GO_BLUE_VETTES

Working on my Christmas List.

What is the best brand and what is a good model.

I know the $100 ones are too cheap.
I'm not looking for a $450 Milwaukee one either.

2000BSME

Dewalt makes THE best at 36 volts.

97C5inSD

I have a John Deere 1/2in impact 18volt with a light on it. Been absolutley great can pull the lugs off with out haveing to break them loose and when you tighten them back up you don't have far to go with a torque wrench. cost is about 279 and come i belive with a lifetime warrenty

Olitho

I use one of the Good Year ones from Pep Boys for under $100 along with a second battery. May not "The best" but it works fine.

mpowers

DeWalt 1/2" impact, I have used the same one for almost 5 years. And not just for taking wheels and tires off/on.

I would buy it again.

earthman01

I've finished my second season with the Goodyear from Pep Boys and it still works just fine, although I use a hand wrench to break and tighten the lugs.

RattlerC5

Kawasaki 14.4V 1/2 inch Cordless Impact Wrench. 130 max torque, variable speed, reverse switch, quick charge batts w/charger, 2 year warranty.

Compact & lightweight and priced from $129.95 and up depending on how many batteries come with the kit.

Mine made it through ten AutoX dates plus two HPDE's this year with no complaints.

Falcon

I use a breaker bar and 18v DeWalt cordless drill.

It does the job great plus I have a drill at the track when I need to drill a hole in my radiator.

One less tool I've got to pack for the track.

JDIllon

I bet you wish did'nt work as a drill Have you noticed that nobody ask for your help changing tires & Wheels JD

XPC5R

DeWalt 18v (one of the smaller ones). I use it all over the shop on the car due to it's compact size - going on 3 years now. It's been months since I've had to fire up the air compressor for anything other than inflating tires.

Mikelly

I bought an Ingersol Rand with two batterys and a flashlight from a vendor online about 9 months ago... It ran me about $280 and is by far the best impact in my shop!

Mike

72tccracer

$80 good year at pep boys. I thought it would be a p.o.s. but it is the best $80 tool I've bought

0Randy@DRM

I bring my 3/8 drive blue point. It will blast off lugs with a full charge and works great for other impact needs. Like the million bolts holding the tunnel plate

Randy

FasterIsBetter

I bought one at the beginning of the summer, used it many times. More than enough torque to break the lug nuts loose and make short work of changing tires. And I got lucky and picked it up during a sale, so after the rebate it only cost me $69. So the Goodyear impact wrench and an aluminum lightweight 3 ton jack from Harbor Freight, changing tires at the track is a breeze.

CF6873

I got the Goodyear impact at P boys for $69 after rebate and so far after one season it is great. I don't have to break the lugs loose with a breaker bar while there is weight on the studs.

RedLS6

LOL, that's the one I was going to recommend (28V). I bought mine new online for around $350 or $360. Excellent construction, comes with two lithium-ion batteries, and a nice charger and case. No breaker bar needed, even for my truck lugs.

johninar

For the 6-8 HPDEs I do a year the Harbor Freight one has done well for 3 years. I guess it depends upon how much you use it. I always carry my 1/2" bar and torque wrench in case it bites the dust.

BQuicksilver

Same here, and I have had both the small and large Dewalt Impacts. (BTW the small one is the better tool by a mile - I ditched the large one)

Once you cross thread a few wheel studs you'll realize it's just easier to loosen and spin them off than pop your eardrums with the impact (they're loud) and risk cross-threading the wheel stud and ending your day. I've seen it happen at least 5 times now.

Go with a cordless screwdriver and one of those Gorilla style breaker bars. The little dewalt impact DOES have some good uses (exhaust work becomes easier getting rotten bolts loose), but I'm much happier not worrying about a day-ending issue just b/c I wanted to sound like I have a mini shop running over at my car.

mikahb

You mean cross-threading the stud when you loosen the wheel nut? I have been using my DeWalt 18V (small one) for about 1 1/2 years and I've now lost 3 wheel studs. I never use it to tighten them on, but always use it when removing the nuts.

Olitho

Whether you use an impact driver or not, with stock wheel studs, you will eventually peel threads off of the stud. The stock ones are not a high quality steel and fatique with repeated tightening and loosening.