Switched to a stubby 3/8 impact for brake jobs and it saved my wrists

I was always grabbing my full size 1/2 impact wrench for everything, including brake calipers. Last week I had a stuck bolt on a 2012 Ford Focus and just grabbed my stubby out of frustration. It actually zipped that bolt right off with no issue and I didn't have to contort my arm behind the wheel well. Has anyone else found they reach for the smaller tools way more than they expected after trying them once?

3 comments

3 Comments

holly_reed554d ago

Actually its the same way with a lot of stuff around the house too. I got one of those little 4 volt screwdrivers for putting together furniture and now I grab that thing for half the jobs I used to drag out my full size drill for. Feels like big tools are just overkill for most of what we actually do day to day. Same with my 1/2 inch ratchet I hardly ever need it but that little 3/8 one handles everything on my car.

the_jake4d ago

Man I had the EXACT same thing happen with my 2008 Mazda 3. I was fighting a rear caliper bracket bolt with my big 1/2 inch and my arm was killing me trying to get a straight shot. Grabbed my buddy's stubby Makita and it whipped that bolt off in two seconds flat. Now I hardly ever touch my full size impact unless I'm doing truck suspension work. That little stubby handles 95% of what I do on cars and it's way easier on my wrists.

kelly3854d ago

My buddy swore by his big impact until he borrowed my stubby and bought one that same week.