Impact wrench with 375 foot pounds of torque

I mean it kinda depends on what you're trying to do. 375 ft-lbs is a lot.

 

Now that I own a decent impact wrench I'm realizing how easy it is to destroy stuff with it. Lesson learned is you need to use the least amount of force possible if you're skilled enough to not break stuff.

The most common places I experience too powerful of a tool used on a Prius is the 14mm rear seat back bolts you have to undo to remove battery packs. So many idiots get those threads crossed and then destroy the bolts and the threads they go into when they would of been able to notice the reverse threading had they used something with low power.

The other place its incredibly destructive is Gen3 Oil filter cap... The dummies at oil change places too often use their oil filter removal tool with an impact driver, which is not a problem unscrewing it, but screwing it back on has turned a simple oil change job into driving around for days trying to find the right adapter that can put huge forces on a plastic cap without breaking anything.

 

375 ft lbs is more than enough, I use electric impact for smaller bolts so I don’t over torque it. I only use an air impact on lug nuts or suspension parts.

 

I got a corded-electric Porter-Cable impact wrench a few years back, mostly used for breaking loose and spinning off wheel lug nuts. It’s a bit crude feeling, quite heavy, and has no variable speed. But cheap, no battery hassles, and so far nothing fazed it: I’ve used it on Tesla 3 lug nuts (129 ft/lb torque spec), and one with rusty exhaust nuts.

a little fuzzy, but I think it was @Patrick Wong who swayed me to it: mentioned he got one for a suspension project.

Addendum: see I got it in 2021 for $128 CDN, on Amazon.ca, and now it’s $195 CDN. Link:

Porter Cable PCE211

 

I got the fake Milwaukee with the 1/4 inch chuck in middle of the 1/2 square fake M18 batteries etc been dropped it's only 4 weeks old twas 89 bux delivered by solstice marketing . I'm waiting on the internal long rachet . The long rachet will be based on the M12

 

M12 ratchet is a sweet tool for working on a Prius. You can break any 10 or 12mm loose, and then zing it out sooo much faster. ONE HUGE CAVEAT. DO NOT put the M12 ratchet down between the timing cover and frame and start taking the bolt out. Because you will trap the ratchet as the bolt comes out and you will be stuck. As me how I know........ Had to spend about 30 minutes figuring out how to reverse that dang ratchet while trapped between the frame and timing cover........

General impact wrench etiquette is NEVER EVER start the bolt or nut with the impact. Finger start. Misthreaded and then impact gunned bolts are often ruined or in need of a tap and die set......

 

I only use mine for heavy stuff, and only to remove.

 

Perfect size for all those 8,10, 12 and 14mm headed bolts

 

The big DeWalt that looks like this but yellow with the big metal front end on it is $89 tool only wer 8 shop I already have about 18.. 20V and flex batteries here