98 V70 impact wrench or cheater Topic is solved

Post by **98v70dad** » 17 Mar 2017, 21:15

I bought an impact wrench a few weeks ago to remove a stubborn axle nut. Its an el cheapo Harbor Freight but it did the job I bought it for.

I'm wondering about whether a cheater on a socket wrench or the impact wrench is more likely to break off a fastener if you're loosening it. Serious question - I don't know. I'm doing a brake overhaul and front wheel bearing replacement next weekend and I'm having concerns about torquing off one of the wheel bearing bolts. So, I'd rather use the best tool to remove those bolts.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 17 Mar 2017, 23:20

I had to swap out two axles on our Altima in December and broke two 1/2" cheater bars, a Performance Tool (old) one and a Williams (new) one. I thought for sure it would burn out my recertified corded Milwaukee impact wrench. Nope, it took off both axle nuts after five seconds or so. After that experience, I'm sold. I don't think I'm going to use a breaker bar on any more axle nuts. Don't know how much mileage you'll get out of that HF one, but I vouch 100% for the Milwaukee, approx $90 shipped from eBay or CPO outlets.

Edit: This is the one. Can be had for ten-fifteen less if you wait for a coupon/sale or shop around. It's pretty highly rated on Garagejournal.
http://www.cpooutlets.com/factory-recon ... swodXK4AVw

Post by **abscate** » 18 Mar 2017, 04:38

I've never broken a fastener with the impact but you can definitely round off a fastener easier. Make sure you have a good Torx Impact bit for those wheel bearing bolts and use new ones. I have extras if needed.

With a breaker I get a better feel if I am exceeding fastener tensile failure can stop, and heat lube and use prayer to remove stuff. Lubrication has made life pleasant in my older years in many ways.

I think the impact is less likely to break a fastener from shear failure, though

Edit : fixed engineering term fail

Post by **erikv11** » 18 Mar 2017, 09:07

Good comments from the others.

As you know I have that same HF impact, been using it off and on for about 6 years, most notably it is always the way I break loose axle nuts. Anyway, in my experience, for breaking things loose the impact is superior to a breaker bar IF the impact has direct, straight-line access to the fastener. If you need to use a swivel you lose some of the utility and I have had some cases there where the impact with swivel wouldn't break it loose, but the long, 1/2" breaker bar would.

With the impact, if you run into an especially a stubborn fastener remember to briefly hit it with a tightening cycle, swap back and forth, this can help to break them loose.

Post by **98v70dad** » 18 Mar 2017, 15:55

abscate wrote:I've never broken a fastener with the impact but you can definitely round off a fastener easier. Make sure you have a good Torx Impact bit for those wheel bearing bolts and use new ones. I have extras if needed.

With a breaker I get a better feel if I am exceeding fastener tensile failure can stop, and heat lube and use prayer to remove stuff. Lubrication has made life pleasant in my older years in many ways.

I think the impact is less likely to break a fastener from tensile failure, though

Thanks. I bought new fasteners for the wheel bearings. Agree that lubrication is our friend! The torx bit I have is from harbor freight and their's are usually less than perfect but good enough. I'll tighten the new fasteners by hand with a torque wrench. Fasteners fail in shear, BTW, when the torque exceeds the strength.

Post by **rspi** » 18 Mar 2017, 17:46

My HF impack tool took 1 bolt loose, since then it has only been good for a speed gun.

Post by **erikv11** » 18 Mar 2017, 18:47

Robert did you buy the large, corded one, 1/2 drive? I've not heard of people having trouble with them but there are bound to be lemons.

Post by **scot850** » 18 Mar 2017, 19:01

I have a Canadian Tire impact wrench (corded) and it has been a life-saver for axle nut. I have also broken several 1/2" drive breaker/cheater bars and 1/2" adapters when using a 3/4" bar. So now I have a 3/4" breaker bar and 36mm socket as a back up and use the impact wrench for the really tight stuff and lug bolts for winter-summer-winter tire changes (for 4 cars!).

Love that impact wrench!

Neil.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 18 Mar 2017, 20:08

I can't vouch for this tool enough. Lug nuts, axle bolts... I even used it when I got Robert's upper torque mount press stuck (shhh, don't tell anyone that I used an impact on that thing...) it's worked like always worked like a charm.

: milwaukee_electric_impact.jpg (86.48 KiB) Viewed 1127 times

Along with some impact universal sockets and impact wobble sockets... I think this is all I need for now.

Post by **abscate** » 19 Mar 2017, 06:04

98v70dad wrote:
abscate wrote:I've never broken a fastener with the impact but you can definitely round off a fastener easier. Make sure you have a good Torx Impact bit for those wheel bearing bolts and use new ones. I have extras if needed.

With a breaker I get a better feel if I am exceeding fastener tensile failure can stop, and heat lube and use prayer to remove stuff. Lubrication has made life pleasant in my older years in many ways.

I think the impact is less likely to break a fastener from tensile failure, though
Thanks. I bought new fasteners for the wheel bearings. Agree that lubrication is our friend! The torx bit I have is from harbor freight and their's are usually less than perfect but good enough. I'll tighten the new fasteners by hand with a torque wrench. Fasteners fail in shear, BTW, when the torque exceeds the strength.

Indeed. Fixed engineering fail up thread .