Impact wrenches and ratchets

Impact wrenches and ratchets are cordless tools for tightening and loosening bolts and nuts with a socket. An impact wrench produces high torque with its impact mechanism, and a cordless ratchet quickly spins a fastener off or on in tight spots. The tools are used in car repair shops, tyre changing, steel structure and installation work, on farms and in machine maintenance.

Selection criteria

• Torque: 250–850 Nm is enough for light installations and changing car wheels, while 1200–2400 Nm impact wrenches are used for heavy equipment and steel structure bolts.
• Square drive size: the square drive of the tool must match the size of the sockets, for example 3/8", 1/2" or 3/4".
• Model: an impact wrench for high torque, an angle impact wrench and a cordless ratchet for tight spots such as the engine bay.
• Sockets: only impact sockets designed for impact use are used with an impact wrench.

Frequently asked questions about impact wrenches

Can wheel nuts be tightened with an impact wrench? The nuts can be run on with an impact wrench, but final tightening is done with a torque wrench to the torque specified by the vehicle manufacturer. What is the difference between a cordless ratchet and an impact wrench? A cordless ratchet is slim and turns the fastener without impacts at low torque. The impact mechanism of an impact wrench produces many times the torque for loosening seized bolts.