[Lynch1993]

looking to add a battery powered impact wrench/gun to the toolbox. Any makes anyone would recommend? Ideally want to spend a couple of quid either side of £150. And something with a decent torque rating.

Thanks

[Tengocity]

I have DeWalt one, been going strong for quite a few years now. It's more than powerful enough to remove wheel bolts that have been overtorqued by a muppet in a tyre place. It was around the £150 mark IIRC.

[Lynch1993]

Okay thanks, any idea what model it might be or where you got it from?

[Tengocity]

Just checked my Amazon order history:


DeWalt DCF899HN-XJ 18 V Cordless Brushless High Torque Impact Wrench https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VXN7S..._7vMseRDVWvBtQ

Price has gone up in the 4 years or I'm remembering what I told the wife it cost!

You'd need a battery as well, which is about £50 I think. I remember it being notably more powerful than anything else I could see at the time.

[KTE]

Use this for undoing tight wheel bolts. Saves time and aggro with the breaker bar.

Decent starter kit including a 2Ah battery, I have a 2.5Ah and it’s sufficient undoing any overtightened bolts

Ryobi R18IW3-120S 18V ONE+ Cordless 3 Speed Impact Wrench Starter Kit (1 x 2.0Ah) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FLYJ6..._8bA2EbXDZM8AC

3 modes for power ratings, ‘up to 400Nm’

[sspade]

Got a Milwaukee, works great.

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by KTE

Use this for undoing tight wheel bolts. Saves time and aggro with the breaker bar.

Decent starter kit including a 2Ah battery, I have a 2.5Ah and it’s sufficient undoing any overtightened bolts

Ryobi R18IW3-120S 18V ONE+ Cordless 3 Speed Impact Wrench Starter Kit (1 x 2.0Ah) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FLYJ6..._8bA2EbXDZM8AC

3 modes for power ratings, ‘up to 400Nm’

Whilst I haven't got the wrench, can vouch for the Ryobi One+ system. I've got a 5ah battery that's used on a hedge trimmer, a pole hedge trimmer and a tyre inflator (aka lockdown paddling pool inflator). So if you might add other tools in the future then that kit is great value.

[BrokeLandman]

Also, stay away from the ones that have the quick-release type 'chuck'. You'll definitely want one with a standard 1/2" driver on it.
+1 on Ryobi. My Ryobi One+ tools have been great for 3-4 years now.

[Craig-SM]

Originally Posted by Lynch1993

looking to add a battery powered impact wrench/gun to the toolbox. Any makes anyone would recommend? Ideally want to spend a couple of quid either side of £150. And something with a decent torque rating.

Thanks

What are you intending to use it for?

If it is just for wheels nuts then get a breaker bar and an impact driver with an half inch adapter. Personally I wouldn’t use an impact gun for tightening or breaking lose wheel bolts.

[Lynch1993]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I did have a look at the ryobi one, might be the option to go to start with.

Originally Posted by Craig-SM

What are you intending to use it for?

If it is just for wheels nuts then get a breaker bar and an impact driver with an half inch adapter. Personally I wouldn’t use an impact gun for tightening or breaking lose wheel bolts.

I'm generally looking just to speed things up and to help with some of the more stubborn bolts

[Craig-SM]

Just get an impact driver and adapter then. It will be cheaper and you can use it elsewhere around the house too. SGS engineering currently have offers on Ryobi kit.

[Stev443]

Originally Posted by Lynch1993

looking to add a battery powered impact wrench/gun to the toolbox. Any makes anyone would recommend? Ideally want to spend a couple of quid either side of £150. And something with a decent torque rating.

Thanks

I have the Ryobi R18IW3-120S up to 400nm works well haven’t had any issues getting wheel nuts off. I got it from Halfords about six months ago as a starter kit comes with a carry case/bag 2.0ah battery three wheel nut sockets and 1/4 inch hex adapter which I used recently to drive decking screws while repairing my fence great for that kind of work. I paid £149 for mine.

[SantaEugence]

Any reason it has to be battery powered? You'll get (generally) more reliable power for much less with a mains adaptor - I've got one like this

https://www.buildingsuppliesdirect.c...RoCl1cQAvD_BwE

The torque on it is fantastic it's lasted many many years and no issues with chargers or batteries.
Had a battery powered one before which just didn't seem to live up to the advertised power, especially for wheel bolts.

[aquazi]

I have a bosche gdx 200 its an impact driver with both a 1/4 in bit and 1/2in socket built in.

