Looking for suggestions on a cordless impact.
- Thread starter Jeff T
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American Locomotive
Well-known member
The newer DeWalt 20v brushless 1/2" impact will do that without issue, if you want to stick with DeWalt.
BioNerd
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signcrafter
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- May 9, 2012
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M18 high torque, 1400 ft lbs of torque.
If you're a Dewalt "guy" buy one of their newer 20 volts brushless impacts. Otherwise, if you don't care what color it is, buy one of the newer Milwaukee impacts. Both my 1/2 Milwaukees are great!
Also, the new cordless Earthquake 1/2 inch cordless impacts at harbor Freight have excellent reviews all over the internet. One guy bought one and used it professionally every day in a repair shop for a year and a half, then sent it to AvE for tear down and review. Other than just being "worn out" after daily abuse, it was still in decent shape. If you're not using it every day, it would probably last you forever..... or until the batteries finally **** the bed. lol
Also, the new cordless Earthquake 1/2 inch cordless impacts at harbor Freight have excellent reviews all over the internet. One guy bought one and used it professionally every day in a repair shop for a year and a half, then sent it to AvE for tear down and review. Other than just being "worn out" after daily abuse, it was still in decent shape. If you're not using it every day, it would probably last you forever..... or until the batteries finally **** the bed. lol
Ilikeike
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The Milwaukee M12 FUEL stubby 3/8" has been spinning off the lugs on My 68 Camaro pretty regularly while doing suspension mods/adjustments and autocross racing. I torque to 85# with my wheels and 1/2" studs.
No problems.
No problems.
DFB
Well-known member
Wow the Dewalt website specs that at 1,740 in-lbs (145ftlbs)
Sure compacts can work in certain situations even impact drivers do, but from my experiences really do need something in the mid torque range 450 ft lb range at a minimum for any regularity with lug nut removal on different vehicles. Especially those with wheels that haven't been changed or maintained often.
Lots of offerings out there nowdays
Sure compacts can work in certain situations even impact drivers do, but from my experiences really do need something in the mid torque range 450 ft lb range at a minimum for any regularity with lug nut removal on different vehicles. Especially those with wheels that haven't been changed or maintained often.
Lots of offerings out there nowdays
JRC3
Well-known member
I would try the EARTHQUAKE® XT 20V Max Lithium 1/2 In. Cordless Xtreme Torque Impact Wrench. It boast 1200 ft. lbs. of torque. Here's the best part, it has a 90 day warranty. No need wasting effort on a 3 to 5 year warranty on the tool and batteries. This just means if it craps out, you can buy a new tool. New tools are fun, right.
Another cool thing is you won't be wasting time purchase replacement parts, because they won't be available. Besides, who wants to be working on something when you can just plop down another 300 bucks for a new tool. And like I said before...New tools are fun.
Another cool thing is you won't be wasting time purchase replacement parts, because they won't be available. Besides, who wants to be working on something when you can just plop down another 300 bucks for a new tool. And like I said before...New tools are fun.
NWOhioChevyGuy
Well-known member
If that one won't work they were on WAY too tight.
I have a Dewalt 18V and it works just fine. When lugs are torqued correctly to 100-120ft/lbs.
Yes the 20V brushless has better torque - my father has one and it will out perform mine but it works fine 99% of the time on lug nuts.
I have a Dewalt 18V and it works just fine. When lugs are torqued correctly to 100-120ft/lbs.
Yes the 20V brushless has better torque - my father has one and it will out perform mine but it works fine 99% of the time on lug nuts.
BillK
Well-known member
That is pushing it though depending on the vehicle. I think the lugs on my Tahoe are 140 lb ft ?
Personally I have never liked using an impact for loosening and tightening wheel lugs of any type. I use a long breaker bar and a socket to loosen them and then a 4 way to spin them off and back on. That way you have a feel for messed up threads etc. With an impact, especially a powerful one, you will mess up a stud or nut before you feel anything
I have a 14v 3/8 drive Snap On that is good for running bolts in and out without chancing anything because it will let you know if there is an issue. I use it at the shop for disassembling engines after breaking bolts loose with a ratchet. I bet 90% of the fastener problems I have seen on engines and on cars are because of someone using a crazy 1/2" drive impact wrench
That's my opinion,
uncwstudent
Well-known member
I have the Ridgid Gen 5x cordless impact (450 ft ibs) and I so far I really like it. I actually sold my Milwaukee impact (rated at the same 450 ft ibs) and went with Ridgid. One of the cool features is that it has a setting that automatically stops tightening when the impact begins to hammer so that you don't over-tighten lug nuts. I've only found one bolt that it couldn't budge (and not even a 250 pound man with a breaker bar, penetrating oil, and brute force could move that bolt).
Plus it comes with a lifetime service agreement. The new Ridgid Octane impact wrench has a little more power and may be worth the look.
Plus it comes with a lifetime service agreement. The new Ridgid Octane impact wrench has a little more power and may be worth the look.
Handyandy23
Well-known member
I've got the Mac version of the DeWalt DCF894 mid-torque 20V and it does lug nuts no problem. Rated at 330 ft lbs. The Mac version is MCF894, and uses DeWalt batteries, but I think either version will work roughly the same for you, depending on what you can find cheaper.
I also bought my father the Ryobi 1/2" impact (I think they only make one version) and it takes off lug nuts just fine too. It's slightly heavier / larger, and feels a little less refined than the Mac/DeWalt, but it was very inexpensive (like $150 CAD with a 4ah battery and charger).
