Electirc Wheel Nut Impact Drivers

[Martin]

Am I the last person to discover these devices?
I noticed the staff using them at my last service
Finally go on myself (DeWalt) - simply awesome!!!
Certainyl makes the job so much easier

My one has a 1/2" square drive which is handy for working on all parts of the car
(Not for cracking or tightening stuff, just quickly removing and inserting bolts)

[wai]

They can be useful for running on/in nuts/bolts, but unless the unit came with some sort of certification on the torque, I would not trust it. It is always best to use a torque wrench. Also, you can injure your wrist if you do not have a firm enough grip when the bolt/nut fully runs on. Ultimately you have to apply the required torque, and a driver has a much shorter lever arm so a much higher force than a torque wrench.

You don't have to go to the expense of something specific for doing the initial tightening of bolts/nuts. You can get a chuck adaptor for a standard variable speed cordless drill/driver and use it. The difficulty here is getting the chuck adaptor. I saw one quite a while back but didn't think of buying it. Now I get a blank look from hardware shops when I ask for one. They tell me to get a dedicated electric driver!

[Guest001]

I bought one of these when I had my Cruiser Was $89 at ARB but Aldi had them for $49 a while ago.

Beware they are supposed to go up to 270NM and that would be enough to snap some wheel studs would also break sockets if using cheap ones.
I bought impact sockets of the correct sizes

As the Cruiser nuts were 125nm I used to drive them up and give it one hit and do the rest with a torque wrench.

Was handy for things like tightening towbar bolts and removing and replacing bullbar bolts.

Easy to over tighten bolts if you are not careful so be warned.
When you get used to one its Ok as you learn how many whacks give you approx the right amount of tightness and than use the torque wrench.

Still have mine will sell it for $50 as wouldnt use it on the VW's

[Martin]

They can be useful for running on/in nuts/bolts...It is always best to use a torque wrench.

Yep - fully agree - just saves time

[kaanage]

I guess they all missed this part of your original post, Martin, so I'll repost it for you.

(Not for cracking or tightening stuff, just quickly removing and inserting bolts)

Anyway, I did use one that ran off the car 12V supply to do the same thing for changing wheels at track days (and like you, I used a torque wrench for final tightening and that or a breaker bar to break the torque.

I got sick of the power lead, though, so I now use a 12V cordless drill with a 3/8" drive adapter to spin on and off the wheel bolts.

You don't have to go to the expense of something specific for doing the initial tightening of bolts/nuts. You can get a chuck adaptor for a standard variable speed cordless drill/driver and use it. The difficulty here is getting the chuck adaptor. I saw one quite a while back but didn't think of buying it. Now I get a blank look from hardware shops when I ask for one. They tell me to get a dedicated electric driver!

I bought a 3 pack from Bunnings - it has a 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" and while I wouldn't trust them with an impact driver, they're fine with a cordless drill.

[Guest001]

I guess they all missed this part of your original post, Martin, so I'll repost it for you.


Anyway, I did use one that ran off the car 12V supply to do the same thing for changing wheels at track days (and like you, I used a torque wrench for final tightening and that or a breaker bar to break the torque.

I got sick of the power lead, though, so I now use a 12V cordless drill with a 3/8" drive adapter to spin on and off the wheel bolts.


I bought a 3 pack from Bunnings - it has a 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" and while I wouldn't trust them with an impact driver, they're fine with a cordless drill.

I did see that but was just posting the pitfalls if others were considering one .

They didnt have powerful enough cordless drills when I got mine unfortunately.

[LunchboxVRS]

I have the new Milwaukee 18 volt brushless 1/2 inch. It perfectly fine to crack and under tight bolts. If its to tight it just ratchets.
Before that I had the big 600nm brushed version but it was a big tool. This new one is so small and gets into everywhere. But it's only 300nm

[Martin]

I have the new Milwaukee 18 volt brushless 1/2 inch. It perfectly fine to crack and under tight bolts. If its to tight it just ratchets.

Many people use that one and say it's a good unit (I have no experience with that brand)

Need to be careful when things are tight and it into impact mode (ratchets)
If you have soft wheel bolts they won't like it
I have (soft) aftermarket bolts and got little metal fragments from the hard socket hammering the bolt
Hence, I manually loosen and torque them

But it's only 300nm

That's heaps for simply winding bolts/nuts on/off, mine is only 250nm
Lower torque removes the risk of over tightening things if you do drive it home

I guess they all missed this part of your original post, Martin, so I'll repost it for you.

