Impact tools are not optional for DIYers

[Torn Mind]

Because, when you have a bucket of rust all over the place and you use a wrench or ratchet, you will snap off the bolt head more often than not even with penetrating oil and a propane torch.

I have a 1996 Camry, and the alternator adjuster bolt was seized into the slider and using a long wrench for leverage only served to snap the bolt head off for me.

Even if it is a manual impact driver, it will still provide some peace of mind and satisfaction that you can take that accursed rusty nut off in one piece, provided you can reach it without an extension or swivel socket removing precious torque.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have a 1/2" air impact wrench that will deliver up to 400ft lbs of torque. Comes in real handy when trying to loosen the 55mm rear axle nut on my Ducati (spec is 176 ft lbs when tightened). I've also used it to free up lower front strut mounting bolts on my previous car.

 

[RLGL]

An impact driver or an impact wrench is no guarantee that you will NOT snap a bolt or stud.

 

[brainhulk]

wrench/breaker bar + rubber mallet

 

[NutBucket]

Meh. Live in a salt free state and it's a non-issue. Nice to have but not vital.

 

[master_shake_]

my best friend

 

[JulesMaximus]

wrench/breaker bar + rubber mallet

Meh. Live in a salt free state and it's a non-issue. Nice to have but not vital.

There is no way I could free up the 55mm nut on the rear axle of my bike without an impact wrench. Same with the nut that holds the flywheel on. Even with the bike in gear and someone practically standing on the rear brake I cannot keep the engine from turning.

 

[Eug]

Not for The Garage but...

My sister's ex-boyfriend came over to visit one day and was complaining about wrist pain. He had built an entire deck using a drill and deck screws, and the torque of the drill against his wrist really caused him a lot of trouble.

I then told him that there is such a thing called an impact driver. He had no idea, despite the fact he could build a deck.

I'm not even a real DIYer, just some guy forced to fix a few things here and there because he owns a house.

 

[Torn Mind]

An impact driver or an impact wrench is no guarantee that you will NOT snap a bolt or stud.

But the probability is reduced. Because as long has you aren't busting the uber-torque impact out first, chances are the bolt just won't budge at all.

 

[NutBucket]

There is no way I could free up the 55mm nut on the rear axle of my bike without an impact wrench. Same with the nut that holds the flywheel on. Even with the bike in gear and someone practically standing on the rear brake I cannot keep the engine from turning.

I blame the Italians. I can easily bust axle nuts and such with a simple breaker bar. Same for crank pulleys. Of course, I also don't own a motorcycle

 

[Yuriman]

To get the crank pulley off of my previous car, I ended up needing almost 5ft of breaker bar. An impact wrench would've been nice there. However, my "new" car is almost entirely aluminum, and those bits which are not, are coated in something, and they look nearly brand new even after 16 years. I don't think I've found a single bolt that's more than 44ft-lbs so far, and haven't needed a breaker for anything.

16 year old exhaust:

16 year old rear drums, came off with a gentle tug:

Front:

16 year old bolts when I replaced the rear engine mount:

Working on an aluminum car is a pleasure, and, in my case, impact tools really are entirely optional.

 

[dud]

An impact driver or an impact wrench is no guarantee that you will NOT snap a bolt or stud.

I think it pretty much guarantees that you will snap off the bolt head. I have both hand tools and a number of air tools but find a breaker bar and a long pipe to be my best friend when needing a lot of torque to get off a pesky bolt.

 

[master_shake_]

16 year old exhaust:




16 year old rear drums, came off with a gentle tug:




Front:




16 year old bolts when I replaced the rear engine mount:




Working on an aluminum car is a pleasure, and, in my case, impact tools really are entirely optional.

so, do they just not use salt there?

if so, i'm moving.

 

[Yuriman]

so, do they just not use salt there?

if so, i'm moving.

There's plenty of salt.

