Am I the only person who flips out when an Impact Wrench Is Takin To Your Car?

CobraRGuy

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2020
Messages
187
Reaction score
155
Location
Fremont, CA
Just two weeks ago a mechanic used a 1/2" air impact to install the 8mm alternator bolts on my engine when preparing to run it on a stand. The alternator bolts originally threaded into the unique aluminum bracket. The original aluminum threads had stripped previously so I had helicoils installed. Everything was fine for years. I removed and installed the alternator multiple times with no issues. When that mechanic installed it he tightened the bolts so tight it pulled the helicoils right out of the bracket. They tried putting 5/16" helicoils in (and tried to charge me $150), but the bolts wouldn't even start to tighten, they just pulled right out.
Ford only made 250 of those brackets, so replacing it was not an option (and I had just had it powder coated). I had to take it to a machinist who installed oversized 8mm Time-Serts.
I have an air impact but I use it sparingly and mostly for loosening lug nuts and such. I use my air ratchet much more, mostly to save time as others have mentioned. YMMV
CobraRGuy
 

weendoggy

Active Member
SN95 Supporter
Joined
May 31, 2019
Messages
803
Reaction score
1,004
Just two weeks ago a mechanic used a 1/2" air impact to install the 8mm alternator bolts on my engine when preparing to run it on a stand. The alternator bolts originally threaded into the unique aluminum bracket. The original aluminum threads had stripped previously so I had helicoils installed. Everything was fine for years. I removed and installed the alternator multiple times with no issues. When that mechanic installed it he tightened the bolts so tight it pulled the helicoils right out of the bracket. They tried putting 5/16" helicoils in (and tried to charge me $150), but the bolts wouldn't even start to tighten, they just pulled right out.
Ford only made 250 of those brackets, so replacing it was not an option (and I had just had it powder coated). I had to take it to a machinist who installed oversized 8mm Time-Serts.
I have an air impact but I use it sparingly and mostly for loosening lug nuts and such. I use my air ratchet much more, mostly to save time as others have mentioned. YMMV
CobraRGuy
That wasn't a mechanic, that was an animal! o_O
 

CobraRGuy

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2020
Messages
187
Reaction score
155
Location
Fremont, CA
That wasn't a mechanic, that was an animal! o_O
Agreed. To have them try to charge me for a poor repair that not only failed, but used a smaller bolt (that the alternator wasn't designed for) added insult to injury. I'm glad that ordeal is over.
They ran the engine with the alternator loose, so the pulleys weren't aligned properly damaging my brand new Gates RPM serpentine belt (not cheap). Another avoidable expense.
I'm a big believer in torque wrenches.
 

I_LIKE_TURTLEZ

New Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2024
Messages
20
Reaction score
13
Location
USA
Hand ratchets as a professional mechanic cost you money when you're paid by job times set by manufacturers, if a power tool will fit, use it. I've taken apart thousands of engine bays with a 1/4" battery impact & battery ratchets. Testing has shown you're less likely to break a fastener with an impact than you are loosening it by hand, hand stretches the threads more, automotive bolts are very soft on the inside by design so that they can be drilled out.
 

Musturd

Post Whore
Joined
Feb 12, 2011
Messages
10,969
Reaction score
3,096
Hand ratchets as a professional mechanic cost you money when you're paid by job times set by manufacturers, if a power tool will fit, use it. I've taken apart thousands of engine bays with a 1/4" battery impact & battery ratchets. Testing has shown you're less likely to break a fastener with an impact than you are loosening it by hand, hand stretches the threads more, automotive bolts are very soft on the inside by design so that they can be drilled out.
Don’t worry about this guy he’s a mouth breathing reject . He’s borderline retarded
 

Mosth8ed

New Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2024
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Good morning. Folks
Last night I had some trouble out of my headlight switch. Had to pull it off and tap it about to get it to work. So I was watching someone replace the switch this morning online because my knob isn’t fitting up properly. And the guy has this damn Skil impact to the light little screws on his guage shroud spinning them off.
I just know this guy is looking to show his choice of impact but it doesn’t even belong there.
Sereno
I had to have a window replaced a while back at some middle of nothing Single-Bay Transmission Shop. That did it all. It was right after my grandfather gave me the car.
I got it done for 100 bucks which was fair as I was at The University with no Tools.
-But this guy at this aforementioned transmission and all shop Started taking his Harbor Freight impact to my thin guage bolt holes on the inside of my door.

My thoughts were that he can play with his collection -on that god awful hoopdie full size pickup with the worst matched chroma Edelbrock Crate Engine (that I’ve ever seen).

Y’all When I was a kid we had a parts store. Had been in business for almost 30 years. One day we got a FedEx truck with a bad alternator and I had set up a pneumatic impact Rachet to so called “upgrade” the tools we had. Long story short -I spun the threads completely off of the bolts to that alternator. I was able to get it to work but my advice is put your impact away.. just why?!?
You can’t tell me you Turn 100,000 Bolts A Day and Need An Impact to help save Time or make for a smoother job.
TBH most of these " Mechanics " now a days don't have no business with torque wrenches much less air or electric lol
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
78,194
Messages
1,522,190
Members
15,553
Latest member
Brakr505

Members online

Top