i needed to replace both front axles on my 97obw, bad boots. i have a donor car with "new" looking axles so my plan was to use them. last weekend when i tried to remove an axle nut i did not have my breaker bar so i used my torque wrench. i set it for the max, 250 ft pounds and when it clicked, i quit.

 

i read a recent thread about using a 3/4" breaker bar and an impact reducer so i went to harbor freight to buy . they had a 3/4" ratchet, but not a breaker bar. so instead o bought an electric impact gun/drill/wrench 50$ and boy is it great.

 

it made short order of all 4 axle nuts and on 2 of the 4 axles it was great to have for the axle puller. it took a while for the hammering to get the axle to move but it finally did.

 

i was surprised that it had more trouble with one of the strut bolts than any of the axle bolts.

 

i also picked up a set of impact deep sockets for 20$, 14mm - 32mm. it was a successful day.

 

new tools, woo hoo!

Electric impact? Link!!!

 

I replaced all 4 axles at the garage over the summer and used the air impact. Now that I am back at school and using hand tools my arms are getting stronger but MAN is it a lot harder.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-electric-impact-wrench-45252.html

 

one of the things i learned while using it, putting on my lug nits at the end. it will start to hammer almost before it has applied any real amount of torque. i applied a quick burst to run up the lug nuts. i was concerned i might over tighten them. so i then used my torque wrench to tighten them. in all cases the nuts needed almost a 1/4 turn to reach 90 ft lbs. this was reassuring since over torquing lug nuts has bent hubs for some cars in the past.

Edited October 24, 201015 yr by johnceggleston

i have 1 also from harbor freight , it works pretty good , but do not use it every day

I have a cordless dewalt 18v and it works great as well. There are two 18v versions, the heavier one is better.

 

It's only a matter of time before you pop off a stud if you tighten lugnuts with it.

but do not use it every day

 

 

why not, will it break??

I have one for about 5 years now. it has been pretty reliable. one time one of the brushes popped out on me when the cap worked loose, but i just put it back in. there were times where i had to re-tighten the screws holding it together. so far it has never fail me, and i use it quite often

It looks great. I'll admit, tho, that I like the workout associated with nuts and bolts. My arms have never been stronger!

I have one but it is not strong enough to get the lower strut bolts loose .

 

I don't think it delivers the torque they claim.

I have one but it is not strong enough to get the lower strut bolts loose .

 

I don't think it delivers the torque they claim.

 

I know that feeling! I ended up using a LONG breaker bar. The impact did nothing on them.

i have the same orange one from there.

It wouldnt even budge most of the stuff i do.

anyone want it, used like 12 times, comes with case, instruction etc.

25 plus shipping. it is a paperweight in my garage.

For some reason, sometimes a long extension on a breaker bar will break a bolt or three better than an impact gun. I use a Husky Professional air gun that puts out 500 lbs torque max tightening and nearly 300 loosening. There's been a few times that it wouldn't break a bolt but a breaker bar would.

 

The stubborn ones undercar often seem to benefit from heating them. If you don't have oxy, or cannot afford it, MAPP gas works nearly as well.