Impact wrenches tested

Which is best for car DIY? We pick our favourite

product group test 3 | 5 | 2017 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive.

A Good impact wrench is a great addition to any workshop, taking virtually all of the strain out of wheel changing. Modern battery and motor technology means the best cordless electric wrenches are as good as their compressor-powered predecessors, and are much more convenient because they have no hoses to contend with. The latest designs are also light and compact, which makes them good for use in general maintenance jobs, such as brake and suspension work.

so which is the one to take the strain out of your DIY car maintenance work? We tried eight to find out.

How we tested them

We drove four 13mm hex head screws into a block of wood, then removed them, noting how long it took with each product. Then we removed four wheel bolts that had been tightened to 90Nm, and a hub nut at 175Nm.

We also factored in the weight and length of the tools, as well as impact control (important to avoid shearing bolts), batteries supplied, voltage indicator and any accessories.

All our impact wrenches were supplied with a charger and could be powered up in about an hour. Finally, we checked the prices from a range of online sources.

Verdict

it’s expensive, but the Hitachi is an impeccable brushless tool covering all the bases, and is the ultimate choice in our test. Where cash is tighter, the much cheaper Wolf produced cracking performance per pound, with the similar 18v Draper chasing it home.

1. Hitachi WR 18DBDL2JX 2. Wolf 18v Li-ion Cordless impact Wrench Kit 3. Draper Expert 18v 1/2in drive Cordless impact

Wrench 83689