a few clearer views/opinions.

I have a budget of around $200max for a combo.

ive looked at 12, 18 and 20v kits. I see no need for a hammer drill so a variable speed capable of drilling out seized fixings (anything from say 8mm-18mm I guess in a typical auto environment), body panels, cleaning up stuff with a wire wheel attachment or polisher. and then a impact for interior work, removal of wings/fenders etc (light torque applications).

It would be great if it had the juice to remove shock absorber bolts, exhaust fixings even lug nuts.

from what ive read/seen my best options are Milwaukee, dewalt and makita.

so can someone please give me some feedback on what models would suit my above needs and price range. I am aware my budget is somewhat low however currently thats all I can stretch too.

 

[pfbz]

I've been using this combo for a while, pretty impressed with it so far... I don't think any lighter weight tool is going to do high-torque lug nuts and crank bolts well, nor is the drill going to have the power of a 1/2" 110V Milwaukee for drilling out bolts, but for most light and medium jobs, they have been working great.

Makita LCT200W Factory Reconditioned 18V Drill Driver & Impact Driver Combo Kit, $150 at tool king.

 

[Danglerb]

Depends on what you consider light torque, I've got a combo from Bosch of the older PS20 and PS40, small drill and small impact. Light and small with sufficient torque is my view.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Under $100 a piece and removing suspension bolts and lug nuts is a real tall order bud. I used to have the Makita brushless impact driver, and it struggled with almost any decent size undercar bolt or lug nut. M10 or smaller was about the limit, and that was brushless and over $100 on the bare tool.

I've got the M12 Fuel drill and impact driver
The pair together will not be under $200. The drill is great, and I've never needed more power in the shop, however depending on how often you need it, it may be overkill. The impact OTOH is worth every penny to me working on cars. Barely gives up anything but size to my Makita.

If I were you, I'd pick up the Fuel impact and regular drill, or splurge on both brushless. My impact driver is one of my most used and most versatile tools. If you still feel the need to take off heavy **** with a cordless gun, step up to a bigger impact gun in the future.

 

[BK13]

I'm not saying I have all the answers, but I would skip a multi tool combo kit, and get a drill and an impact wrench. I have both a Fuel M12 impact wrench and a Fuel impact driver, and would not want to have to use the driver much for automotive work... I find the 1/4" hex to 1/4" or 3/8" square adapter to be kind of a pain.

Now if I'm building a deck, I'll take the driver in a heartbeat.

 

[jacksmash]

Definitely gonna have to go 18v and 3/8" square. I use m12 fuel and air tools.

 

[BajaBound]

Craftsman C3 1/2 and 3/8 impact are a great deal and then buy a C3 drill of you liking.

 

[gte718p]

I've been using this combo for a while, pretty impressed with it so far... I don't think any lighter weight tool is going to do high-torque lug nuts and crank bolts well, nor is the drill going to have the power of a 1/2" 110V Milwaukee for drilling out bolts, but for most light and medium jobs, they have been working great.

Makita LCT200W Factory Reconditioned 18V Drill Driver & Impact Driver Combo Kit, $150 at tool king.

I use the same set and love it. I regularly drill 1/2 and 9/16 holes in plate steel. The impact driver is great for screws, but I doubt it would work well on bolts. That is what the impact wrench is for.

 

[pfbz]

(re:Makita 18V Impact Driver)

The impact driver is great for screws, but I doubt it would work well on bolts. That is what the impact wrench is for.

Actually it's worked amazingly well on fasteners/torque that I thought might be be too much for it.... Large, rusty exhaust bolts, big sway bar mounting bolts, etc. I did twist the **** out of a hex-to-3/8_square adapter though!

I actually have yet to try it on something it won't loosen. I should give it a whirl on ~100lb lug nuts some time instead of the air gun. I don't really think it is the tool for that, but as I said, it's surprised me so far!