Used it loads of times with socket attachements on the cars and bikes.. and came in handy when i had to drive over 500 screws to board the loft!

[xenon]

Don't get a Clarke one (I think they're an in-house brand of Machine Mart) but they're fcuking wank. Ask me how I know

[bishbosh]

I bought a Clarke one, worked a few times, then it struggled with the wheel bolts even when torqued up properly.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Craig-SM

What are you intending to use it for?

If it is just for wheels nuts then get a breaker bar and an impact driver with an half inch adapter. Personally I wouldn’t use an impact gun for tightening or breaking lose wheel bolts.

Similar with me.

I see it this way. Best to use a breaker bar for the locking nuts, much more control and you can feel the bolt ease off, without any damage. While doing the one, same for the other four bolts.

Definitely wouldn't use an impact wrench to tighten, you need 'feel' to ensure precision positioning of the wheel, not one bolt 'whacked' in first. Some of the persistent shimmy issues are due to wrong wheel fitting technique.

Then simply use any decent drill/driver with a 1/4" hex to 1/2" adapter, to spin off and on again. I use a Dewalt drill/driver, using low torque, see no need for a special impact driver.

Edit: this is what I use.

[Lynch1993]

Originally Posted by Stev443

I have the Ryobi R18IW3-120S up to 400nm works well haven’t had any issues getting wheel nuts off. I got it from Halfords about six months ago as a starter kit comes with a carry case/bag 2.0ah battery three wheel nut sockets and 1/4 inch hex adapter which I used recently to drive decking screws while repairing my fence great for that kind of work. I paid £149 for mine.

Halfords didn't cross my mind for some reason I get trade aswell so it should be abit cheaper again.

And its difficult to get mains powered to where I work on the car so battery is the ideal option for me

[Lynch1993]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Similar with me.

I see it this way. Best to use a breaker bar for the locking nuts, much more control and you can feel the bolt ease off, without any damage. While doing the one, same for the other four bolts.

Definitely wouldn't use an impact wrench to tighten, you need 'feel' to ensure precision positioning of the wheel, not one bolt 'whacked' in first. Some of the persistent shimmy issues are due to wrong wheel fitting technique.

Then simply use any decent drill/driver with a 1/4" hex to 1/2" adapter, to spin off and on again. I use a Dewalt drill/driver, using low torque, see no need for a special impact driver.

Edit: this is what I use.

I normally use a broker to tighten the wheel bolts anyway, starting with one and then working in opposites going round untill their all tightened then once more when the cars on the floor. And never use a gun on locking wheel nuts, just something I was told in college thats stuck with me. The amount of times I've had a pop at a tire place for smashing them up with the impact gun

[teaston]

If you're going to spend money get a decent make that will lasts years, i.e. Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, don't bother with that Ryobi or Bosch rubbish.

I have this Dewalt one which is great for other jobs around the house with a hex bit adapter, and it won't over-tighten wheel bolts, but can struggle to undo them if the tyre shop has done them up too tight:

DeWalt 18V XR Lithium-Ion Body Only Compact Impact Wrench https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008LAGJ..._apK2EbV6JRZE7

If you want to undo any bolt then get this one, but it can easily over-tighten wheel bolts, and isn't much good for other jobs around the house:

DEWALT 18 V XR Brushless 1/2 Inch High Torque Impact Wrench (950 Nm), Bare Unit https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VXN7T..._irK2EbZFD1VFT

[bishbosh]

As above although I would add Bosch blue tools to the good list as well.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by teaston

If you're going to spend money get a decent make that will lasts years, i.e. Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, don't bother with that Ryobi or Bosch rubbish.

I have this Dewalt one which is great for other jobs around the house with a hex bit adapter, and it won't over-tighten wheel bolts, but can struggle to undo them if the tyre shop has done them up too tight:

DeWalt 18V XR Lithium-Ion Body Only Compact Impact Wrench https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008LAGJ..._apK2EbV6JRZE7

If you want to undo any bolt then get this one, but it can easily over-tighten wheel bolts, and isn't much good for other jobs around the house:

DEWALT 18 V XR Brushless 1/2 Inch High Torque Impact Wrench (950 Nm), Bare Unit https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VXN7T..._irK2EbZFD1VFT

That latter one is the same as I posted at the top. It's brilliant for its intended use. The adjustable settings mean there is no need to worry about using it for wheel bolts, and it will undo anything if you need it to!

I get that some folk wouldn't use one for that, but plenty do, and have no issues.

I've got three cars, and umpteen sets of wheels, for normal, winter and track use, so wouldn't be without it now.