Electric impact wrench

[nevill3]

After a fruitless day yesterday attempting to remove some very stubborn front wheel studs I have just ordered a 12v electric impact wrench, thats got a built in torque adjustment!!

I have ordered it from Amazon and hope it will remove the stubborn nuts/studs/bolts.

Has anyone on here ever used one of the electric impact wrenches, and if so what do you think of them, all advice greatly received. The air compressor and air gun is out of the question and the electric impact wrenches have had good reviews and the one I have ordered has the following specs

Technical Details
1...Power Source: 12V cigerette lighter plug or battery connector, 4m Cord
2...Standard 1/2" Socket Shaft
3...3 digits torque display and settings
4...Sockets: 2 x double ended 1/2" socket covers 17mm 19 mm 21 mm 23mm nuts
5...Min Torque 80N*M; Max Torque: 350N*M (258 ft*lb)[/list]

Quite a lot of torque so I will report back on my findings when I have used it.

[Ian Hulley]

We use an 18v DeWalt one @werk it's great to undo nuts and studs BUT I would strongly recommend you start all nuts and bolts and always check the torque by hand.

Ian

[nevill3]

Thanks Ian, I wouldn't be using this thing to do nuts up just to remove them at first until I get the hang of it. I have had many adventures recently with stubborn nuts and I seem to have spent hours crawling under my vehicles swearing at rusty exhaust bolts etc.......I am hoping this will make things easier..I was quoted £40 from the local tyre center to come out and release my nuts for me but decided now was the time to invest in a tool for the job myself.

If it works I will post back to let everybody know how it went, if the reviews are anything to go by everyone should have one of them....less than £40 for the one I have just ordered.

Nev

[Nij]

I used to use one on my race and rally cars (still have it TBH).

They are great but I really reccomend 'breaking' the nuts first with breaker bar (and a scafold bar if need be first) or your motor wont last long.

[nevill3]

Thanks Nij...my problem is that the nuts are totally seized...I had the wheels balanced last year at quick fit and I cannot get the nuts off now....I broke a 19mm socket yesterday trying with a large breaker bar and a long pole....I even tried using a jack to lift the breaker bar but it just began to bend!!! So I hope the shock action of the impact wrench will loosen the bolts for me this time....fingers crossed...My van is off the road at the moment with no Tax and a seized brake calliper..well a brake calliper that will not release after the brakes are applied but moves back with a gentle nudge of the pads. Otherwise I would have driven it to a tyre fitters or local garage for them to loosen the nuts for me.

[Hacksawbob]

I had a machine mart one a few years back, great for whizzing nuts up or off, but it wasn't much good at shifting anything really tight, I dont think the cheap ones are up to much heavy duty work. Kwikshit are such a shower its untrue, I wouldn't trust them to service a tonka truck. Halfords pro breaker bar (garanteed for life if you snap it take it back) with a decent 19mm impact socket on the end + scaff pole plus large fellas. Or chisel on the corner it to get it moving (goggles!) and have a spare set waiting to go.

[jamesc76]

Those battery guns are ok but wont undo a very tight nut or bolt you will still need a proper breaker bar and impact sockets!

[nevill3]

I guess I may need to look for a longer scaffold pole if the new gun doesn't work... incidentally it's not a battery one but connects to the car/van/leisure battery, so no need to worry about it being flat when I need to use it. I do not have impact sockets but will be getting some with the new gun so if all else fails I will at least have a new set of impact sockets!!

[elsid]

I have got the kit supplied by Crypton's, it consists of mini air compressor, set of heavy duty jump leads, a few tools and the impact wrench. The impact wrench is brilliant, it generates a terrific amount of torque and because it is pulsed it shifts really tight nuts. I used it recently on an old caravan drawbar after trying a breaker bar and hammer. It only took a few seconds to shock the nuts loose. I wouldn't use it to tighten nuts up though.
Sid

[Nij]

Thanks Nij...my problem is that the nuts are totally seized...I had the wheels balanced last year at quick fit and I cannot get the nuts off now....I broke a 19mm socket yesterday trying with a large breaker bar and a long pole....I even tried using a jack to lift the breaker bar but it just began to bend!!! So I hope the shock action of the impact wrench will loosen the bolts for me this time....fingers crossed...My van is off the road at the moment with no Tax and a seized brake calliper..well a brake calliper that will not release after the brakes are applied but moves back with a gentle nudge of the pads. Otherwise I would have driven it to a tyre fitters or local garage for them to loosen the nuts for me.

Impact sockets (black), solid 'breaker bar' and if needed a scaffold bar. Oh and 1/2 inch drive.

Sockets - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TENG-TOOLS-1- ... 281wt_1167" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Breaker bar - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/24-1-2-DRIVE- ... 692wt_1167" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nevill3]

Success......A very generous customer of mine lent me a 3/4" breaker bar with a reducer to 1/2" and a 19mm impact socket as well as a length of scaffold pole and at last the nuts are free...I took the pads out and the calliper looks well rotten....
I am going to replace it because you can never be too carefull with brakes....I will have a go at the other wheel tomorrow and inspect that calliper....so maybe I will need two new ones....

As a quick note the electric impact wrench arrived but was faulty, and so I am waiting on a replacement.

I am also now thinking of going the whole hog and doing a complete brake overhaul...anybody care to quote me for the supply of two front callipers, four new flexi hoses new rear brake shoes with fitting kit and lots of ready made lengths of cunifer brake pipe, enough to do all the external brake lines.

Nev

[Hacksawbob]

I get my brake stuff from here, they handy for me as they are not far away and I can take the old unit back for the deposit They do all the other brake bits including the cunifer etc.

http://www.brakesint.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There is brickwerks of course.

[Nij]

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... gory_id=47" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Are you changing your fluid too (always worth it IMO). Also change rear wheel cylinders too?

[nevill3]

I will be using a motor factors in Kendal, as it is the nearest conurbation to me, and my local VW garage for the replacement parts. After I have inspected the other calliper I will have a look at the rear brakes and then decide just how much work I will do. I like the idea of doing all the brakes at once so I know they are OK, I had a brake pipe burst last year and only had time to replace the defective pipe, I checked the rest and everything seemed OK at the time.

Whilst investigating my current problem I bled the front brake to see if it was just a little air in the line and the fluid that came out was cloudy, not clear like new fluid or the fluid that is in the reservoir behind the speedo . It was slightly rust coloured too, so I will definately be changing the brake fluid even if I don't do anything to the back brakes.