Air impact wrenches are beneficial in so many different industries, most commonly the automotive industry. They are used to remove fasteners such as nuts and bolts quickly and efficiently.
Whether you are removing lug nuts from your car or repairing heavy machinery, there will be an impact wrench powered by compressed air which will make lighter work of your task.
An air impact wrench is ideal to change the wheel on a car quickly & efficiently
Why is an air Impact Wrench a must have tool?
One of the key benefits of an air impact wrench is the fact that it can rotate in either direction, meaning it is equally effective in both loosening and tightening fastenings. Within the impact wrench there is also a mechanism that converts the rotational force produced by the air from a compressor into rapid, repeated impacts. These impacts create a series of sudden, strong rotations, which generate the torque required to turn the fastenings (e.g bolts and nuts).
[Important note: In simple terms Torque means strong rotating power]
It’s the speed and accuracy of this process that makes using an impact wrench so productive, it can often make you complete certain tasks ten times faster.
High Torque Output
Impact wrenches can deliver high levels of torque in a short amount of time, making them great for tasks needing lots of force to overcome resistance. This speed is especially useful in industries such as automotive repairs, construction, and industrial work, where time and effort matter.
Using an Air Impact Wrench Correctly when Changing a Car Wheel
We have had a few customers stop by our air centre in Surrey who have been unable to remove their wheel or tyre on the roadside because someone from their garage had incorrectly used a hammer to whack the wheel nuts which often over tightens them.
The correct way to change a wheel / tyre using an impact wrench is to:
⦁ Set the impact wrench into “reverse” which will crack & loosen the nuts to remove the wheel.
⦁ When adding a new tyre or wheel, spin the nuts on with an air impact wrench until you meet resistance.
⦁ At this point, stop and finish them off with a manual torque wrench to a recommended torque setting.
It’s the operator / mechanic’s job to ensure the wheel nuts are not too tight that you cannot remove the wheel. The torque should be regulated in a way that means you should always be able to remove a wheel using the tools supplied by your vehicles manufacturer.
Which Air Impact Wrench do I need?
When looking for the right impact wrench, the most important thing to consider is what you need it for. You certainly won’t want an industrial impact wrench used for heavy machinery if you’re just doing a spot of D.I.Y at home – so the most important factors to look for are the sizes and torque.
Please take a look below at our guide in getting the right impact wrench for your needs.
Best Air Impact Wrench for Home use (general DIY):
These impact wrenches are ideal for general use & DIY. The ½” impact wrenches are also perfect for changing the wheel on a standard sized car.
1/2" Drive Impact Wrenches
3/8" Drive Impact Wrenches
1/2" Drive Impact Wrenches
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Best Impact Wrenches for Garages
An air impact wrench is essential in garage environments. Garages will likely need many different types of impact wrench as they deal with many different types of vehicles.
1/2" Drive Impact Wrenches
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Air Impact Wrenches for Trucks & Large Wheels
The ¾” air impact wrench is designed for vehicles with larger wheels such as trucks, lorries and buses.
3/4" Drive Impact Wrenches
3/4" Drive Impact Wrenches
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1” Impact Wrenches for Construction and Large Vehicles
Generally speaking, 1” impact wrenches are not for your average general tasks to use at home! In fact, they are required more in construction settings or for removing wheels from much larger vehicles such as HRV’s and tractors.
1" Drive Impact Wrenches
1" Drive Impact Wrenches
1" Drive Impact Wrenches
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Important in Motor Sport
Metro Sales have seen firsthand the importance of air impact wrenches in motor sport; you will likely have seen yourself how quickly a team can change the wheel on a racing car in the pit lane – it can make or break the team’s chances of winning.
Having collaborated closely with many Motor Sport Teams in all classes over many years, we would be happy to discuss suitable air tools relevant to the sector you are involved in. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call: 01932 348777 or contact us with your requirements.
Want to read more about compressed air?
Whether you are a beginner in using compressed air, or indeed, a pro – we have many blog articles which may be of interest.
Our guide to using an air compressor is probably a good place to start if you are new to all of this.
An area which can get a bit complicated is air fittings. There are so many different types of air fittings (couplings, adaptors & components) that we hope you find this ultimate guide to compressed air fittings useful. It breaks everything down and explains the differences of the many fittings in greater detail.
Take a look at our blog page for more articles relating to compressed air.