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Impact wrench suggestions

ForestLass

Grenadier Owner
Local time
7:34 PM
Joined
Dec 22, 2023
Messages
9
Location
United States
Hey guys I've been searching for the past week for a reliable 1/2 electric impact wrench that's around $150 with a battery included. My pops keeps recommending Craftsman or Makita, but I'm not having much luck finding one in that price range.
I'll be using the wrench to remove my lug nuts. Can you guys give me some recommendations?
 
If you haven't started on a tool system (Ridgid, Makita, Milwaukee,etc), think of all the other tools you think you might need in the future. If that system meets your requirements/availability, then get that specific system. I used to have Ridgid and slowly moved to Milwaukee as I had more choices, both M12 & M18 batteries. Got to sell most Ridgid tools and gave some to my son.
 
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I decided it was time to get an 1/2 Cordless Impact Wrench when I started working on my truck. Is touching a stiff or kobalt even worthwhile? I only plan to use it for sporadic weekend truck work; I won't be using it daily. Many thanks, everyone!
 
As far as I can tell, there are three important torque values on the Grenadier: wheel bolts 160 Nm, front wheel hub 360 Nm, and rear wheel hub 600 Nm. It makes a difference whether I want to tighten or loosen these bolts. Loosening usually requires a higher torque.
For most jobs at home, I use a small Facom NS.1600FPB pneumatic impact wrench, which can tighten up to 860 Nm, but loosens bolts with over 1000 Nm. This little thing is a beast. I've only ever used it on setting 1.

If I were to buy an electric impact wrench, I would go for the Makita 700 Series for weight reasons and its smaller size, as I already have other Makita cordless tools.
I could easily loosen the rear hub nut with the Makita 1000 Series impact wrench, but it's much too big and heavy for any other work and the question is, if I ever need to loosen this nut.
Unless I am also consider bringing a cordless angle grinder, a cordless blower for the grill, and a cordless chainsaw and of course some chargers, I would avoid using a cordless impact wrench while on the trail, as I'd have to ask myself where the end point would be. The few times I need to loosen screws on the trail I can do it by hand.
 
As far as I can tell, there are three important torque values on the Grenadier: wheel bolts 160 Nm, front wheel hub 360 Nm, and rear wheel hub 600 Nm. It makes a difference whether I want to tighten or loosen these bolts. Loosening usually requires a higher torque.
For most jobs at home, I use a small Facom NS.1600FPB pneumatic impact wrench, which can tighten up to 860 Nm, but loosens bolts with over 1000 Nm. This little thing is a beast. I've only ever used it on setting 1.

If I were to buy an electric impact wrench, I would go for the Makita 700 Series for weight reasons and its smaller size, as I already have other Makita cordless tools.
I could easily loosen the rear hub nut with the Makita 1000 Series impact wrench, but it's much too big and heavy for any other work and the question is, if I ever need to loosen this nut.
Unless I am also consider bringing a cordless angle grinder, a cordless blower for the grill, and a cordless chainsaw and of course some chargers, I would avoid using a cordless impact wrench while on the trail, as I'd have to ask myself where the end point would be. The few times I need to loosen screws on the trail I can do it by hand.
You could easily loosen the rear hub nut only if you had the right socket to fit on your Makita impact wrench. 😂
 
I’ve now got a Makita 1000Nm impact wrench and could not budge the bolts on the rear tow ball. I had to get a breaker bar with a scaffold bar attached.
 
I have a 1000 and a 700 makita series that for work and i can't fault either. We deal with nuts from the turn of last century and some the one before, at upto 2 1/4" ACF, they might not come off immediately but the do come. If they don't, then its hydraulic nut splitter time, a couple of times they have ended up fully submerged and keep going!

If i had a complaint with them, they over tighten, but thats usually cause there used to tighten when they should be using a torque wrench.

G.
 
1) Get the wrench that also has the series of tools you like.

2) For a rig, a would suggest the Milwaukee. They arent Hilti, but Hilti isnt Hilti in quality anymore either. They have the best batter pump, and they come out with new tools and ideas rather frequently.

If you have Al rims, be cognizant of the power. You can easily over tighten and stress fracture a rim at the lug hole.
 
How often do you intend to remove the higher torque fasteners like on hubs, axles and tow bars? At home I get more use out of a screw gun with sockets then a high torque impact gun.
The rear hub nut I would only use a breaker bar as rattle guns tend to damage the keys in the tool and on the nut.
My home stuff is my old retired brushed Milwaukee or air tools from work or bought 2nd hand from the other techs upgrading.
 
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