Thanks mate

Another point that requires careful attention is getting the bolt/nut started
Best to use your fingers to get it started on the thread and avoid cross threading
(Having said that, I am finding the variable speed makes it easy to get the wheel bolts started safely but you still need to be very careful and pay attention)

Anyway, I did use one that ran off the car 12V supply to do the same thing for changing wheels at track days
(and like you, I used a torque wrench for final tightening and that or a breaker bar to break the torque).

Yeah - that was the second place I saw these devices, the VW Nationals at Wakefield Park
Heaps of people had them, most were electric drills with adaptors but a few people had impact drivers

I really like having the 1/2" square drive, I can whack all my sockets onto it (even the 1/2" to 3/8" adaptor)
The Dewalt is light, 4 amp LiIon battery, LED lights, very good variable speed which makes it easy to control

[otto]

I've got the big Milwaukee as well. I wouldn't trust it to do up wheel nuts as it has way way too much torque.

Milwaukee's TV ad says it all

Cordless Drill Milwaukee - YouTube

I used it once to take apart a heavy duty trampoline for council clean up, and it sheared off every nut it tried to undo, it didn't even feel the nut was there. Also if you're using one of these make sure you've got a firm grip on it, I reckon it could break a small wrist

Many people use that one and say it's a good unit (I have no experience with that brand)

Need to be careful when things are tight and it into impact mode (ratchets)
If you have soft wheel bolts they won't like it
I have (soft) aftermarket bolts and got little metal fragments from the hard socket hammering the bolt
Hence, I manually loosen and torque them



That's heaps for simply winding bolts/nuts on/off, mine is only 250nm
Lower torque removes the risk of over tightening things if you do drive it home



Thanks mate

Another point that requires careful attention is getting the bolt/nut started
Best to use your fingers to get it started on the thread and avoid cross threading
(Having said that, I am finding the variable speed makes it easy to get the wheel bolts started safely but you still need to be very careful and pay attention)



Yeah - that was the second place I saw these devices, the VW Nationals at Wakefield Park
Heaps of people had them, most were electric drills with adaptors but a few people had impact drivers

I really like having the 1/2" square drive, I can whack all my sockets onto it (even the 1/2" to 3/8" adaptor)
The Dewalt is light, 4 amp LiIon battery, LED lights, very good variable speed which makes it easy to control

[Frazza]

I have a lot of the Ryobi One+ range so i got there impact driver as well, 1/2" drive, works great, used it many many times now, i still torque up the nuts with a torque wrench and breaker bar but it sure make easy work of getting the nuts on and off quick.

RYOBI Australia: 18V ONE+ Impact Wrench (BIW180G)

[JedR32]

What about something like this:

NEW Unimac 240V 1 2'' Electric Impact Wrench Rattle GUN Driver Torque Tools AIR | eBay

Adjustable torque settings. So maybe something like this would eliminate the need for a manual torque wrench??
Experts please guide me as I'm getting over manually taking my wheels off and putting them back on every fortnight haha

[Frazza]

Your only issue is that it's corded so where ever you use it you will need power, the cordless units these days have plenty of go and batteries last for ages, plus with mine i got spare batteries anyhow and only a 1hour charge

[JedR32]

Your only issue is that it's corded so where ever you use it you will need power, the cordless units these days have plenty of go and batteries last for ages, plus with mine i got spare batteries anyhow and only a 1hour charge

This is also true! Are there any battery operated impact drivers that have torque settings?

[Transporter]

This is also true! Are there any battery operated impact drivers that have torque settings?

SP brand 18V 1/2" dr has 6 torque settings.

[Transporter]

What about something like this:

NEW Unimac 240V 1 2'' Electric Impact Wrench Rattle GUN Driver Torque Tools AIR | eBay

Adjustable torque settings. So maybe something like this would eliminate the need for a manual torque wrench??
Experts please guide me as I'm getting over manually taking my wheels off and putting them back on every fortnight haha

I would always use the torque wrench, just to be sure.