anyone use an impact wrench

[flatfoot]

Just curious, if anyone uses a portable impact wrench on their vehicle, when say rotating all four of their tires, or swapping summers for winters?
I was considering purchasing a portable wrench(rechargable), for when I do my swaps on my three vehicles. It would save me an awful lot of time, and wouldnt have to be concerned about a stuck nut.
Any downside to this? I was thinking of keeping it all the time in my wifes car, incase she ever runs a flat, and she is not that strong on changing lug nuts.
Opinions? And if positive, can reccommend a certain brand or model of wrench?
I know I will have to charge it up periodically?

Much thanks and stay safe

 

[Skywlkr]

I have always hear that an impact gun should never be used on rim nuts. A torque wrench is supposed to be used, but most people only use a regular tire iron. Again thats only what I have heard, could be wrong.

 

[Katya4me]

We do car racing and use the Harbor Freight 19.2V cordless impact wrench and it works phenomenally well and is pretty cheap. It recharges fairly quickly and holds a charge long enough to do a couple of changes. Another plus w/ it is that you don't have to break the wheels loose while the car is on the ground. We don't use it for torquing back down though; we always use a torque wrench set to 90 for that.

 

[zoomzoom mazda5]

I won't let a shop use a impact wrench on any of my rides, because of damaged to my rotors and lug nuts and studs. A cordless one will be ok for a breakdown (flat tire), just be careful and always use a torque wrench. Don't forget to have AAA for your family for that breakdown when your not near by.




zoomzoom

 

[dominoy2k1]

just get one of those wired ones that runs of a 12v. or get and inverter and get a corded one. i never torqued my wheels and i have never had a problem. you could always carry a torque wrench in the car.

 

[flatfoot]

impact wrench

I won't let a shop use a impact wrench on any of my rides, because of damaged to my rotors and lug nuts and studs. A cordless one will be ok for a breakdown (flat tire), just be careful and always use a torque wrench. Don't forget to have AAA for your family for that breakdown when your not nea zoomzoom

The damage you speak out, I assume thats from using the wrench to put the lugs back on? Can you damage anything by using the wrench to remove the lugs?
I planned on using a torque wrench to put the lugs back on. Please fill me in.

Stay safe.

 

[zoomzoom mazda5]

Just be careful when your remove your lug nuts, and always torque your nuts to factory spec's, because i had a wheel come off and almost kill myself because some stupid tech at a dealer forgot to torque my lug nuts to factory spec's, dealer pay for all damaged because of my lawsuit. Be safe than sorry!

zoomzoom angelo

 

[a10thunder]

I have a corded impact wrench that I use to remove lug nuts, it saves a lot of time. I wanted a cordless impact wrench really bad after seeing it used by World Rally drivers during races, but then the practical side of the me kicked in. Unless you are expecting to change your wheels, a cordless really isn't useful. You would have to constantly charge the battery. If you are living in a cold climate and leave the car outside, the battery would discharge pretty quickly. So a cordless won't really help you out in an emergency.

The easiest way to loosen lug nuts when you have a road-side emergency is to stand on the tire iron.

If you are going to use impact wrench, make sure you get shatter-proof sockets.

 

[2cam16]

I have a Harbor Freight one and only use it for lossening lugnuts. For tightening I just use my own arms.

 

[MazKid]

I don't see what the deal is. If set at the right torque setting, an impact is perfectly safe for lug nuts. Mazda dealerships never torque wheels with a torque wrench, they use impacts.

That said, when I change my wheels on my cars I use a lug wrench just because I don't want to use my dad's impact...I don't know how impacts work per-say, and I don't what to screw something up because I don't know how to use the tool.