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do you use a 3/8" or 1/2" impact wrench for lug nuts?


idosubaru
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i want to get a 3/8" impact wrench just for less weight.  

but - quite a few online reviews say don't use a 3/8 for lug nuts which is what i want to use it for mostly.

 

maybe that's because it's a lot of shop guys working on overtorqued lugs?  it's for my own cars which i don't overtighten and never seem hard to get off, seems like a 3/8" with close specs should be fine.

 

my current 1/2" is rated at like 340 and there are 3/8" pushing 300...seems more than enough for lugs?

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we have/use a 1/2", adjustable torque, impact on our cars with the torque setting turned down a little so it doesnt over tighten. but it is capable of over 600 ftlbs at full torque on a full compressor tank (ingersall rand - uses a LOT of air on full torque)

 

if you would be comfortable with it, and think it would be tight enough, I dont see why you couldnt use a 3/8"  - maybe double check tightness by using a 1/2 breaker bar/socket?

 

Care to be the guinea pig? LOL

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If a lug nut has been on over the whole winter, I don't care if you torqued it to 75ft/lbs or 300, it's gonna be on there good and wicked tight. An impacting that's barely pushing 300 may or may not zip that loose.

I really like my craftsman 1/2 impact. It's not very heavy and it pushes something ridiculous like 650 ft/lbs. It'll zip off axle nuts, suspension parts, lug nuts, whatever. It's really sucky to get a car jacked up only to find out your impact doesn't have the balls to pull a lug nut or axle nut, then having to jack it down again. The 1/2 solved that for me. Putting lugs back on I zip them on with low torque. Usually gets to about 30-50 ft/lbs. Then I drop the car and use a torque wrench for the final torque.

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My only issue with electric impacts is that they're GIGANTIC. They don't fit in a lot of places my 1/2" pneumatic does.

The one bestestest air tool, though is the right angle air ratchet. That thing kicks so much butt on hard to access fasteners. Break it free with a wrench, but then stick the right angle down there and just zip it out. Sure beats the hell out of getting 1/8 of a turn at a time on a ratchet.

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wow, surprised at all the cordless, makes sense they're so powerful now.

i'm going to get a less expensive 3/8", not going to pay the high dollar for something that might not do all i'm asking, still have larger stuff too.

 

what i really need are two supply lines from my compressor and a moveable cart for the guns. then i got small/fast and big/beastly right next to me.

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I use this little guy only mine is 3/8 drive -just as powerful as a 1/2 inch but much smaller, lighter. Lugs are no problem. Always retorque by hand. This thing has been a real life saver and I just have a tiny 4 gal. compressor.

 

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-professional-1-2-in-impact-wrench/p-00919905000P?prdNo=9&blockNo=9&blockType=G9

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  • 5 weeks later...

i use a 1/2 inch on wheels, axle nuts, and suspension bolts. my 3/8" air gun is capable of +300ftlbs, but that doesnt mean i use it for lug nuts. not only do i not want an air gun rattling in my ear for any longer than it needs to be, and you put more wear on a 3/8" gun doing lug nuts than you wuld on a 1/2" gun that is more suited to do the same lugs. 

i have a craftsman pro 1/2 impact, an IR 1/2" titanium, and a IR 3/8" composite gun. i typically use the craftsman gun on lugs, because it is my cheapest gun. 

i also have a 12v dewalt 3/8" impact gun for small bolts, dash work, etc. its fairly small and fits in quite a few places when combined with wobble sockets. i used to have a 18v milwaukee 3/8" gun... it had tons of power for damn near anything i needed to do, but much too bulky. i ended up selling it. if i only had the money for one gun and had no air compressor, the milwaukee would be my choice... but otherwise, pneumatics are still more powerful. 

Edited by maozebong
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I've got a 1/2" drive Milwaukee 18v cordless impact gun. Rated at 475 lb ft, and it's awesome. It's not bulky, and can remove lug nuts, axle nuts, strut bolts (as long as they aren't rusted on so bad you have to use a 3' extension on a breaker bar)

 

Could you provide a link, because the only ones I see are in the 200 ft. lb range.  Thanks

 

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/press-releases/milwaukee-delivers-industrys-most-powerful-18v-compact-impact-wrenches

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  • 7 months later...

I have a matco (I gersoll rand ) 3/8 gun that has totally been replaced by the new dewalt 20v li ion electric impact havent touched my matco in weeks . My Ingersoll rand 1/2 titanium still gets used for the big stuff but my snap on li ion 18 v impact does the daily duties for wheels at work. The matco worked great for years when I was at audi doing wheels all day long but when I changed shops I shelved it as they kept giving me crap about it having enough torque. The newer models are stronger but im not really feeling like spending 400 bucks right now. Especially since I just bought a 300 dollar electric one. Its good to have both in both sizes but its probably overkill if you dont do this for a living.

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