Milwaukee Electric 2967-20 M18 Fuel 1/2 High Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring Review (2026)

Torque and motor

Milwaukee rates the 2967-20 at up to 1,200 ft-lbs of fastening torque and 1,600 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque, figures aimed squarely at seized suspension bolts, lug nuts on trucks, and other automotive fasteners that resist smaller impact drivers. That power comes from Milwaukee's POWERSTATE brushless motor paired with a 4-mode drive control system, letting the user dial speed and power down for delicate fasteners or up to full output for stubborn ones. An auto-shutoff control caps output at 50 ft-lbs in its lowest setting to help prevent over-tightening on smaller fasteners, which is a useful safeguard on a tool with this much peak torque available. This is genuinely more power than most home garage tasks require.

Friction ring and build

The friction ring design lets sockets snap on and off without a detent pin or retaining collar, speeding up socket changes during a job where switching sizes repeatedly is common, such as working through different fastener sizes on a suspension or exhaust job. At 7.6 inches long and 5.9 pounds, the tool is compact enough to fit into tight wheel wells and engine bays despite its output. Milwaukee backs the tool with a 5 year warranty, longer coverage than many competing brands offer on their impact wrenches, which reflects the tool's positioning as a durable, repeat-use professional tool rather than an occasional-use consumer model.

What is and is not included

This is a bare tool listing, meaning the box contains only the impact wrench itself, no battery, no charger, and no case. Milwaukee's M18 batteries and chargers are sold separately and are not interchangeable with every brand's battery system, so buyers without existing M18 batteries need to budget for at least one battery and a charger on top of the tool price, which can add a meaningful amount to the total cost. This approach makes sense for anyone already invested in Milwaukee's M18 platform who wants to add a high-torque wrench without paying for batteries they already own, but it is a real added cost for someone starting from zero.

Who actually needs this much tool

The 1,200 to 1,600 ft-lb torque range on this wrench is well beyond what most homeowners doing basic garage maintenance, like routine tire rotations or light repairs, will ever need, and it comes at a price point to match. Anyone who works on trucks, does regular suspension or exhaust work, or deals with rusted, over-torqued fasteners on a semi-regular basis will get real use out of the extra power and the fast friction ring socket changes. For lighter, occasional use, a mid-torque impact wrench in the 300 to 700 ft-lb range from Milwaukee or a competing brand will handle the job for meaningfully less money and be easier to control on smaller fasteners.

Bottom line

This is a serious, professional-grade impact wrench for anyone already on the M18 battery platform who regularly deals with heavy automotive fasteners and wants the fastest possible socket changes via the friction ring. The 5 year warranty and brushless motor point to a tool built for repeat daily use rather than occasional weekend jobs. Buyers without existing M18 batteries, or whose garage work rarely calls for more than a few hundred ft-lbs of torque, will likely find better value in a lighter wrench or a kit that includes a battery and charger.

Frequently asked questions