Can Impact Drivers Be Used For Automotive?

Impact drivers are majorly used in carpentry and DIY projects. Moreover, impact drivers are used in the automobile industry to pop out fast or fasten the bolts and nuts in vehicles without tiring out the technicians. The most used automotive task is changing car tires.  So let’s see, whether an impact driver can be used for automotive works

Normally, impact drivers can be used for automotive to a certain extent because an impact driver has 500 in-lbs – 1200 in-lbs of torque which is equal to 57Nm – 136Nm. A car tire lug nut requires 95Nm – 160Nm of torque for fasting or removing. So most impact drivers are not able to produce that much torque for lug nut works.

Remember, impact drivers are not the ideal tool for the automotive industry, yet the portable and compact structure of impact drivers along with impressive torque makes them appropriate for a range of automotive-related work particularly in repairing.

How Much Torque Does A Car Tire Have? 

Car wheel torque is considered the tightness of the lug nuts calculated in foot-pounds (ft-lbs). foot-pounds are associated with the amount of weight necessary to move an object to a particular expanse. The following chart presents the torque setting of widely used car models. 

When we consider the torque for the nut, there are mainly both.

  • Break away torque – Required torque to remove the nut
  • Fastening torque – Torque needs to tighten the nut

Always, the breakaway torque is higher than the fastening torque. Because a nut can rust or be mechanically tightened with the nut. So it needs higher torque rather than tight it.

CarModelTorque (Steel)Torque (Alloy)
AudiAll current types120NM120NM
 RS 2130NM130NM
 RS4 (8D), A6/A8/S8 (4E)140NM140NM
 Q3, Q5140NM140NM
 Q7160NM160NM
Aston MartinVanquish130NM
 Other100NM
BentleyAll current types130NM130NM
BMWAll current types140NM140NM
 1.3Coupe/Cabrio (E92/93) Z4, X1120NM120NM
Ferrari348 & Testarossa100NM
 360 Modena110NM
 456 & All other models120NM
 550, 575135NM
HondaAll current types108NM108NM
HyundaiAll current types100NM100NM
Hummer 180NM
IsuzuAll current types118NM118NM
JaguarX-Type80NM103NM
 S-Type128NM
 All current types125NM125NM
JeepCommander, Grand Cherokee136NM
 All current types135NM
KiaCarnival, Carens, Sorento100NM100NM
 All current types98NM98NM
Lamborghini 110NM
LanciaY, Delta, Musa86NM98/100/120
 Kappa, Thesis98NM98NM
 Phedra, Zeta100NM100NM
 Thema150NM
 Voyager160NM
Land RoverAll current types140NM140NM
 Defender105NM
 Freelander 2006 ->133NM
 Range Rover Evoque133NM
Maserati 120NM
MazdaCX-5, 6, 2013 ->128NM128NM
 MX-598NM98NM
MercedesA, B, C, CLA, CLS, E, SL, SLS, G130130
BenzS, CL, R, M, GL, GLK150150
 CLC, SLK110110
Miniall current types140140
MitsubishiPajero, Pajero Sport120120
 L 200135
 all current types108108
NissanPixo, Cube85
 Micra, Tiida, Juke, 370 Z, Murano, X-Trail108
 Note105
 Leaf112
 Qashqai, Pathfinder113
 Patrol133
VauxhallAgila100100
 Mokka, Zafira140140
Peugeot206, 307 / CC, 407, 6079090
 4008, 807, Expert110110
 508120120
 all current types100100
PorscheCayenne , Macan, Panamera160
 all current types130
RenaultClio, Twingo105105
 Fluence, Grand Scénic130130
 Laguna, Latitude160160
 all current types110110
SuzukiIgnis, Swift, SX 49595
 Jimny, Grand Vitara110110
 all current types9090
    
ToyotaAvenis 2009135135
 GT 86, Hilux120120
 Land Cruiser130130
 all current types110110
VolvoC 30, S 40, V 40, V 50, C 70110110
 S 60, V 70, S 80, XC 60, XC 70, XC 90140140
VWUp110
 Tiguan, Sharan 2010140140
 Sharan, T 4170170
 Touareg, T 5, Amarok180180
Car Tire Torque: Source https://blobs.continental-tires.com/

Impact Driver Vs Impact Wrench For Automotive

Impact drivers and impact wrenches are two prominent power tools that are utilized for driving screws and nuts/bolts. Even though these tools look the same, they perform very differently, particularly in terms of their chuck style, speed, and torque. 

