Automotive Impact Wrench: Features Of Electric Impact And Pneumatic Wheel Bolt Impact Wrenches. How To Choose A 220 Volt Impact Wrench For A Garage? Characteristics Of Manual Model

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

Continuous work with a variety of fasteners is faster and easier when specialized tools are available nearby. One of them is a wrench, the main purpose of which is to work with dismountable joints using threaded fasteners. Such a device can be found in the hands of car mechanics, in various car services, it is dynamically practiced on building structures and at home, everywhere where you need to work with bolts and nuts.

Characteristics and varieties

The main field of activity of nutrunners is rightfully the unscrewing of wheel bolts and nuts, and this tool is bought, as a rule, for such tasks. There are several drive options that are optimally suited for tire fitting work, each of which has its own qualities, advantages and disadvantages. It is worth considering the main types of impact wrenches and finding out at what points one device will win over another.

Electric

This is one of the most sought after impact wrenches for home use. It is also called network or wired. It operates on a 220 volt mains voltage, is lightweight and has excellent tightening force. The maneuverability of such a device is due to the length of the wire connected to the power outlet. In most cases, corded car wrenches are purchased for individual use, but can be practiced in small car repair shops as well.

Electric wrenches have an average degree of reliability , since they are equipped with many small electronic components that are most prone to breakdowns. The quality of the toolkit is directly dependent on the manufacturer and, therefore, cost. Even the most inexpensive wired devices have enough torque to loosen and tighten the nuts on the wheels of a passenger car.

More expensive modifications are able to handle not only the wheels of cars, but also jeeps and trucks.

Rechargeable

This type of wrench can also be called a network wrench, but it functions from a voltage of 12 V. This is the most maneuverable and quick wrench type that does not need any connections to work. Modern attachments have the superior torque needed to reliably unscrew wheel fasteners in passenger cars and trucks. The battery potential of individual wrenches makes it possible to dismantle and install a set of wheels on a KamAZ vehicle . The characteristics of these devices are slightly lower than those of wired ones, since a battery is added to the total set of elements, which is prone to failure.

If the nutrunner has a good-quality lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery with a capacity of 2.5 Ampere-hour, it will be enough for a rather impressive scale of work.

Pneumatic

Pneumatic versions are wear resistant and have excellent torque parameters. They cannot be called maneuverable due to the need for a permanent connection to the compressor unit. These devices are used in activities that require frequent use, for example, in a service station or in industrial workshops. It is appropriate to buy a pneumatic impact wrench for domestic use when you have the necessary equipment (compressor unit).

The service life of a pneumatic tool depends on the wear resistance of the attachment components . A one-piece wrench with an aluminum housing will take significantly more impacts and last longer than an electric wrench. These units are easy to maintain and repair, since they contain a minimum number of elements in their structure.

Hydraulic

It is a serious stationary toolbox with great precision and tremendous torque. Hydraulic models are practiced in industrial production when working with large products for fastening. This sample is not used as a tire changer.

Manual mechanical

The manual device is the most multifunctional, since it does not require electric energy, fuel or compressor stations to function - the worker's muscular strength is enough. A manual wrench is one of those devices that greatly facilitate fastening work. The principle of operation of the device is based on the transmission of torque through a differential gearbox. To fix the head to the shaft, both the chuck itself and the head attachment can be used. Manual rotation of the drive shaft is facilitated many times by the gearbox, therefore, when unscrewing the nut, you only need to apply a little effort, as for the reverse process.

The hand wrench is an indispensable tool for long-range drivers and making it possible to easily remove the wheel in the event of force majeure circumstances far from the settlements. Chauffeurs call this tool a meat grinder because of the external resemblance and the identical method of putting it into operation.

The disadvantage of such a device is the absence of an impact mechanism, which can complicate the unscrewing of the stuck fasteners.

The main aspects of choosing for tire fitting

An electric impact wrench is best suited for use in a garage. This device will not "weaken" at the most important moment and will function as long as there is voltage in the power outlet. In order to choose a tool and remain satisfied with your own choice, one must not forget a number of basic conditions, on which the functional potentials of the adaptation depend.

• Power . Of course, as the working life of the motor grows, so does the functionality of the tool. The power of professional devices is capable of reaching 1300 W, which is quite enough for unscrewing the connecting bolts of construction lifting mechanisms or for mounting truck wheels.
• Tightening torque or torque , which plays a decisive role in the acquisition of the instrument. The parameters of the limiting torque make it possible to set and accurately calculate the time that needs to be spent on tightening the nuts with the established characteristics. When determining the required torque, the main thing is not to overdo it. Often, amateurs, and even specialists with experience, applied the operational characteristics of the devices to the maximum and tightened the nuts on the machines more than required, which, in the process of unscrewing, led to damage to the equipment and cutting off the threads. Establishing the ideal torque requires a clear understanding of the objectives that will later be defined for the nutrunner.

• The number of revolutions per minute or the speed of free rotation . Modern modifications of wrenches are capable of reaching 2700–3200 rpm, which is optimal for operating wrenches in your own garage, car service, on a construction site, and so on.
• The material used for the production of the fixture . Experts recommend purchasing impact wrenches with an iron body, the handle of which is equipped with a rubber pad that reduces vibration during tool operation. At the moment, manufacturers offer devices equipped with rubber inserts along the entire length of the shell, which largely makes it possible to eliminate vibration. The latest generation attachments, created according to innovative technological schemes, are equipped with illumination, electronic speed control and an option that guarantees an instant stop of the wrench.
• Company manufacturer . To simplify the process of contacting technical service centers, as a result of the failure of the tools you purchased or the need for preventive maintenance, professionals recommend purchasing tools made by firms that have positively shown themselves in the market.

Do not forget about the auxiliary capabilities that increase the comfort of working with the tools

• Impact mechanism . The impact wrench can be both shock-free and percussion. An impact tool can be useful when tightening critical fastening material, in particular, car wheel nuts, where significant effort is required both when tightening and unscrewing. A bumpless device will not cope with such a mission.
• Adjusting the tightening force . It is not advisable to disdain this option. For example, if it is necessary to tighten nuts with a "delicate" thread, then without a force regulator, they can be ripped off in a second. Additionally, a torque wrench with adjustable tightening torque makes it possible to proportionally tighten the connections, which is important when installing automotive heads.
• Gearbox modification . Not every time a nutrunner in the form of a pistol makes it possible to solve all problems during repair and installation work. Sometimes the fastening element can be located in areas that are difficult to reach for the "pistol-like" type of aggregates. In this regard, a circular device is usually used for such moments.
• Integrated lighting . This is a rather comfortable addition to the device, especially when repairing a car.

In addition, when purchasing this device, you should pay attention to how it lies in the palm of your hand, whether the handle is comfortable, how much weight the tool has, where the start button is located, and so on.