zero2005

harbor freight electric impact wrench is freakin amazing. i have one. what a dream machine, i got mine on sale for 29.99 about 2 to 2 and a half years ago, still running strong, it's helped soo much over the passed 6 months with my motor. it might take a couple seconds to hit certain bolts before they spin.

worse comes to worse, i use a torch to heat up the metal thats threaded and/or use some PB blaster to loosen it up, then hit it with the impact and it comes off like butta.

i've seen them go for 50$, but if you can catch a deal, 30$ aint bad all. they advertised when i got mine i think like 240 ft-lbs. i've used their "air" conterparts, and they for sure are junk, not even 60 ft-lbs out of them, but the electric one is amazing.

i dont recommend the vice grips on the chrome shaft of the strut either. you can, and probably will mar the surface.

Blk003GT

^^have u ever put vice grips on the shaft? all of u say it will but have u ever tried it? i'l do it tommarow and take a picture and show how theres nothing on the surface and end the debate

zero2005

i'll show you my QA1's, they're marred to **** now. good thing they're already **** and i plan on going koni or bilstein in the future. might just be that QA1 probably uses inferior shafts. cant wait to ditch em.

edit: pics uploading --
http://home.comcast.net/~zero2005/FILE0025.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~zero2005/FILE0026.JPG

sorry for the ****ty pics, couldnt get much for good lighting.

bronxbomerss2

wow crap load of responses haha well my dad is a maintenance mechanic at a factory plant so he has any tool imaginable so he just took it there and did it but were going to go to harbor freight tomorrow in get some new tools!!! but yeah that thing wouldn't budge, we have a huge air compressor in the basement so were gona buy some air tools, make my life a hell of a lot easier, thanks for the help though guys, ill post pics tomorrow on a new thread once the tokico shocks and struts are in and the ford c class lowering springs are installed also, can't wait!

zero2005

just avoid some of the HF air tools, i have an impact from them, its useless, even for hand tight lug nuts. get the electric. its so much easier to plug it in and go, and pressure doesnt affect it, so you dont have to wait for your pressure to build up. if i were going to get an air driven impact, it'd be an older Ingersol-Rand.

however, this IS one Air Impact i WOULD consider from HF. the Central Pneumatic Earthquake. and the only reason is - its the same design as the old Ingersol-rands. lol! yep. thats right. but they're about the same price range, a used IR, or new Earthquake. either way, 500-600 ft-lbs should do the trick for any job.

bronxbomerss2

i see what ur saying, were going tomorrow i was checking all the stuff online, so it should be a fun day tomorrow!

BraMas

zero what does it matter if he mares up the shaft he is putting new ones on. I didn't realize it was important to not ruin things that are going to the junk pile

zero2005

true, but if your like me and were doin a swap/coilover upgrade or something, it is something to consider... i've taken my struts off like 10 times already.

BraMas

And that is why in my original post I put if you are reusing your struts do not use vicegrips on the shaft

2000BlkGtConvgobucks

Wow, I thought for sure this thread would've died after my first post. Im gonna have to check out these electric impacts, I've heard of em but Ive never actually used one. I feel like I'm out dated with air tools now... lol. It sure would be nice to not have to lug around a huge compressor for side jobs!!!