Astro Pneumatic Tool 4980 0.498" Shank Super Duty Air Hammer/Riveter

I used a Mayhew Pro 32011 3/8 to 18-Inch Pneumatic Taper Punch to remove one of the two brake caliper carrier bolts, the ones with the trisquare heads, from a 2011 GTI rear axle housing with a Ingersoll Rand Model 123MAX Short Barrel Air Hammer. It was rusted in so badly, it had to be first drilled, which created a 13/16th hole bisecting the bolt to get around the axle hub (too hard for me to reinstall @ 120 ft/lbs + 180 degrees more). The last of the bolt came out but the I slammed the taper punch into its place before I realized it, my lack of experience rearing its ugly head.First, I put a 9mm 12 point box end on the taper to keep a second taper on the 3/8" diameter target of the woefully wedged original but that tore off the box end splines. So, I put a 3mm divot in the end of an 18" hammer bit so it would accomplish the same thing - stay in place while beating on the stuck 3/8 taper end but that puppy was in forever.So I went to Youtube University.Like a breath of fresh air, there was Torque Test Channel along with several opinions and perspectives from many videographers. I scrolled past those intent on comparing brands & sizes to SnapOn and Harbor Freight. I can't afford anything SnapOn more than a 7mm box/open and Harbor Freight is for those who know what's good and not so.I was interested in the Big Kahuna, a real mother, one dangerous to use. I had a vision of the one time I ran a jack hammer just long enough to learn when you weigh in at 160, you're just not going to make it.That's what I wanted now, but under a car.And there it was; two words, mean.The Torque Test Channel chart showed, the next larger I-R 135 was, for my purposes, no different in PSI impact. Welterweight. But the first entry, head and shoulders above, I mean, check your insurance policy, Top 'O the List was the Astro 4980 with 5,181 max PSI vs 3,946 for the I-R 123 or a 31% increase. The I-R 135 @ 4,989 is about the same price as the AstroThen the label: "Big Nasty," from a South Main Auto Repair video jumped right off my laptop screen.Seems the professionals in Upper New York run into similar situations on suspensions all the time.It took two days to get, unbelievable service from Amazon Prime (Imagine going thru all this using snail mail shipping as we all did 50 years ago), and a half hour to be successful.Why so long ? Hey, I have a Makita 5 gal compressor, a garage size, under the bench, unobtrusive, to change winter tires, change seasonal tire pressure and blow off lawn equipment. The "Big Nasty," is an air hog as one wag declared and followed with, ya gotta have at least 5cfms and this and that. My "Big Nasty," gulps air at the rate of 5 gallons/3-5 seconds, and then becomes ineffective.So it took longer that someone with a 30 or 60 or, "Oh ma gosh," an 80 gallon tank with a 2 stage compressor. But hey, those pauses allowed me to contemplate my learning.About a half an hour.When the stuck drift shot out about two feet and clanged on the floor, you can hear the sound, I smiled.

I purchased this thing based on YouTube videos I've watched and wanted anything to make suspension work easier. I thought I'd try it out on ball joints on a 2009 Dodge Journey without having to remove the knuckle since trying to fit a press on it wouldn't work with no room. These were obviously original from the looks of the corrosion. The worst part of the job was removing the deteriorated snap ring with a couple taps of a chisel and pick. The rest wasn't work at all. With a 12 inch hammer bit this thing drove the ball joints out with barely any effort and using an oversized socket drove the new ones in place. Those were the fastest ball joints I've ever replaced and it was FUN. I also used this air hammer to remove ball joints on a 2004 Chevy Silverado and it knocked them right out in less than 10 seconds. It took longer using a press on my 2009 Silverado and fidgeting with the cups. I'm glad I invested in it.

I am a mechanic in an iron foundry. I am constantly driving huge pins, I have several uses for this air hammer. I played with the idea of buying the snap on air hammer off of the truck truck, most of the guys I work with recognize that as the king when it came to a seized part, which some days is all you deal with. I watched a couple reviews I am very nerdy. Every review pointed at this being the best choice.It is. Today was my first day with it and the foundry I changed a link that was broken in a tumble blast removed some very large ductile iron parts that were stuck so badly that multiple hits with a 20 pound sledge did not budge them.. I am reluctant to write reviews this early on tools however, I am extremely impressed. The pins and the tumble blast link are usually not too bad, but sometimes you just give up and cut them out. Today would’ve been one of those days where I was searching for a torch in the fab shop to bring to the other side of the foundry further delaying the repair. Instead whenever I put this air hammer to the pin It shot out with enough force to leave a little welt on my stomach. Imagine my surprise.When I told a few of the guys in the fab shop about how the air hammer dealt with the repair I was immediately greeted with “it won’t hold a candle to my snap on” By two people at different times. To be fair, I don’t think it will hold a candle to the big D handle 1 inch air hammers we use to chip the iron out of the ladle, but it is a hell of a lot closer than that snap on will ever be. The best part is that it is the same size as other air hammers and hits way harder. Getting into places is the reason why I chose this style air hammer on my own dime opposed to using the 40 pound 1 inch shank air hammer.(Chicago pneumatic)The trigger, although touchy, does have a sweet spot for lightly, engaging the actuation.It was a good decision to buy this

Other then the trigger having not much control if you're trying to go lightly, this thing does some serious work. Very impressed with it, I hope it holds up.

I’m working on a 2003 Dodge Durango and need to take off the front hub assemblys. They were rusted in pretty well. At first the disc rotor was stuck. 3 second with this air hammer and it was off. As far as the hub went, that took 30 seconds. I’m going to enjoy using this puppy in the future.

This thing is known to everybody in my auto shop by the sole fact that if you have something stuck, this will unstick it for sure. Combo it with a taped punch and a drift, nothing will be in your way. Stuck axles in hubs? Modulate putting a lot and then less pressure into the axle stub while full throttle, seems to help enormously.Only gripe is that it will beat YOU up too, and no rubberized grip does hurt without gloves, so be careful.