Best cordless impact wrench

Dave Pollard · 26 Apr 2021

A good impact wrench takes the hard work out of almost any garage task, from simple wheel changes to heavier jobs such as brake and suspension repairs.

Not long ago, using one required a bulky compressor, with its cable and awkward hose trailing around your garage. Now, the latest battery and motor tech means that the best cordless units are as good as their pneumatic counterparts, and with none of the previous clutter, they’re now much more convenient.

So which one takes the strain out of car DIY? We charged a selection of impact wrenches to reveal all.

How we tested them

An ideal wrench has plenty of torque but isn’t too large or heavy, so it’s a pleasure rather than a chore to use.

To test power and stamina, we drove and removed eight, 13mm hex 50mm head screws into a solid block of wood, noting the time taken. Then we removed eight wheel bolts and a hub nut, tightened to 90Nm and 175Nm respectively. We used black, shatterproof impact sockets for safety.

Accessories, torque settings, performance, battery size and number, and features like lights and battery-state indicators were balanced against prices from makers and online sources.

Verdict

It looks expensive on the face of things, but with 12Ah of battery power, a raft of features and great performance, the HiKOKI is a deserved winner for the second successive test. The similar Sealey chased it hard but failed to overthrow our champ. Meanwhile, the Panasonic acquitted itself well but sadly its high cost hindered its chances of grabbing second place.

1. HiKOKI WR 18DBDL2JX 18v Brushless Impact Wrench
2. Sealey CP20VIWXKIT 20V 1/2in Sq Drive Brushless Impact Wrench Kit
3. Panasonic EY75A8LJ2G 18v Brushless Impact Wrench Kit

Reviews

HiKOKI WR 18DBDL2JX 18v Brushless Impact Wrench

Bosch GDR 18-LI ProfessionalPrice: £271.43Rating: 2/5Batteries: 2 x 1.5AhVoltage: 18v

Impact wrenches header

Sealey CP400Li

Draper Storm Force 20v 1/2in Impact Wrench 43785Price: £125.94Rating: 4/5Batteries: 1 x 4AhVoltage: 20v

HiKOKI WR 18DBDL2JX 18v Brushless Impact Wrench

Price: £295Rating: 5/5Batteries: 2 x 6AhVoltage: 18

GMC 18v Brushless Impact Driver GMBL18IDPrice: £124.99Rating: 3/5Batteries: 1 x 4AhVoltage: 18v

Clarke CIR18LIC 18v Brushless Impact Wrench

Price: £137.99Rating: 3.5/5Batteries:figcaption>

Panasonic EY75A8LJ2G 18v Brushless Impact Wrench KitPrice: £359Rating: 4.5/5Batteries: 2 x 5AhVoltage: 18v

Sealey CP20VIWXKIT 20V 1/2in Sq Drive Brushless Impact Wrench Kit

Wolf 18v Li-Ion Cordless Impact Wrench KitPrice: £129.95Rating: 3/5Batteries: 2 x 3AhVoltage: 18v

Ryobi One+ 18v Cordless 3-Speed Impact Wrench R181W30Price: £178.94Rating: 4/5Batteries: 1 x 4AhVoltage: 18v

Price: around £295
Rating: 5 stars
Batteries: 2 x 6Ah
Voltage: 18v

Already a multiple test winner, the HiKOKI stood up well to an effective onslaught from Sealey’s newcomer. We still like the HiKOKI’s large, strong plastic case, which came complete with wrench, charger and the biggest battery supply we’ve tried on any cordless product. It’s hard to imagine how much work you’d need to do to totally exhaust the two 6Ah packs. Protected against dust and moisture to IP56 standard, it was wieldy in use, belying its light weight and stature to hammer any fastener into submission.

Unlike the Sealey, the HiKOKI’s instruction manual was comprehensive and included several diagrams. Performance on the car was almost identical, but it pulled ahead on the hex screws test, which required torque to be applied for longer.

Like the Sealey, the LED light on the base stayed on for 10 seconds, which was useful, and it featured four torque-limiting settings to help prevent fastener damage. It’s not cheap, but it’s similar to its rival when battery capacities are considered.

Buy now from Tool Station