An impact driver is a significant tool that is used to drive screws effortlessly. They will assist users in driving tough bolts and lugging nuts in automobiles. Impact wrenches are oftentimes utilized in the automotive industry to discard and install lug nuts and rusty and seized bolts carrying the suspension or steering systems elements in place.

An impact driver would not be strong enough to fulfill the above tasks. Tasks such as unfastening lug nuts on a tire can be done except with an impact wrench as impact drivers are not sufficiently powerful. 

Is Impact Driver Torque Enough For Lug Nuts? 

Before trying to remove a lug nut using an impact driver, go through the following chart.  This chart gives an idea about the amount of torque that can be added for a specific size of the lug nut. 

Wheel stud sizeRegular range of torqueNumber of turns of
hardware interaction 
7/16 inch 70 to 80 9
½ inch75 to 858
9/16 inch135 to 1458
12×1.5 mm70-806.5
12×1.25 mm70-808
14×1.5 mm85-907.5
14×1.25mm85-909
Torque for Lug Nuts : Source https://www.tirerack.com/tires/

What Is The Best For Automotive? – Impact Driver Or Impact Wrench

Impact drivers also have applications in the automotive field; still, impact drivers are appropriate for household tasks like drilling holes and driving screws. In the automotive industry, they can be used for fast repetitive work such as removing various oil pan bolts or screws and fastening plastic covers when repairing vehicles. 

The following table will guide you to identify some of the pros and cons of impact wrenches in contrast to impact drivers. 

ProsCons
High torque than impact driversExpensive than impact drivers
Several models temporarily deliver “nut-busting torque” Heavy and can cause wrist fatigue after prolonged use
Ideal for unfastening seized nuts and boltsHigh torque may lead to strip threads or broken bolts in careless situations.
Provide alternatives for power basis
Pros and Cons of Impact Wrenches

As impact drivers are not that powerful enough, Do not purchase one to use them primarily to do automotive tasks such as removing lug nuts. There can be situations where you will need something more powerful to remove tough lug nuts other than impact drivers. A hybrid impact driver or impact wrench would be a better solution

Read More About – Why there is a Difference Between Impact Drivers and Drills?

Can Impact Wrench Sockets Be Used In Impact Drivers? 

Regular sockets Vs Impact Sockets

One of the fundamental disparities between these impact tools is their collet size. Impact drivers have a ¼-inch hex collet that accepts 1/4-inch hex shank bits.

Many impact wrenches generally use a 1/4″, 3/8″, or 1/2″ square drive to a socket will be connected to.  Socket adapters and nut driver bits enable the use of impact wrench sockets in impact drivers.  Further, some adapters let your impact wrench accept 1/4-inch driver bits.

Read More About – Impact Socket Vs Regular Socket – Engineering Aspect!

Can A 1/4” Inch Impact Driver Remove Lug Nuts?

This depends. Impact drivers with ¼-inch hex drivers are primarily used to strip off smaller nuts, trim screws, and bolts. For larger lug nuts, a ¼-inch square drive.

An impact driver or wrench is the most appropriate choice. The lug nuts of a car can be removed using an impact driver provided the nuts are tightened at the right amount of torque ( 80 to 100lb-ft ) and your impact driver’s output torque is higher than 100 lb-ft. 

Is 300 Ft-Lbs Enough To Remove Lug Nuts?

When examining the above lug nut torque chart, it is obvious that most lug nuts are supposed to be torqued to about 100-120 ft-lbs. Some require less torque; others more. 

If you tighten a lug nut to 300 ft-lbs, you should be able to immediately remove it using a tool that can deliver 300 ft-lbs of torque. 300 ft-lbs will be too much for lug nuts that have been tightened to less than 300 ft-lbs. As time and environmental conditions often require a lot more torque to be used, it will require a torque of more than  300 ft-lbs. 


Tom Mackency

Tom Mackency

Hi, I am Tom Mackency. It has been 10 years that I have been working as a professional woodworker since 2013. I am really enjoying my carrier by creating many kinds of projects in my workshop. But mostly I like for home improvement projects. Home improvement and DIY projects are the most interesting things for me. More than that, the coolest things are power tools. Those are very precious and efficient than a decade ago. So I try to introduce so many things about power tools, woodworking, DIY projects, home improvement and many more interesting topics here.