Impact Driver?

Discussion in 'Modifications And Maintenance' started by minnesotanice, Jun 21, 2018.

  1. minnesotanice
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    minnesotanice Well-Known Member

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    I'll be installing new coilovers and sway bars this Saturday and I was wondering if anyone had an air or corded impact driver that I could borrow? You are welcome to join and help out. There will be beer.
     
  2. BroCo
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    BroCo Moderator Staff Member

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    When I did struts on my 05 STI there was really no room to even use an impact. I mainly used a breaker bar.
     
  3. JasonoJordan
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    JasonoJordan Well-Known Member

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    I have both a 18v 1/4" drive for small stuff and a 1/2" air for large stuff.
     
  4. minnesotanice
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    minnesotanice Well-Known Member

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    I plan on using it mainly for the lugs. Rather than sitting there and doing them by hand the entire way on and off. Just to make it a bit quicker and easier.

    Any chance I could pick them up tonight or tomorrow?
     
  5. Krazylegz1485
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    Krazylegz1485 Well-Known Member

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    Not sure where you're located but I've got 1/2" air or cordless 18v. I'm north of the metro, tho.
     
  6. minnesotanice
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    minnesotanice Well-Known Member

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    I work in WBL and can run around to wherever tomorrow afternoon/evening. If I don't hear back from @JasonoJordan I'll run up and meet you wherever.
     
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  7. JasonoJordan
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    JasonoJordan Well-Known Member

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    Yea I am around all night. I am in cottage grove.
    I work in minneapolis
     
  8. MidnightImpreza
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    MidnightImpreza Well-Known Member

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    Don't you know you shouldn't install your lugs with an impact wrench?

    14590867_1216280198393081_5077512304426221568_n.jpg
     
  9. minnesotanice
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    minnesotanice Well-Known Member

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    Three ugga duggas. Everyone knows that.
     
  10. Everett
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    Everett Member

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    Just to be clear, an impact driver is for screws, like the ones that hold on rotors. Impact wrench is the gun. I have a 1/2 inch Husky air impact wrench that is all yours if you want. Im in Brooklyn Park and will be available all weekend.
     
  11. minnesotanice
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    minnesotanice Well-Known Member

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    Genuine question... what's the difference?
     
  12. Krazylegz1485
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    Krazylegz1485 Well-Known Member

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    Terminology, really.

    I'd say a driver is more low torque, higher speed, with the emphasis on spinning (driving a screw).

    An impact has way more emphasis on torque rather than speed, like taking lug nuts or stuck bolts off.

    Just my opinion.
     
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  13. minnesotanice
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    minnesotanice Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like I want a driver for what I'll be doing. If the driver can't take it off, I'll have a breaker bar to get it loose then use the driver to just quickly take it off and put it back on while tightening everything with a torque wrench to spec.
     
  14. Krazylegz1485
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    Krazylegz1485 Well-Known Member

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    If all you're looking for is something to put them on and take them off rapidly without getting them tight, I'd say go for it. You can get socket adapters for them. I'd definitely break them loose with the breaker bar first, tho.
     
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  15. JasonoJordan
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    JasonoJordan Well-Known Member

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    Well your in luck I have one of each you will be borrowing. So your good to go. I have the 3/8" adapter already in the driver.
     
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  16. glen
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    glen Well-Known Member

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    Fwiw, I doubt these tools are going to save you enough time to be worth running around town to pick them up and return them.
     
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  17. tangledupinblu
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    tangledupinblu Event Coordinator Staff Member

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    Troof! I use them on mine. Saves you maybe 5 minutes, tops.
     
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  18. sneefy
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    sneefy Well-Known Member

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    This. Totally unnecessary.
     
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  19. pillboy
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    pillboy Well-Known Member

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    Ugga duggas make you feel like a real mechanic, however.

    Plus impact tools give you the opportunity to eff up your wheels faster when the socket slips off the lug nut.
     
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  20. Everett
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    Everett Member

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    Impact driver, as in screwdriver, is for screws. Impact wrench, as in a wrench, is for nuts and bolts. Here’s a link to see what an impact drive looks like. You put it on a screw head and hit it with a hammer and it turns the screw at the same time. Not used for nuts and bolts. However, I’m with these other guys and thinking t would just be quicker to use hand tools. I’ve got air tools in my garage but usually end up using mostly hand tools anyway. Definitely get a better feel for how tight you’re making things.

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&sou...aw1hJWIVmQxEREOWleY5g1KE&ust=1529928363393100
     
  21. tangledupinblu
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    tangledupinblu Event Coordinator Staff Member

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    Actually, you can use the “screw impact” that you’re referring to as an impact for nuts and bolts as well. So you’re half right. I use my “screw impact” to remove lugs with one of these...
    https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-3-8-in-Socket-Adapter-DW2542/100495100
    1ED0310D-D86D-4E1F-90C1-BC00AB2187C1.jpeg
     
  22. pillboy
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    pillboy Well-Known Member

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    Really? An impact driver has enough torque to remove lug nuts?
     
  23. tangledupinblu
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    tangledupinblu Event Coordinator Staff Member

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    Once they’re broke loose? Yes!
     
  24. Krazylegz1485
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    Krazylegz1485 Well-Known Member

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    I think the vast majority of people would refer to these tools as an impact driver before the handheld, hammer style one. Maybe it's just a more modern term? Googling "impact driver" brings up all the cordless ones first.
     
  25. Krazylegz1485
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    Krazylegz1485 Well-Known Member

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    I think most of the good ones probably do, although I'd say you're most likely at the upper limits of them. Maybe good in a pinch but they make cordless impact wrenches for a reason.
     
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  26. Everett
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    Everett Member

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    Either way it's defined, its all semantics. Minnesotanice what did you end up doing for your project and how did it turn out?
     
  27. pillboy
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    pillboy Well-Known Member

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    He's still in the garage installing lug nuts by hand. Time consuming, you know...
     
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  28. tangledupinblu
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    tangledupinblu Event Coordinator Staff Member

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    No doubt! Was just stating that you can use the impact drill for nuts and bolts. We drive big lag bolts all the time when setting ledger boards for decks at work. Most of them will drive about 150-200 5 or 6 inch lag bolts with one battery charge!

    But i agree mostly with your definition of “impact drill” and “impact wrench”. A battery operated impact wrench will handle almost any car job that you are working on.;)
     
  29. GrawvyRobber
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    GrawvyRobber Active Member

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  30. minnesotanice
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    minnesotanice Well-Known Member

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    Hey everyone, didn't have a chance to check in this weekend. Everything went on fine and feels great! The impact wrench was definitely needed on a few bolts on the underbody as them bitches were on there. A little liquid wrench and power got the job done. Yes, the job could have been done without them but its nice to have some extra power here and there if you get tired of cranking while laying on the ground. I used the impacts more for sway bar work than the coilovers. All is good now though!
     
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  31. Krazylegz1485
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    Krazylegz1485 Well-Known Member

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    Don't let anybody ever talk you out of using power tools. Tim Taylor would be proud.
     
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  32. minnesotanice
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    minnesotanice Well-Known Member

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  33. pillboy
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    pillboy Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for checking in. Glad the car didn't fall and trap you.
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2018
  34. derp
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    derp Well-Known Member

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    My Milwaukee impact is the best tool I've ever bought
     
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  35. skubi1
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    skubi1 Well-Known Member

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    Love mine as well, just gotta keep making sure it stays hidden so the wife doesn't keep trying to use it to drill holes in the wall.
     
  36. Krazylegz1485
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    Krazylegz1485 Well-Known Member

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    I'd pay to see something like that for down.