Working on a car’s suspension often requires manipulating in tight spaces and lots of turning. To make car maintenance easier, I decided to purchase the Makita DWR180Z cordless ratchet wrench.
Why a cordless ratchet?
The Makita cordless ratchet significantly speeds up loosening and tightening screws and nuts. It offers a maximum torque of 47.5 Nm. I bought it for 559.79 PLN (approximately $140/€120). For comparison, Milwaukee offers 81 Nm, but costs nearly 1000 PLN ($250/€215) and uses a different battery system. I chose Makita because I already own other tools that use their 18V batteries.
This type of tool can’t handle seized bolts on its own. However, you can use it as a regular ratchet to break them loose first, then finish the job using power.
Compared to a standard impact wrench, this ratchet fits much better in tight spaces. For example, you can easily remove nuts from control arm pivots without having to lift the car excessively.
What can this wrench do?
According to the manufacturer, the Makita DWR180Z comes with several practical features:
- Quick change between 1/4″ and 3/8″ adapters without tools
- Variable speed control (0-800 RPM) via the trigger
- Forward and reverse operation
- LED light illuminating the work area – useful under the car
- Electric brake
- Lightweight design – only 0.85 kg (1.9 lbs) without battery
Photos
How does It perform in practice?
I use this wrench mainly when working on suspension and in hard-to-reach areas under the car. The narrow head and compact design allow access to bolts and nuts in tight spaces where a traditional impact wrench simply won’t fit.
Summary
If you frequently work on your car and like to make life easier for yourself, the Makita DWR180Z is a good choice.
