Rusty bolts are hard to shift, and upgrading hundreds of nuts with spanners and screwdrivers can take a lot of your time, if not an eternity.
But if you have the best cordless impact wrench for automotive, that’s when you can make your work easier and get the job done without bleeding your knuckles or tearing your skin.
Below, we’ve reviewed some of the top-rated wrenches in the market to help you narrow your search and find the right model without spending too much time looking. In particular, you’ll learn about the unique features of each impact wrench on the list, plus their pros and cons.
Keep reading to learn more
Review of the Best Cordless Impact Wrench for Automotive
1. DEWALT DCF880HM2 Impact Wrench
It’s not just brand trust that earns the Dewalt DCF880HM2 its reputation. Even its quality build, performance optimization, and accuracy make it an ideal pick. The Dewalt DCF880HM2 is more about power and precision, as it provides you enough torque to unfasten or fasten lug nuts or bolts.
The Dewalt DCF880HM2 is powered by a rechargeable XR lithium ion battery that provides up to 24 hours of runtime on a full charge.
We know that the more lightweight a wrench, the lesser the strain it puts on a worker’s hands. Dewalt has this figured and they’ve made the DCF880HM2 as lightweight as possible. Weighing only 3.8 pounds, this power tool is light enough to hold for an extended period, particularly when you have hundreds of bolts to remove and replace.
Since this tool has half an inch square drive, it should be compatible with a variety of lug nuts and bolts. At least, this makes it a lot more versatile, which makes a big difference if you think about it.
With a torque rating of 150-foot pounds, there’s no doubt that the Dewalt DCF880HM2 provides sufficient power for casual and professional jobs. However, the power isn’t enough to remove stubborn, rusted bolts from an automotive.
This power tool doesn’t feature a detent pin. Instead, it has a hog ring socket, which you’ll find quite handy in the case when you have to change sockets. Its triple LED system, with about 20 seconds trigger delay. The mechanism is super helpful because it keeps your workplace illuminated, thus allowing you to carry on with your work in low light conditions or late hours of the night.
Pros
- The battery can power this wrench for up to 24 hours on a single charge
- Battery takes only 30 minutes to refill
- The compact head can easily access narrow spaces
- Includes a power gauge
- The hog ring should help you load and exchange bits with ease
Cons
- The bits grip on hog ring at high speed needs to be improved
2. Ingersoll Rand W7150-K2
The Ingersoll Rand W7150-K2 provides the power and precision that professionals need for everyday use. Whether you have a few nuts to unscrew or you have a huge project to work on, this impact wrench will provide the torque you need to get the work done with minimal effort.
For starters, Rand W7150-K2 produces as much as 780-foot pounds of torque, which is enough power to handle even the most aggressively stubborn, rust-filled buts. Given such a magnitude of an impact, which easily rotates nuts out of their sockets, the W7150-K2 is a good model to heavy-duty use.
This model is powered by a 20-volt lithium ion battery that provides a reasonable runtime on a full charge. You do have to have multiple batteries with you, though, because this machine guzzles up battery juice like crazy.
When you need more mobility, an air-powered impact wrench like Aircat 115 simply won’t make the cut. You’ll need a more portable option that doesn’t hinder your movement in any way whatsoever, and the Ingersoll Rand W7150-K2 is no doubt an ideal consideration. Given its size and ease of movement, you can even use it in tight spaces where standard impact wrenches can’t fit.
If you’ve used heavy-duty impact wrenches for an extended period before, you may have notice a constant vibration from the power created by the device. This vibration can make the device difficult to hold for an extended period, which is there’s need to include an anti-vibration mechanism for ease of use. Fortunately, Rand W7150-K2 has a patented grip surface that lowers the vibration so you can feel a lot more comfortable when working with it.
Pros
- Decent battery runtime on full charge
- Package includes a carrying case for storage
- Can push up to 780-foot pounds of pressure with ease
- Reasonable noise level, usually at around 100 decibels
- The ergonomic handle with a soft grip coating lowers vibration and allows long period hand use
Cons
- The trigger is susceptible to wear and tear
- The aluminum body may feel less sturdy
3. Milwaukee 2767-20 M18 Impact Wrench with Friction Ring
Impact wrench users have said all they can about the Milwaukee 2767-20 M18 model. And what we’ve learned about it so far is that it’s one of the best options for automotive. Impactful and powerful, with a thickness that’s up to standard and a decent battery life, the 2767-20 M18 is no doubt a power tool designed to give you the best value for your money.
This fuel impact wrench provides a breakaway torque of 1,400-foot pounds, which is enough power to unscrew and fix even the toughest fastener. Its brushless DC motor ensures better power distribution and optimum battery consumption, while enhancing the overall durability of the wrench.
Given that it’s half an inch impact wrench, it should be compatible with a variety of bolts and lug nuts and bolts.
The Milwaukee 2767-20 M18 doesn’t have the One Key technology built into the 2863-20 model. As such, theft lockout is impossible and it may be hard to get it back if you lose it because the lack of GPS feature makes it difficult to trace. The advantage is that the lack of the technology makes Milwaukee 2767-20 M18 relatively lightweight and reasonably cheap.
One of the best things about this cordless impact wrench is the drive modes. Falling in the range of 1 to 4, the modes ensure you apply the right amount of torque to a bolt. This takes away the worry of accidentally breaking a bolt because of excessive torque.
Cases of overloading and overheating are quite common with impact wrenches. Even then, Milwaukee 2767-20 M18 includes a red link plus intelligence, which ensures optimal performance and safety of the tool and battery just in case of an overload.
Pros
- Reasonably priced power tool with a 5-year warranty
- Milwaukee 2767-20 M18 is compact and lightweight
- Include LED lights that illuminates work area for visual clarity
- The friction ring design allows for effortless socket changes
Cons
- Battery not included in the package
- We wish it included the One Key technology
4. Astro Pneumatic Tool 1822 Nano Impact Wrench
About 5 years, loosening a nut or changing the tire of a vehicle with one hand was impossible. But Nano technology has swept the impossibility under the rag. Today, you can use a cordless impact wrench like the Astro 1822 Nano to do such work.
To be clear, an impact wrench doesn’t have to be big to get the job done. Even an option as compact as Astro Pneumatic Tool 1822 Nano provides just the right torque for the task. In fact, it’s so small that it can fit in a standard-sized pocket, and it’s an ideal pick for you if you need an easily portable and functional power tool.
Astro takes the future of power tools, and integrates it to the 1822 model with Nano technology. And as small as it is, it’s so powerful that it works even better than some bulky, heavy-duty impact wrenches in the market. At only 1.4 pounds, this is the most lightweight power tool in its class.
When it comes to torque, this hand tool can easily put up 450-foot pounds, which is quite a lot for its size. In fact, it’s almost 4 times more powerful than the Dewalt DCF880HM2, which only gives a torque of 150-foot pounds.
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Noise level of this impact wrench doesn’t exceed 86 decibels
- As small as a handgun, so it can fit in a small pocket
- Lightweight yet heavy duty
Cons
- Doesn’t score well on durability and longevity
- Doesn’t include accessories, so you have to buy them separately
Final Thoughts
Because they’re more effective than simple tools like spanners, cordless impact wrenches are the right power tools to use if you want to get your work done fast. As you can see, these tools provide enough torque power to loosen and tighten bolts and lug nuts without demanding for too much effort from you. Plus, the picks we’ve included on our list are easy to use, not to mention they’re lightweight so you can use them for an extended period, particularly if the job in question is large.
