If you’re here to learn how to clean an impact wrench, you’re in the right place. I recently took apart my trusty old impact gun—an affordable unit I grabbed from Harbor Freight about a decade ago—because it started losing power. Instead of tossing it or rushing out to buy a replacement, I decided to roll up my sleeves and see if a simple cleaning could breathe new life into it. Spoiler alert: it worked. In this article, I’ll walk you through the entire process step-by-step, from disassembly to the test run, so you can keep your own tool running strong.
Table of Contents
Why Clean an Impact Wrench?
Before diving into how to clean an impact wrench, let me tell you what sparked the project. My impact gun wasn’t delivering the torque it used to. Sometimes it would just blow air without engaging. This usually points to internal grime, excessive oil buildup, or gummed-up components. Rather than accept the power loss or shell out for a new one, I wanted to see if a deep clean could restore its function—and I’m glad I did.
Disassembly: Let’s Open It Up
First things first, I cracked the unit open. If you’ve never done this before, don’t worry—this was my first time too. I’d never taken it apart before, but it’s not rocket science. With a few simple tools, I broke it open and started exploring the guts. Right away, I noticed thick layers of oily grime coating the inside.
A little backstory: this tool has served me for years. It helps me get lug nuts off during car repairs, and while it isn’t the strongest or most precise impact wrench out there, it gets the job done. But time and dirt had clearly taken a toll.
Inside, it was greasy—seriously greasy. There was probably a decade’s worth of oil and grime built up. And while oil is necessary for operation, too much of it can choke the internal parts and reduce effectiveness. This grime was likely causing the slipping and power loss.
Cleaning: The Heart of the Fix
Here’s where the magic happens. I grabbed a can of brake cleaner, my go-to solvent for tool cleaning. It cuts through grease like nothing else and evaporates quickly, which makes it ideal for jobs like this.
I sprayed down the internals and wiped away all that gunk. Ten years of oil and dirt disappeared with a few passes. I could even see the poor machining inside the casing—no surprise for a budget impact wrench—but that didn’t bother me. I wasn’t looking for perfection, just functionality.
One note of caution: take your time. Spray, soak, wipe, and repeat. Be gentle with any rubber gaskets or seals. If they fall apart, you’ll need replacements before reassembly.
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- The original brake parts cleaner
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Reassembly: Putting It Back Together
This part had me a little nervous. Disassembly is easy—putting it all back together takes a little finesse. Luckily, I paid attention to the orientation of parts as I pulled them out. That made the process smoother.
I slid the internals back into place and tightened everything down. No extra screws left on the bench (always a good sign). A quick double-check, and it was time to fire it up.
Testing: Like New Again
The moment of truth: I hooked the wrench back up to my air hose and gave it a go. It sounded stronger right away. It engaged like it used to, and the loss of power was gone. I spun it a few times just to confirm—and yes, cleaning it made a world of difference.
The whole job took maybe 30 minutes, and I didn’t spend a dime. No new parts, no fancy tools—just elbow grease and brake cleaner.
How to Clean an Impact Wrench and Save Yourself Time and Money
If you’ve got a sluggish air tool sitting in your shop, now you know how to clean an impact wrench and get it back to peak performance. Don’t rush out to replace it. A simple internal cleanup can restore the power and functionality you thought were gone for good. I saved my impact wrench from the junk pile with nothing more than brake cleaner and a little patience.
Remember, not every tool needs replacing—sometimes it just needs a little attention. So next time your wrench isn’t pulling its weight, pop it open and clean it up. You might just surprise yourself.
