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Posted by: stateofidleness Feb 14 2018, 07:01 PM

Hey all, had a run-in with a pretty stubborn set of axle nuts (F150 with 200k miles) the other day, and ended up shearing 4 breaker bars! (varying lengths and "quality" of bars). Ultimately ended up having to put a pipe wrench my dad has (HUGE wrench from his gas line inspecting days with Valero) and a cheater bar.

I'm a huge advocate of "use the right tool for the job" though, so I'm curious if any of you guys can make recommendations for a "holy grail" impact gun that won't flinch at anything car related.

My nice to haves:
- $200-$400 range preferred
- Electric (battery) or Air (preferred) - assume a really good air compressor/tank to drive it
- Break loose anything I could encounter on a vehicle
- Re-torquing lower priority as that will be by hand and/or torque wrench anyway

Spent couple days researching stuff and Ingersoll Rand seems to get very good reviews. Can anyone recommend something meeting the above preferences?

Posted by: 76-914 Feb 14 2018, 07:10 PM

Earthquake at Harbor Freight for the occasional user.

Posted by: 914Sixer Feb 14 2018, 07:40 PM

Get the Big Earthquake from Harbor Freight. Has lots of torque to take the rear axle nuts off.

Posted by: JOEPROPER Feb 14 2018, 07:41 PM

If you can find an Ingersoll Rand IR2131, I would recommend that. Good power and reliable. I used it for many years without fail as a tech. It's heavier than many modern impact guns, but I prefer it to my modern Snap-On and my battery operated impact guns. Price is right too. Older model,but gets the job done.

Posted by: porschetub Feb 14 2018, 07:44 PM

QUOTE(stateofidleness @ Feb 15 2018, 02:01 PM)

Posted by: cuddyk Feb 14 2018, 07:50 PM

+1 for HF Earthquake. It's a beast. You don't need an insane compressor to run it for light duty, either. A decent 25 gal unit will get the job done. Or at least it did for me. Don't forget that you'll need impact-strength sockets as well.

Posted by: somd914 Feb 14 2018, 07:57 PM

Replaced my Harbor Freight of unrealistic torque values with an Ingersol Rand a few years back (sorry, don't have the part # handy). It's been well used and great, though I have run into some issues getting flywheel bolts off my Suby, yet it never fails on axle nuts and others that are torqued higher.

My son has a battery Dewalt which he bought for wheel changes and emergency work at the track. It has become very handy for wheel removal and general use in the garage as we don't have to run a hose. The downside as I've found with all my battery tools is battery replacement - generally costs more to buy a single battery than buy a new tool with two batteries - planned obsolescence.

Posted by: MarkV Feb 14 2018, 09:22 PM

If I didn't already have air and an old Snap-on 1/2" impact I think I would buy one of these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkPzjV-ZaTU

This guy takes tools apart and tests them.

Posted by: cary Feb 14 2018, 09:47 PM

If your working on trucks you want 1200 lb. breakaway torque.
I have a 700# IR that works on most Porsche stuff. But I borrow a 900# every once in while. We had a guy with a 1200# Snap On for the tough ones. He moved to Seattle. I'm thinking I'll get a 1200# EarthQuake too ............

Posted by: mepstein Feb 14 2018, 09:53 PM

I have a cheap one for home use but the snap on's at the shop never fail me.

Posted by: 914_teener Feb 14 2018, 10:18 PM

QUOTE(914Sixer @ Feb 14 2018, 05:40 PM)

Posted by: Tbrown4x4 Feb 15 2018, 03:56 AM

Happy with my Ingersoll. Used professionally and at home (30 gallon, 5HP compressor). Don't remember the model number.

Posted by: mgp4591 Feb 15 2018, 04:08 AM

Snap-On and IRs are great guns - I've had a couple of each and they worked fine but were generally noisy. My last gun was a clutch style, an AirCat. Quiet and strong....
You didn't mention if you had a compressor or what size it might be or if you were looking at an electric but all of the ones that have been mentioned are good - just depends on what your frequency of use is and what you're using it on.

Posted by: NeunEinVier Feb 15 2018, 11:05 AM

Another vote for Ingersoll Rand IR2131 (looks same as mine anyway), 20 years of use and mine has never let me down.

Posted by: mgphoto Feb 15 2018, 12:11 PM

QUOTE(NeunEinVier @ Feb 15 2018, 09:05 AM)

Posted by: howlndog Feb 15 2018, 03:45 PM

+1 on an Aircat. The 1150 (twin hammer) or 1250 (twin clutch) are beasts. Both are inexpensive and relatively quiet.

http://aircat.com/aircat/impact-wrenches?c2c_square_drive_in_dd=4

Posted by: 914forme Feb 15 2018, 03:51 PM

If you can find one, the Milwaukee M18 1/2" High Torque will either take the lug nuts off, or it will shear the studs off. Up to 1100 Ft-lbs of removal torque, up to 700 fastening torque. It is a great unit.

Posted by: Drums66 Feb 15 2018, 07:54 PM

....Ingersoll,snap-on,matco.......

Posted by: 914four Feb 18 2018, 10:44 AM

I don’t have a large compressor with air tools so recently purchased the Dewalt DCF899 (1200 ft-lbs. break away). I have other tools with the same battery and I like the ability to have the same battery work on several tools. The battery is also backward compatible with older model Dewalt tools.

I used it on my parts car (a rusty Ohio car) to remove the axle nuts that have been frozen for years. I had already used my largest ratchet with cheater a bar but gave up before I broke something.

That’s when I got the DCF899 which made removing the axle nuts easy.

Posted by: Ed_Turbo Feb 18 2018, 09:05 PM

I use Mac Tools AWP 050 Titanium Impact Works good for the weekend guy.

There should be a tool talk chat where folks can put reviews on any new tools they buy for garage use.