DeWalt 20V MAX XR 1/2 in. High Torque Impact Wrench with Hog Ring Anvil (Tool Only)

Stuck fasteners are the line between a quick repair and a long afternoon. After a month of using DeWalt’s 1/2-in. high-torque impact wrench (DCF900) in my shop and driveway, I stopped reaching for cheater pipes and started reaching for this tool first. It has the grunt to free corroded axle nuts and suspension hardware, but it also offers the control features you need to keep from overcooking threads.

Build, Ergonomics, and Balance

The DCF900 is solidly built and feels like a serious piece of kit the moment you pick it up. Bare weight is about 7.1 lbs, and with a 5Ah pack it lands in the 8.5+ lb range. That’s not light, and extended overhead work will remind you of it. The shape, overmold, and trigger feel are excellent, though; it balances best with a 5Ah or 8Ah battery, where the pack counterweights the head without feeling tail-heavy.

The 1/2-in. hog ring anvil is the right choice for this class. Socket swaps are fast, and retention is secure enough for most tasks. If you’re constantly working under vibration (think big steel or equipment work), a detent pin anvil would hold tighter, but for automotive and general mechanical work, the hog ring strikes a smart balance between security and convenience.

DeWalt’s BATTERYGUARD connection is subtle but appreciated. Under repeated heavy hammering, I noticed less battery wiggle and fewer jolts traveling into my hand compared to older models. It adds confidence that the pack won’t walk loose mid-job.

Power That Shows Up

DeWalt rates this brushless motor at up to 1030 ft-lbs of fastening torque and 1400 ft-lbs of breakaway. Numbers are one thing; how it behaves on the job is what matters.

• Axle and hub hardware: I tested it on stubborn axle nuts (35–36 mm) that had resisted heat and a long breaker bar. On high, the DCF900 broke them free within seconds without drama.
• Lug nuts and suspension: It repeatedly zipped off lug nuts that had been installed by shop impacts, and it didn’t flinch at sway bar links, control arm bolts, and subframe fasteners.
• Rusted assemblies: On badly corroded bolts, the tool’s impact rate and torque combined to free hardware that smaller mid-torque impacts simply wouldn’t budge.

It’s powerful enough that you’ll need to reframe how you approach some tasks. The tool can launch hardware free in an instant; control mode (more on that below) becomes less of a convenience and more of a safeguard.

Noise and vibration are what you’d expect from a high-torque impact: loud and assertive. Hearing protection is non-negotiable. Vibration is well-controlled for this class, and the rubberized grip stays comfortable under repeated hammering.

Control and Speed Modes

Raw power is only useful if you can control it. The DCF900 gives you a 4-mode selector and a variable-speed trigger:

• Modes 1–3: Step up from low to medium to high power. Mode 1 is gentle enough for smaller fasteners; Mode 3 is where you go for stuck hardware.
• Precision Wrench mode: This is the standout. In forward, it runs fasteners down and then reduces speed to help prevent overtightening. In reverse, it breaks the fastener free and automatically slows or pauses to prevent run-off. In practice, it saved me from chasing nuts across the floor more than once and kept me from blasting past the snug point on reassembly.

The variable trigger is nicely progressive. I could feather the tool to snug a bearing retainer, switch to Precision mode to seat it, and then finish to spec with a torque wrench. That’s the workflow I recommend: use the impact to remove and snug, then torque by hand to the final spec. Even with the precision features, an impact wrench is not a torque wrench.

Speed and LED Work Light

The tool’s 2300 RPM and 2200 IPM give it a strong, steady hit without feeling frantic. The on-tool LED is bright, with a useful delay after you release the trigger. Positioned above the trigger, it illuminates the work area better than most, though the head can still cast a shadow in deep wheel wells or tight engine bays. It’s not a substitute for a dedicated work light, but it’s genuinely helpful.

Battery Choices and Runtime

This tool will absolutely run on compact packs, but you’ll get the best experience with a 5Ah or larger battery. With a compact 2Ah pack, it can free lug nuts and moderate fasteners, but voltage sag is noticeable on really stubborn bolts. With a 5Ah pack, performance is consistent, and runtime is adequate for a long string of lug nuts, a brake and suspension job, or multiple axle nuts.

If you’re planning a day of heavy disassembly—think rusted suspension on a high-mileage truck—an 8Ah pack reduces swap-outs and maintains peak performance longer. The brushless motor is efficient, but high-torque impacts draw serious current under load; pack choice makes a difference you can feel.

Hog Ring Anvil in Practice

Socket retention is firm without being a fight. Switching sockets in tight quarters is quick, and I never had a socket walk off the anvil unexpectedly. For impact-rated universal joints and extensions, the hog ring’s grip felt appropriate. If you primarily work under heavy vibration settings (e.g., big steel, long extensions), consider keeping a detent-pin variant in the fleet—but I didn’t miss it in automotive use.

Durability, Service, and Platform Fit

Fit and finish are excellent, and nothing loosened or rattled after repeated high-torque events. The anvil has stayed tight, the selector buttons are crisp, and the trigger feel hasn’t changed. DeWalt backs it with a 3-year limited warranty, 1-year free service, and 90-day satisfaction guarantee. If you’re already on DeWalt’s 20V MAX platform, this slots in seamlessly; if you’re not, remember you’ll need a charger and at least one 5Ah pack to get the most out of it.

What Could Be Better

• Weight and size: At nearly 10 inches long and over 7 lbs bare, it’s not the tool you’ll want for cramped engine bay work or long overhead sessions. Pair it with a mid-torque or compact impact for those jobs.
• Cost of entry: Tool-only keeps the upfront lower if you own batteries, but newcomers should budget for a higher-capacity pack and charger to realize its full performance.
• LED shadowing: The single LED is bright but can be partially blocked in deep recesses. Not a deal-breaker—just bring a dedicated work light for those scenarios.

None of these are surprises for a high-torque 1/2-in. impact; they’re the tradeoffs you accept to get this level of performance.

Who It’s For

• Automotive techs and serious DIYers dealing with axle nuts, crank bolts, and rusted suspension hardware.
• Trailer, RV, and equipment owners who need reliable, field-ready breakaway torque.
• Construction and maintenance crews tackling large structural fasteners where cordless flexibility matters.

If your work rarely extends beyond wheels and light fasteners, a mid-torque impact may be a better everyday fit. If you regularly encounter seized hardware, this is the tool you want waiting in the case.

The Bottom Line

The DCF900 combines class-leading muscle with genuinely useful control features. It breaks free stubborn fasteners that waste time and knuckles, and its Precision Wrench mode adds a layer of finesse many high-torque impacts lack. Ergonomics are strong, the hog ring anvil is practical, and the BATTERYGUARD connection inspires confidence under hard impacts. You pay in weight and battery demand, but that’s the cost of reliable, repeatable power.

Recommendation: I recommend this impact wrench for anyone who routinely faces large, stuck fasteners and wants cordless convenience without sacrificing torque. It’s especially compelling if you’re already invested in DeWalt’s 20V MAX platform. If you need a one-tool-does-it-all impact for small fasteners in tight spaces, look at a mid-torque model instead; otherwise, the DCF900 earns its spot as the heavy hitter in the toolbox.