Electric Impact wrench/gun recommendations?

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

The top mounts need replacing on the Golf. It's a simple job with an impact gun and I don't have an air compressor.

I've decided on an electric one. I'm on a budget so under £100 is what I'm looking for.

There's a few cheapo jobbies on Ebay and I'm not touching a fag lighter powered one. This is the one I'm looking at - www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-cew1000-electric-impact-wrench?da=1&TC=SRC-clarke%20impact

Any recommendations on similar ones or places to get the above gun even cheaper?

[composimmonite]

Actually the 12v work quite well to loosen bolts. Not so good for spinning them off but do the job of the initial start of stubborn items. Mine has a motor that builds up speed on a flywheel and then it "whacks" the bolt / nut before building up speed again. I use for various things and not just wheel nuts.
I've got an eBay cheapy cordless impact gun and waste of time. No enough power - 12v corded if far better. I've also got an air gun but rarely use it.
The Clarke item you have highlighted is on my "want list" however I am waiting until Lidl or Aldi have exactly the same on offer. Obviously "made in China" and various people such as Machine Mart / Clarke put their own sticker on. From the supermarkets they are £29.99 ! They haven't been on offer for a while (0ver 12 months) so must be due again soon - fingers crossed.
What has been pointed out to me though is corded impact guns are heavy and therefore tiring to use for long period. People recommended that a good quality cordless, even secondhand, could be worth considering even though they are far more expensive.

Paul H

[jiminwatford]

Is a breaker bar not as easy?

My 2ft bar walks all over my 24v (albeit cordless) wrench.

[VIP]

May 15, 2014 8:52:28 GMT jiminwatford said:

Is a breaker bar not as easy?

My 2ft bar walks all over my 24v (albeit cordless) wrench.

Breaker bar wont work as the entire shock shaft will just spin when you apply pressure. You need an impact gun which will shock the top mount nut loose.

You really need an 18v minimum gun to provide enough 'oomph' for most jobs. I picked up an 18V Draper from Screwfix a couple of years ago and it was around the £100 mark.

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

There's an Aldi at the end of my street and I regularly check to see what's in.
I've got a string of jobs at the moment as I need to -

1. Change the top mounts.
2. Adjust the ride height until it's cock-on.
3. Get the camber & tracking set up.
4. New front tyres.

I need an impact gun so I can do 1 and then 2,3 and 4!

[omega]

ive got that gun from machine mart works well but it is heavy

[polojoe]

Having just lowered my Golf i was advised not to "buzz" my top mounts off, as apparently it can shorten the life of the shocker (spinning the shaft in the damper etc). Might be untrue but worth a thought perhaps.

I used a spark plug socket with a 22m spanner on it & an allen key through the socket holding the centre shaft.

Saying that I too am in the market for a reasonable cordless impact gun for all the other suspension items! (wishbones, lower strut bolts, bottom ball joint etc).

Sorry to interject,

Joe

[speedy88]

I'm also on the lookout for such an item but it's main use will be for quick wheel changes when I'm racing. Without creating my own topic, would the above clarke one be suitable?

[v8ian]

I have a DeWalt 18v cordless, cracking bit of kit,

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

The reviews are very good. It's very powerful and there's not much which will stop it. A few of the reviews have said to be careful when using it to tighten stuff up because of it's grunt.

I think it's the one I'm going to buy. For the money it seems really robust and powerful.

[omega]

yes it will undo wheel nuts,i also have the cordless clark 24volt one and that wont undo wheel nuts.
the only downside is the weight of this and the size as its big.

[jules1200]

Snap On, Snap On, or Snap On. I've had several others but have had a Snap On one for 10 yrs or so, it is the the absolute plums, nothing comes close. It will undo anything & iff it can't undo it, it will break it, save your dosh 'till you can afford one, don't buy owt else

[jrevillug]

Anyone tried the most powerful 18V Makita? Looks temptingly cheap next to Snap-on, has a 440NM torque rating, has Makita's excellent spares backup, and obviously uses the same Li-Ion batteries as all the other 18V Makita stuff.

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

I bought the Clarke one from machinemart and it's excellent for the money. Zipped the top mounts nuts off no probs and packs a punch. It is big but not as heavy as I expected. I don't need it for regular use, just for my jobs so spending loads on £300+ job by makes no sense for me.

[welshpug]

an used snspon is worth considering for the less frequent user, got mine for £250 delivered, two batteries charger and a case.

anything worth its salt will be relatively heavy, its the nature of an impact gun, though mine has a magnesium alloy body so is quite well balanced with the battery fitted.

if you are doing top mounts you do need to grab the shaft or it will often spin with stubborn lock nuts or worn dampers, technically you could shorten the life of a damper by spining the rod, but you'd need to be a complete numpty spinning them for ages to do so, just think what happens when you turn the steering!

[Ryannn]

I did my top mounts with a big ring spanner and an Allen key, didn't bother getting the impact gun out!