 

[senor fozz]

I've been using this combo for a while, pretty impressed with it so far... I don't think any lighter weight tool is going to do high-torque lug nuts and crank bolts well, nor is the drill going to have the power of a 1/2" 110V Milwaukee for drilling out bolts, but for most light and medium jobs, they have been working great.

Makita LCT200W Factory Reconditioned 18V Drill Driver & Impact Driver Combo Kit, $150 at tool king.

BOught this have been using it for three months no complaints. It wont remove lugnuts but it has handeled everything else I have thrown at it.

 

[EdJack]

I know a bunch of people that got these for automotive work, when they were about 25 bucks on sale. Craftsman Nextec 12.0 Volt Right Angle Impact Driver. They are about 4 times that sale price now, but if they come up again on a deep discount sale price, I know a bunch of people that say they are great for light duty automotive work. They can rip off medium torqued nuts and bolts. And the right-angle design is well suited for automotive work compared to a regular design of a standard cordless driver.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-nextec-12.0-volt-right-angle-impact-driver/p-00917562000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

 

[not-required]

I've been using this combo for a while, pretty impressed with it so far... I don't think any lighter weight tool is going to do high-torque lug nuts and crank bolts well, nor is the drill going to have the power of a 1/2" 110V Milwaukee for drilling out bolts, but for most light and medium jobs, they have been working great.

Makita LCT200W Factory Reconditioned 18V Drill Driver & Impact Driver Combo Kit, $150 at tool king.

Have the same set and use them everyday working on busses. I love them and have no compliants.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[Harrison2]

well after lots of debating and looking at different kits, think im going to go with the 20v dewalt drill with 2 batteries from lowes for $100 on BF and then a dewalt 20v 3/8 impact bare tool to match from sears when they take it off hot buys and i can add a few coupons to knock it down from $130'ish to $100. plus i have a few gift cards and SYRW points.

the makita looks a great set up but the impact isnt really going to do what i want that a 12v kit wont do. so ive decided go for the dewalt 20v lot and then maybe a 12v makita drill and impact for christmas for myself.

ideally id have loved either the 12v dewalt and 20v dewalt or 18 and 12v makita to match but the makita bare unit seems to only be in blue and upwards of $140. and dewalt 12v kits aint nowehere near the 12v makita in price.

 

[Subyroo651]

I've never used this model but he seems to like it and has used it a lot.

Might help reinforce your decision.

DeWalt 3/8" 20V

 

[brawls43]

I have a Craftsman C3 1/2" impact, and it works nice, slightly higher torque capacity then the dewalt, but it doesn't hit with max power for very long. If you're looking at breaking loose suspension bolts and stuff, I'd get a corded impact, and a long extension cord.

 

[GSteg]

I have a Craftsman C3 1/2" impact, and it works nice, slightly higher torque capacity then the dewalt, but it doesn't hit with max power for very long. If you're looking at breaking loose suspension bolts and stuff, I'd get a corded impact, and a long extension cord.

Are you using the lithium battery? When I had my Craftsman gun, it was able to take apart an entire suspension (4 corners) and still had plenty of power left. My buddy's nicad on the other hand...

 

[brawls43]

Are you using the lithium battery? When I had my Craftsman gun, it was able to take apart an entire suspension (4 corners) and still had plenty of power left. My buddy's nicad on the other hand...

I've generally just used the nicad. But recently added smaller impact, that came with lithium, so I'll have to try that. Doing all 4 corners of lugs nuts can wear it down.

 

[noggs]

well after lots of debating and looking at different kits, think im going to go with the 20v dewalt drill with 2 batteries from lowes for $100 on BF and then a dewalt 20v 3/8 impact bare tool to match from sears when they take it off hot buys and i can add a few coupons to knock it down from $130'ish to $100. plus i have a few gift cards and SYRW points.

Great choice, I have the Dewalt 20v Drill and 3/8" Impact and I love it! I use it for everything from lug nuts to suspension bolts, and the drill works great too. You can't beat lithium as well!