I'm getting ready to do my annual tire rotation on the truck. This year I've decided to buy an air impact wrench to make things easier. The older I get, I find it more difficult to loosen the lug nuts even using a long 1/2" drive breaker bar. After manually removing 32 lug nuts, I'm worn out.

Since I have no experience with air impact tools, I was hoping you guys might have some suggestions with the impact wrench and any other accessories. I have already have a very good air compressor. I've been looking at an Ingersol-Rand wrench but I'm not sure what I should look for in the way of rpm's, built-in torque settings, safety features, etc. I would appreciate any advice and/or recommendations. Also, would an electric wrench be a viable alternative?

 

If you are just going to use it once and a while to do your own tires then get a cheap craftsman or Ingersol. Look for at least 450#' of breakaway reverse torque.

 

occational use, what ever will work.
We have had pretty good luck out of IR 2310 series impacts for general shop use in 1/2", we have a couple 3/4" that are torque limited for special applications. the IR 1" hold up decently if you dont hammer constantly. these will beat themselves apart. The IR 2" we had was retired and replaced with a Norbar gear wrench.
If you need some serious torque for other projects, look at the norbar.
If you need to feel inadequate about the torque of your truck, look at the Norbar PT13 and remember, its operating on 80PSI

 

What he said, just don't get the cheapo 250# of torque had one it was junk.

I bought a stanley at walmart it works good.

 

the higher torque rating will keep you from beating the lugs off the hammer trying to break a bolt loose.

 

IR 2130's are good, but the 2135 TiMax is the way to go IMO. It's really light and packs a ton of torque. If I hadn't picked up my Snapon MG725(got a good deal otherwise too much $) that would've have been the one I bought.

 

I have the same impact, it is a real animal.You have to be careful with it.

 

the 2135 use a titanium frame for light weight and strenght???

 

I know. I've snapped studs on a heavy duty trailer before when I first bought it.

 

I think so.

 

I have two impacts. A Craftsman Professional that it 7 yrs old (its a IR just relabeled to Craftsman) and has 600 ftlb of break away tq, cost about 189 and a Snap on MG725 that has 1200 ft-lbs of break away tq that cost me 319. I use both impacts regularly, the craftmans does every day duty and when i need alot of tq I'll get out the snap on impact since its rated for more tq than the craftsman. Both have been excellent tools for me.

Dad has a cheaper craftsman impact that I bought for him (89 dollars) rated at 400 ftlbs, it does everything job he uses it for very well. Not a heavy duty impact but would be perfect for light duty and doesn't cost alot. To me its perfect for removing lugs on wheels.


All of these are 1/2 drive.

 

I am a big believer in doing your own work on your truck whenever possible. I don't trust dealerships or very many shops. But I have to admit, that rotating tires is not fun or interesting. And it's very manual labor intensive, particularly without the right tools.

I just take my truck to Discount Tire and have them do it about every 5K miles.........while I watch and after I drive it in their bay. I can be in and out in the time it would take me to get my tools and jack together to do it myself.

Since you are in N. Texas....I know there is a Discount Tire near you...as we have dozens all over the DFW area. My 2 cents!

Best of luck. Never hurts to have an air impact wrench around though.

..

 

You are absolutely right. I would like to take the truck in to get the rotation done. Unfortunately I've had some very nervous moments at Discount Tire watching them jack up the front end. They didn't appreciate me insisting that they place the floor jack under the frame the last time I was there. Also, despite me asking them to be careful, they scratched all 4 alloy wheels when I bought some new tires from them several years ago. Finally, I didn't like the way they torqued the lug nuts. So what are you going to do - go in the waiting room and let them do their thing?

 

I've had several that I used in the shops for day to day use, had an ingersoll 2130, it was ok but always had trigger problems with it, then went to a 244 and that was hands down the most overbuilt one I've had, tough as nails, but heavy as heck, then came my snap-on that I currently have, I love it because it's got tons of torque, doesn't weigh too much and is got a perfect balance so it feels good in the hand. That said, if I were looking for one to use at home that I know I would forget to lube daily I would buy either a ingersoll 244 or 231, both tried and true impacts that can be abused and still be trouble free, not the most refined or lightest, but they have good power and they cost less than the others, the 244 is more powerful, but the 231 is a bit lighter and smaller and will still get the job done, I know techs that have been using the same 231 for 15-20 years with a couple rebuilds under their belts (and rebuilds on an ingersoll is inexpensive and most people can do it at home with no special tools.)

 

I guess I have been lucky with them so far. But no I don't go in the waiting room. I keep my keys, drive my truck in the bay they tell me to when it's my turn....and I never leave the truck. I usually strike up a conversation with the guy or guys doing the work.

My truck stands out a little bit from most of the vehicles they service from day to day........so they (on their own) seem to take more interest in it...and hopefully care.

They never have an issue with me standing near it. If they did, I wouldn't go to that one.

..