Midrange DeWalt Impact (330 ft/lbs) strong enough for CV axle bolts?

[SDmtnbkr]

So DeWalt is having a killer sale right now and some retailers are giving away free 5 Ah batteries with certain tools!! So that means, one of these impacts with a 5 Ah battery for $170-$200! Time to tool up!

The midrange 1/2"drive DeWalt impact claims 330 ft/lbs and is a small package!
DeWalt DCF894B 20V MAX XR 1/2 in Mid Range Cordless Impact Wrench

The beast High Torque is way more than enough with 700 ft/lbs & 1,000+ ft/lbs or breaking strength.... but it's twice the weight and quite a bit bigger.
DeWalt DCF899B 20v MAX* XR Brushless 1/2" Impact Wrench, Detent (Bare)

The big one has a bigger mark down, so they're only $30 price difference.... If the Mid-Range one would break the CV's, I'd 100% go for that one because it just looks a million times more useful for suspension and steering stuff. But I definitely want to be able to carry whichever I get for trail CV repairs if needed.

What does anyone think?? Does anyone have the mid-range DCF849??

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[thezentree]

I don't have the little one but I have the big one and have found it to be pretty useful. There are a couple of spots I have to use a cheater bar since the impact won't fit, but usually with an impact swivel I can get it with the impact.

The big one will zip the axle nut off, no problem.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Buy the midrange. More versatile. It should have plenty of power to take it off and plenty in reserve. The ONLY gripe I personally have with the 894s sold in Lowe’s, etc is that they come with the detent pin instead of the hog ring nose, which can be a royal PITA to change sockets quickly. But if you can find the Dewalt part number, it isn’t hard to change them out. That hog ring nose piece is usually $20 or less.

 

[samsquantch]

I don't have experience with these impacts, but I've seen some stubborn CV nuts that took 1/2 drive breakers with 4' pipe and some jumping (Subarus).

 

[m0ist]

I'm holding out for the Milwaukee M12 Stubby 1/2" to go on sale. It's advertised at 250ft-lbs. There are videos of it removing axle nuts.

My dad senses are tingling that it will be on sale around Father's day.

 

[SDmtnbkr]

I don't have the little one but I have the big one and have found it to be pretty useful. There are a couple of spots I have to use a cheater bar since the impact won't fit, but usually with an impact swivel I can get it with the impact.

The big one will zip the axle nut off, no problem.

Great info, thanks!

Buy the midrange. More versatile. It should have plenty of power to take it off and plenty in reserve. The ONLY gripe I personally have with the 894s sold in Lowe’s, etc is that they come with the detent pin instead of the hog ring nose, which can be a royal PITA to change sockets quickly. But if you can find the Dewalt part number, it isn’t hard to change them out. That hog ring nose piece is usually $20 or less.

Tool up has both options for the big and mid-range ones, I just didn't want to put too many links up... the hog ring 894 is $200 and the the hog ring 899 is $250. But to be honest, I would use this thing so infrequently that the price jump wouldn't warrant me getting the hog ring. You can just install the socket so the hole doesn't line up with the detent and take the sockets off really easily.

Also, on paper, yes it should have enough power, but it seems the internet thinks the breaking torque on this midrange 894 may not has the ass to get it done. This guy couldn't get it to break his Honda axle nut. Granted he does say later that the torque is like 243 ft/lbs, but his ride looks really clean with no surface rust. I was really just hoping someone had one and had actually used it on the axle nut.

YouTube

 

[SDmtnbkr]

Well that sale/battery promo was an overlap that just ended so that $200 DCF899 just went to $249... so hopefully some of you jumped on it.

 

[MaineRunna]

Buy the bigger one so there is no doubt it will get the job done. Get the hog ring and a set of impact sockets with an impact swivel, extensions and adaptors.

 

[fourwd1]

Moving to OT so others can benefit

 

[Molly13]

Yeahh, my husband and I started renovating our house and he bought some tools that make our life significantly easier. One of them is this Midrange Dewalt Impact and it's a very useful tool from a lot of points of view. At the moment we are thinking about purchasing a random orbital sander because I love doing woodwork and I want to incorporate that love in my new home, so a sander is of course a must. I think I've spent the last week looking at reviews and tops on what the market has to offer and I'm not still settled on one, but I'm going towards something designed for smaller and more fragile works.