Impact Wrench Tech
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 264
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From: College Station, TX
Impact Wrench Tech I'm tired of loose tolerances on tire irons. I messed up my mom's painted rims on her car because the lug nuts are sunk into the wheel (worthless car anyways). I'm about to get my WS6 and I don't want to mess up the WS6 rims. I'm getting an impact wrench.
I looked at Craftsman and it seems like you gotta pay $200 for a light duty air compressor. Another hundred before you start getting a decent impact wrench and hose. I'm thinking of an electric impact wrench.
I remember seeing on Horsepower TV that Matco made one. I looked at their website and they make three.
First is one that's about $150 that has a 3/8" square drive and makes 100+ft.lbs
Second is about $190 that has a 1/2" square drive with unknown ft.lbs
Third is about $240 that has a 1/2" square drive with 240+ft.lbs
How many ft.lbs do I really need? I use a 1 foot tire iron and I weigh almost 150 lbs (don't be hatin'). I can make 150ft.lbs, but I probably only make 100 on average. What kind of ft.lbs should I be making? Can I crack aluminum rims by doing 240?
I looked at Craftsman and it seems like you gotta pay $200 for a light duty air compressor. Another hundred before you start getting a decent impact wrench and hose. I'm thinking of an electric impact wrench.
I remember seeing on Horsepower TV that Matco made one. I looked at their website and they make three.
First is one that's about $150 that has a 3/8" square drive and makes 100+ft.lbs
Second is about $190 that has a 1/2" square drive with unknown ft.lbs
Third is about $240 that has a 1/2" square drive with 240+ft.lbs
How many ft.lbs do I really need? I use a 1 foot tire iron and I weigh almost 150 lbs (don't be hatin'). I can make 150ft.lbs, but I probably only make 100 on average. What kind of ft.lbs should I be making? Can I crack aluminum rims by doing 240?
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: McHenry, MS
I personally use to torque wrench on my Camaro rims. The owners manual says 100 ft/lbs. Our truck says 120 ft/lbs. I use a socket on my torque wrench for the final tightening. I've heard rumors of uneven torque contributing to warped rotors, but can't say for sure if it is true.
When tightening wheel lug nuts, as stated above, final tightening should be done with a torque wrench. You can use the gun to snug them down, but always finish with the torque wrench.
If you are going with an electric impact gun, make sure you get the most powerful one you can. I bought a craftsman 900.275132 impact gun 2yrs ago. Even though I only torqued my wheels to 100ft/pds and the gun is rated at 240, it could not break the lugs loose. Who knows...maybe I didn't stay with it long enough, but the garage lights were dimming and all it was doing was making alot of noise. So, I ended up ordering a Dewalt 1/2" 18v cordless impact gun. I ordered it w/o the battery/case since I already have batteries. It was only about $160 shipped, and even though the gun is the same size and design as the electric craftsman, it breaks them loose every time!
Gary
BTW, if you still want to try the craftsman, I'll sell it to you for $35! Hardly used.
If you are going with an electric impact gun, make sure you get the most powerful one you can. I bought a craftsman 900.275132 impact gun 2yrs ago. Even though I only torqued my wheels to 100ft/pds and the gun is rated at 240, it could not break the lugs loose. Who knows...maybe I didn't stay with it long enough, but the garage lights were dimming and all it was doing was making alot of noise. So, I ended up ordering a Dewalt 1/2" 18v cordless impact gun. I ordered it w/o the battery/case since I already have batteries. It was only about $160 shipped, and even though the gun is the same size and design as the electric craftsman, it breaks them loose every time!
Gary
BTW, if you still want to try the craftsman, I'll sell it to you for $35! Hardly used.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 264
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From: College Station, TX
air = $500 for the whole set on the budget minded side
electric = under $200 on the budget minded side
I have yet to see an electric impact wrench over $400.
I see that Lowes has a DeWalt (plug in (preferred)) 1/2" 345ft.lbs for $180 with carrying case.
Anyone else have any experience with impact wrenches?
electric = under $200 on the budget minded side
I have yet to see an electric impact wrench over $400.
I see that Lowes has a DeWalt (plug in (preferred)) 1/2" 345ft.lbs for $180 with carrying case.
Anyone else have any experience with impact wrenches?
Last edited by Shock Hawk; Jul 15, 2007 at 06:41 PM.
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I have a DeWalt 18v 1/2" electric impact gun that works great and goes a long way before the battery goes dead. Granted, it's about $300, but it's a quality tool. My air impact gun(s) are Ingersoll Rand (the popular ones with the plastic/composite body, can't remember the model numbers - 3/8 and 1/2"). As mentioned above, the final step should be performed with a torque wrench or at least a torque stick...although I don't usually do that...
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How often do you plan to mess with wheels? A torque wrench and a 24" breaker bar and socket are all that you really need. Loosen up the lugs while the car is still on the ground, jack it up and take the lugs off. Hand tighten them when you put the wheel back on and do the final tightening with your torque wrench. It really isn't that hard, takes only a few minutes and is very cost effective.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 264
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From: College Station, TX
How many foot pounds do I want? I'm sure that 100 is enough, 175 is probably perfect, 240 overkill? DeWalt I'm looking at for $180 does 350. How much torque is too much for alloy rims (WS6)? Aluminum autocross rims?
You don't need tons of tq to put something on. Thats why the important bolts have tq specs. Hell, I think the highest torqued bolt on our cars is the crank bolt, and thats 240 ft lbs, I think. Its taking a bolt off is where that comes in to play. I've learned that even if say our lug nuts are 100 ft lbs, it seems to take more than that to break loose. Get the highest tq you can get. Chances are you will be using your impact for more than just your wheels. I tipically use my 4 way with a special socket so it fits(looks lke a spark plug socket) to get my lugs loosened on the ground, then jack it up and take them completely off. I'm about the same weight as you, but I'm strong as hell for size/weight. You better be able to torque something to 100 ft lbs...my mom probably can! I work at a tire shop, so I work with this kind of stuff all day long! I torque big truck 8 lugs wheels to 150 ft lbs with ease 1000 times a day!
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: College Station, TX
DeWalt makes a 14.4V cordless that does 129ft.lbs for $219. That's not too bad, but I might start thinking of just getting a big torque bar. If I want to save time, maybe I should use my electric drill to drive the nut on and then hand tighten. I'm just trying to save time/effort in the garage. I found some great deals for less, but most of them do like 350ft.lbs... I'm sure that'll hurt something.
