Is this impact driver useful for wheel bolts?

[Jimmy Recard]

I suspect not, but thought I’d ask. I got this set for Christmas and I’ve used the drill plenty, but I’d like to find a use for the driver

[Jimmy Recard]

[Agent XXX]

yes.

[Sump]

No.

[Meoricin]

Maybe

[Jimmy Recard]

Thanks guys, this clarifies things

[Sump]

You will need a 1/2" bit adapter which will make you lose all the torque anyway. A decent branded version impact driver like that would barely be good enough.

Are you on about putting them on or removing them?

[kambites]

You'd need an adapter and it's unlikely to have enough torque to be much use as an impact wrench anyway.

To put that 250Nm into perspective, my relatively cheap impact wrench is rated at 680Nm.

Edited by kambites on Saturday 17th February 12:05

[Jimmy Recard]

Sump said:

You will need a 1/2" bit adapter which will make you lose all the torque anyway. A decent branded version impact driver like that would barely be good enough.

Are you on about putting them on or removing them?

I have a 1/2” impact adapter, and that’s what I assumed.

I think setting 1 to spin them on and a torque wrench to get them right is still my option then! I’m just trying to find something to use it for

[Jimmy Recard]

Nanook said:

Well, it'll take them off.

Personally, I'll always use a torque wrench to put my wheels back on, but you 'd probably be fine using 'setting 1' to put them back on, then torque them up properly. TBH I just use my drill with an appropriate bit and socket to take them off and put them on after I've used a breaker bar to crack them, and before I use a torque wrench to torque them.

Thanks, this is what I’ll do then

[Jimmy Recard]

kambites said:

You'd need an adapter and it's unlikely to have enough torque to be much use as an impact wrench anyway.

To put that 250Nm into perspective, my relatively cheap impact wrench is rated at 680Nm.

Edited by kambites on Saturday 17th February 12:05

Yeah, i assumed it would be slightly feeble!

[Sump]

Nanook said:

Sump said:

You will need a 1/2" bit adapter which will make you lose all the torque anyway. A decent branded version impact driver like that would barely be good enough.

Are you on about putting them on or removing them?

Will it?

Why?

How would you get a socket on there?

[Jonny_]

I'd say not, it's an impact driver as opposed to an impact wrench. Impact drivers are intended for driving screws, hence the 1/4" hex drive rather than 1/2" square drive.

I've got a Milwaukee 12v impact wrench with a 1/2" square drive (came in a twin pack with a drill for less than the drill alone, oddly) and it's still pretty much useless. Tops out at something like 160Nm which doesn't even tickle wheel bolts.

I'm pondering buying a Makita 18v impact wrench, probably the beefy 450Nm version as I think the cheaper 200-odd Nm version will struggle with most decent sized fasteners on cars.

[Willy Nilly]

I have a Makita DTW1002 which has 1050nm of tightening torque and 1600 of loosen torque. It's a monster.

For doing the odd car wheel nut, just use a 1/2 inch drive socket set.

[freecar]

Nanook said:

Sump said:

Nanook said:

Sump said:

You will need a 1/2" bit adapter which will make you lose all the torque anyway. A decent branded version impact driver like that would barely be good enough.

Are you on about putting them on or removing them?

Will it?

Why?

How would you get a socket on there?

Sorry, I wasn't specific enough. Why will fitting a 1/2" adaptor like this:



Make you 'lose all the torque'?

an Impact driver isn't using absolute torque, it uses impacts combined with torque. Any slop or looseness in the fitting of any sockets wont be taken up by twist, this diminishes the impacts and thus reduces overall capability.

I test wrenches at work and if the socket doesn't fit snugly I'll lose torque, if I change to a better fit I'll get higher results.

OP, no this is not for wheel nuts, it is for screws. 250Nm won't pull the skin off of a rice pudding! Also using an adaptor like that could damage the tool, impact accessories are softer than chrome vanadium and therefore they withstand the impacts better, you don't shatter sockets by using chrome on an impact, you shear off the square drive part!!

However, as they are brushless, they will last longer on the batteries as they can modulate their output depending on workload so they will be decent enough tools for DIY.

[Jimmy Recard]

Willy Nilly said:

I have a Makita DTW1002 which has 1050nm of tightening torque and 1600 of loosen torque. It's a monster.

For doing the odd car wheel nut, just use a 1/2 inch drive socket set.

That’s what I do already, so I’ll just continue.

Eventually I’ll find a use for it

[alabbasi]

It should work pretty well on hand tightened lug bolts provided that they've been properly greased before installing.

[Jazoli]

alabbasi said:

It should work pretty well on hand tightened lug bolts provided that they've been properly greased before installing.

Wheel bolts should not be greased, ever.

[alabbasi]

Jazoli said:

Wheel bolts should not be greased, ever.

In that case, he should probably get something bigger.

[Jimmy Recard]

alabbasi said:

In that case, he should probably get something bigger.

I'm thinking something like this would be more suitable:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kielder-KWT-002-06-18V-...