I also bought my father the Ryobi 1/2" impact (I think they only make one version) and it takes off lug nuts just fine too. It's slightly heavier / larger, and feels a little less refined than the Mac/DeWalt, but it was very inexpensive (like $150 CAD with a 4ah battery and charger).
onelochevy
Well-known member
Im a mechanic in a chemical plant and we use 20v dewalts to break rusty flange bolts all the time. It will handle lug nuts with ease.
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
I've got the 24v brushless kobalt 1/2" and 3/8" impacts, great power.
thr3squared
Well-known member
My vote as well.
Torqued to 100 lbs... They bought it on Amazon and I read the reviews this AM. I wasn't the only one complaining about the lugnuts. One guy called Dewalt and he said the unit was "marginal" and recommended the DCF894B instead.
I have the Milwaukee 3/8 stubby and that thing is freaking awesome. Removes my lugs no problem. I wouldn't use it if I was changing tires all day because it's on the up side of what the tool can handle so it will wear it out if used daily but for the weekend guy my vote is the stubby m12 fuel 3/8.
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American Locomotive
Well-known member
Those older "first-generation" 18v cordless impacts (from any brand) were never particularly powerful, unfortunately. That DCF894B is a far more powerful impact.
Den69rs96
Well-known member
I just picked up a Dewalt 1/2 20volt mid torque gun. It has a feature to tighten the bolts and stops for a sec before impacting. Its rated at 330 lb ft which for me will cover most of my needs. I really like the size of the tool. If I need anything stronger, I'll get out the air impacts.
visionguru
Well-known member
Get one of those biggest guns, with 1000+ ft-lb of nut busting torque. The extra power will be useful in DIY.
I have Ingersoll Rand W5132, 365 ft-lb torque, 550 ft-lb nut busting. Sounds it can deal with anything on a car. NO! When I did my front suspension, I found the power was not enough (after extensions, a swivels). I had to use my bigger gun: W7150.
For DIY use, the extra bulk/weight of bigger guns is not as much of an issue. You need that much power.
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The Milwaukee mid torque will get the job done. The high torque will definitely get the job done.
I have the M12 stubby and I would NOT recommend it for lugnuts. It might take them off and it might not. If it does take them off, expect it to be hammering away and making all kinds of noise before they break free.
I have the M12 stubby and I would NOT recommend it for lugnuts. It might take them off and it might not. If it does take them off, expect it to be hammering away and making all kinds of noise before they break free.
shockwave
Well-known member
Milwaukee m18 high torque is best gen 1 or 2 both will be great
Makita or dewalt have good ones too just really depends on which cordless platform you currently have on choose platform that will suit future tools like drill,sawzall and circular saw or good must have around house
Makita or dewalt have good ones too just really depends on which cordless platform you currently have on choose platform that will suit future tools like drill,sawzall and circular saw or good must have around house
Is that a 3/8 or 1/2 version. I'm looking for a compact 3/8 alternative to my M18 high torque.
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txvwnut
Well-known member
The Harbor Freight 20v earthquake is crazy strong for the money. I haven’t found a fastener that it won’t remove with minimal effort. First time I used it to remove lugnuts it made me wonder if they were tight.
Bagherra
Well-known member
Personally I have never liked using an impact for loosening and tightening wheel lugs of any type. I use a long breaker bar and a socket to loosen them and then a 4 way to spin them off and back on. That way you have a feel for messed up threads etc. With an impact, especially a powerful one, you will mess up a stud or nut before you feel anything
This!!
In a perfect world, I agree with you and used to do just that. However, I found that I would get tired before I even began a job like brakes or tire rotation struggling with 5 lug nuts per tire x 4 with a breaker bar.That is pushing it though depending on the vehicle. I think the lugs on my Tahoe are 140 lb ft ?
Personally I have never liked using an impact for loosening and tightening wheel lugs of any type. I use a long breaker bar and a socket to loosen them and then a 4 way to spin them off and back on. That way you have a feel for messed up threads etc. With an impact, especially a powerful one, you will mess up a stud or nut before you feel anything
I bet 90% of the fastener problems I have seen on engines and on cars are because of someone using a crazy 1/2" drive impact wrench
That's my opinion,
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JRC3
Well-known member
Handyandy23
Well-known member
Only downside is the battery platform is pretty much just for that one tool. Would be a good buy perhaps for people that aren't invested in a battery platform or don't care to expand into different tools.
Sticking with the major cordless players gives you an excuse later on to buy more bare tools.
JRC3
Well-known member
This also gives you a 3 year warranty on batteries...Instead of 3 months.
jmcf1949
Well-known member
+1 on the Dewalt DCF894 mid torque. Took a friends F-150 lugs off like nothing. They had been torqued to 150 ft lbs. Great tool.
GrantCee
Well-known member
Makita XWT08Z. 740 ft.lbs. fastening torque and 1,180 ft.lbs. break-away torque.
928'er
Well-known member
I'll second or third that.
As my cars suffer from "alloy lug nut syndrome," I always break them loose with a breaker bar and then run them off with an impact driver. On reinstall, I run them on with an impact driver and finish with a torque wrench.
James
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anndel
Well-known member
I have the M18 Milwaukee (don't have the model # with me) and it rips lugnuts like nothing, like an air impact. I also have the M12 stubby 1/2" impact and it does the same but some times it takes a few seconds longer.