of cordless impact wrenches

This is a must-have tool for any open-tracker. I borrowed one at Miller and was shocked at how quickly I swapped all four wheels -- I'm pretty sure it was less than half the time required using a breaker bar.

I've been looking at them ever since and recently decided to get one -- here is what I learned:

1. The biggest, baddest, cordless impact tools out there (Milwaukee 0779, Snap-on CT4850HO) cost ~$500+ and can generate well over 350+ Ft/Lbs when removing fasteners, more than enough for wheel bolts.

2. For about $300 there are a few wrenches that generate 250-300 Ft/Lbs.

3. Below that are wrenches that generate ~100-200 Ft/Lbs and are probably not suitable for wheel bolts.

4. Some vendors sell wrenches that look alike but have very difference performance -- compare model numbers.

I chose a 18v Dewalt, Model DW059k-2, which generates 300 Ft/Lbs and uses the same battery as my cordless drill-driver. I paid $277 (with a case, charger, and two batteries) from Amazon and received free-shipping. I needed to replace the batteries in my drill driver anyway so it was like spending $100 on the wrench. I'll have it in a couple of days and describe what I learn.

Fall Update

I got one more day in after Hastings, a single NASA day at Pueblo. Work and travel conspired to keep me off-track for at last 3 local track days.

Now, with no events until next year it's time to start thinking rebuild. I'd like to fully rebuild both front and rear suspension with new coil-over springs, bars, shocks, chassis reinforcements, and all new bushings. However in light of the current economic condition, maybe I'll scale back a little bit. Other than that, this winter I'd like to weigh the car, remove the air-bag system, and install a removable steering-wheel.

One thing I had to do was replace the battery. The date indicated that it was 4+ years old so I wasn't surprised it died after the car sat a couple of weeks. I replaced it with an Odyssey PC680 -- which is pretty much a big motorcycle battery -- in a really cool battery-box designed by Russ Wiles and available from BimmerHaus in Boulder.

Learn more about the box and battery here

This removes ~25 Lbs from the trunk and I think it changed the rear ride height a little. 2900 Lbs. here I come.