Re: Looking for useful impact wrench on a budget...

[gerard@dockside.co.za]

> For example, what if a bolt is _really_ frozen? You attack
> it with your impact wrench, BANG, the bolt head
> breaks off, what now?

I sell the car? 8-) No, just kidding. It's a good point you
make. When I get some free time I am going to get a good
ol' T-bar and a cheater/breaker bar.

> Impact wrenches also shouldn't be used for tightening
> things. I know they are often used at tire shops, but those
> guys have to undo and tighten several hundreds bolts a day,
> so it's a "necessary evil". After having lug bolts
> tightened using an impact wrench at the tire shop, I always
> loosen and retighten them again using my trusty handheld
> torque wrench.

Yeah, well, tried to verify make of calipers on my (Ate in
the front, Girling at the back. Darn! I don't have G60s
on my 200t *sniff*), so I tried to get the rear left wheel
off. No go. The bolts wouldn't even budge with long-armed
wrench. Thanks monkey-guy at the wheel and tyre shop!

> For the price of an impact wrench and accessories (I assume
> you already have an air compressor, if not, the price goes
> ballistic) you can get a nice set of hand tools that would
> serve you much better. And yes, my muscles are definitely
> nothing to be proud of, too ;-) Remember - you don't have
> to be strong to fix cars, you just need a longer cheater
> bar ;-)

Yup, I have a compressor. It don't think it has been turned
on in 10 years. Last time we used it was to paint up a
Jeep Wagoneer we bought from the army (all dolled up in
mud-brown matte livery), we painted the cabin area
in white, blue and red. Not too bad a job, I think I was
10 at the time, colour sanding was a pain at that age,
especially when you're only so tall that the Jeep's
lower door sill just makes it to just above your waist!
But I digress. I might need the compressor soon for doing
some touch up jobs on the 200, so need to get a decent
touch up gun to replace the huge bugger we have.

Oh well, I'll take the advice from the listers and not go
hunting for a impact wrench. Might as well order a full
mityVac kit for testing a couple of things on the 200 and
Merc and also to get the brakes done properly.

Ciao.

G.

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