Impact Wrench - Battery Powered for Emergency Use

[Duke W.]

Re: Impact Wrench - Battery Powered for Emergency Use

Hi Terry,

I am hoping Duke will respond back after reading this. His comment about "squeaking" means that the nuts archived no where near the required torque value. Most of the force was eaten up overcoming friction.

I think Terry had the best response. It's like the engine oil and cam "wars". Everybody has an opinion and an a...

When the wheels were installed at the plants the threads were clean, but over time in the field they corrode due to moisture intrusion from driving in the rain and just plain age. Then you can get that stick-slip friction that causes the squeaking and actual final torque values/clamping force is all over the place. OEM wheel fastener torque recommendations are usually in a range, and with anti-seize I use the lower end.

Back when I was running cars in track events I swapped tires back and forth between track and road tires, so I swapped wheels a lot and never had a problem removing the bolts or torquing them up smoothly, and none ever came loose.

I recall that the GM power manuals recommend oil on head bolts, and steel fasteners into aluminum all need anti-seize. I learned this on sixties vintage Honda motorcycle engines.

Duke

[Paul S.]

Re: Impact Wrench - Battery Powered for Emergency Use

Appreciate everyone's input. FWIW, AAA isn't permitted on Toll Roads in Texas.

Searched for hi torque impact wrenches and came across this Home Depot Rigid Hi Torque 18V Cordless Kit Promo Sale and ordered it.

Little know factoid - if you register Rigid cordless tools after purchasing with Home Depot, there's "free" lifetime battery replacement.

And learned something new and ordered 3 - Corvette Central Wheel Mounting Lug Guide so no more struggling mounting the ZR-1 wheels.

Boy Scout motto - be prepared and hope you never have to use it. Thanks again for info sharing.

Gary
....

I have that Rigid impact wrench and guaranty you it will remove your lug nuts with power to spare. It's actually the 3rd cordless impact wrench I've purchased (used to do Porsche Club DE's and in those days had track tires and wheels I towed to the track on a Southsport track trailer; have said I've changed more wheels than the average Joe working at discount tire). With the others before the Rigid it's always the battery or battery charger that dies, never the tool. The lifetime service agreement with Rigid tools is nice and covers the tool, battery and battery charger.

[Jack H.]

Re: Impact Wrench - Battery Powered for Emergency Use

Just another data point.

I also had been looking for a high torque battery powered impact for some time now and knew that Milwaukee made a high torque model that would do the job but couldn't justify the high price for tool and batteries. Based on this thread, I bought one of the High Torque Ridgid impacts on sale at Home Depot. I charged the batteries and immediately tried it on every one of my vehicles...some with lug nuts tightened by dealerships, some tightened by tire store, some tightened by myself. I loosened every single one with absolutely no issues. I was doing a brake job that weekend on my truck and encountered a caliper bracket bolt that someone must have won a strength competition when tightening. I could not budge it with my long handle breaker bar and even tried the breaker bar with cheater pipe...no go. I grabbed the Ridgid impact and it loosened it after a few chuggy-chuggs. Not all battery powered impacts are anywhere near the same. Most of my construction battery powered stuff is Porter-Cable, and I have their 20v 1/2" impact, but it can't usually get lugnuts loose as it's nowhere near as strong as the Ridgid model. Ridgid themselves actually offers several models of 1/2" battery powered impact wrenches...but there's only ONE Ridgid model that will do the job IMHO (Model #R86212).

I would NEVER, EVER, NEVER final tighten a lug nut...or any other critical fastener for that matter...with a powered tool (battery, electric, or air powered)...I ALWAYS use a torque wrench for final tightening to make sure they are within spec...not too tight nor suspect to loosening. I never start a fastener with a powered tool either for fear of crossthreading...start by hand and finish by hand with torque wrench, but something use power in between.

Just my 2 cents on the subject.