Supposedly the brake lines are a problem for some people, eventually (they're one of the few steel bits), but so far the salt and grit hasn't penetrated the coating on them on my car. They are partially shielded by a factory underbody panel, and I added my own over top of that, providing almost complete shielding of the undercarriage. When the lines finally do rust out, I'll probably replace them with stainless lines and just keep swapping in new motors into the exceptionally rigid and light body until the end of time.

It'll be nice when nearly all cars come with protective underbody panels.

EDIT: An ounce of prevention...

 

[nk215]

Impact has its place. My favorite impact is a battery powered Snap-on. I’ve been slowly move to cordless tools – much easier to work with.

Last year while changing out to winter tires on my 2 SUVs, I used a 4X torque multiplier. It worked great.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I blame the Italians. I can easily bust axle nuts and such with a simple breaker bar. Same for crank pulleys. Of course, I also don't own a motorcycle

You would never get the nut loosened using a breaker bar. In fact, you would probably damage the nut.

 

[NutBucket]

Sorry Jules, meant axle nuts in terms of cars. Obviously completely different situation with bikes

 

[JulesMaximus]

Sorry Jules, meant axle nuts in terms of cars. Obviously completely different situation with bikes

Ah, got it.

Yeah, you definitely don't need an impact wrench to remove lug nuts from a car wheel.

I just happen to know from experience and I had an impact wrench but was trying to remove the flywheel using a breaker bar and there is just no way to do it. Actually, there is a way and it is to buy a special flywheel holding tool that Ducati sells (the tool is $180).

 

[NutBucket]

No Jules, axle nuts...as in when you need to replace a torn CV boot

Funny, Honda (used to?) need a special tool to hold the crank pulley so you bust that nut loose. Never could figure out the purpose of the ridiculous torque spec on that bolt.

 

[Bull Dog]

I started shopping for impact tools last December because I was looking to save time when swapping snow tires on and off of my family's vehicles. After watching some videos on YouTube I realized I had been missing out.

Over Christmas I picked up a Milwaukee 1/2in Impact Driver, (Model# 2763-20) as well as a 1/4in Hex Drive Impact (Model# 2753-20). I could not be happier with either tool.

I've barely used my 1/2in driver because my Dad and I have been busy with a garage renovation project. But it has been a revelation driving fasteners in with my 1/4in Hex Impact. When sinking deck screws into wood you get so much more control on how tight/deep to drive the fastener compared to a standard drill.

I also recently adapted the 1/2in Impact to a 7/16in hex drive hole saw and used it to cut a 1 1/2in hole into a 2x6. That was a revelation again. No more worrying about the hole saw binding in the hole and wrenching the drill in my hands and hurting my wrists.

 

[Muse]

my best friend

Provide a link to it, i.e. where you can research it, buy it, ...

 

[Muse]

Not for The Garage but...

My sister's ex-boyfriend came over to visit one day and was complaining about wrist pain. He had built an entire deck using a drill and deck screws, and the torque of the drill against his wrist really caused him a lot of trouble.

I then told him that there is such a thing called an impact driver. He had no idea, despite the fact he could build a deck.

I'm not even a real DIYer, just some guy forced to fix a few things here and there because he owns a house.

I'm a DIYer, own a house, this isn't a salt area. I have never owned an impact driver, but figure maybe I should, don't know. I don't know if I should get one, or where to start in getting one. I have a 12 volt Panasonic cordless drill whose batteries went to crap a long time ago, I never got any real use from it. I have a couple of Dewalt 9v cordless drills, have had better luck with the batteries. Do I want an impact driver? Don't know. Or where to start.

 

[master_shake_]

Provide a link to it, i.e. where you can research it, buy it, ...

this is where i got mine.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...trocat+1200.TRS0&_nkw=nitrocat+1200k&_sacat=0

 

[sontakke]

You know these require good compressor. I thought you wanted a battery operated cordless impact.

 

[NutBucket]

Eh, impacts don't need big cfm like sanders and such. They'll be fine with smaller compressors as long as you're OK with the cycle time.