Swapped to a stubby impact wrench after years of thinking they were a gimmick. One job changed my mind.

So I've been turning wrenches for about 12 years now, mostly on old trucks and some European stuff on the side. Always used a full-size Milwaukee M18 Fuel impact, the 2767. Thought stubby impacts were for people who didn't want to buy a proper tool. Then I had this job last Tuesday, a 2005 BMW X5 with the upper control arm bolt that sits right against the strut tower. My full-size impact wouldn't even fit in there, not even with a swivel socket. Had to break out the breaker bar and it took me 45 minutes of cursing to get it off. My buddy Mark lent me his stubby M12 impact just to try. That thing got the bolt out in like 10 seconds. Clearance was tight but it fit. It didn't even struggle. Now I'm looking at my tool box and wondering why I waited so long. Anyone else had a tool they swore off then finally tried and it changed how you work?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_thea1mo ago

Man seriously, same boat here. I ran a big old DeWalt full size for years and thought stubbies were for guys who didn't want to spend the money on real tools. Then I had a front strut job on a 2014 Audi A4 where the top nut is buried behind the strut tower brace. My full size couldn't even get close. Borrowed a buddy's stubby M12 Fuel and it spun that nut off no problem. Never going back now for anything suspension or engine bay related.

ruby_henderson361mo ago

Mark my words, I had the exact same thing happen with a tie rod end on a 2010 F150. The full size impact just would not fit between the steering knuckle and the frame rail. Borrowed my neighbor's Ryobi stubby and it zipped that nut right off after I'd been fighting with a pickle fork for 20 minutes. Now I keep a stubby in my road kit for suspension work and tight engine bays. Makes life a lot easier when you don't have to break out the breaker bar every time something's in a stupid spot.

jakejones1mo ago

Had a similar thing with a stuck lower ball joint on a Grand Cherokee. The full size DeWalt just couldn't get in there between the control arm and the sway bar link. My neighbor handed me his Snap-on stubby and it cracked it loose in maybe two hits. I was honestly kind of mad about it. Ended up buying the M12 Fuel stubby myself after that and now it's my go-to for pretty much everything unless I'm doing axle nuts or crank bolts. The clearance advantage is just too good to ignore on modern cars.