Milwaukee 1-Inch PEX Expander Comparison: Brushed 2432-22 vs Brushless 2532

Introduction

Milwaukee offers two 12V expanders for 3/8-inch to 1-inch PEX pipe: the brushed 2432 and the brushless 2532. Both share the same core job, and both come with a trigger lock, a reversible belt hook, and a work light. The real differences show up in size, speed, and what each kit includes.

Brushed vs Brushless: How They Feel in Hand

The brushed 2432 is the bulkier of the two. It feels more top-heavy, tends to want to tip forward, and the trigger sticks out a little further. You can still wrap a hand fully around its handle and touch your fingers, but the brushless 2532 is noticeably more compact and lighter in comparison.

That difference in bulk matters more than it sounds on a workday. A smaller, lighter tool is easier to control in tight framing cavities and less fatiguing over a full set of connections.

Speed: Which One Expands Faster

Run side by side on 3/4-inch PEX A with 10 pumps each on fully charged batteries, the brushless 2532 finished noticeably faster. The brushless motor gives it a clear edge in expansion speed.

There is also an interesting nuance around the rapid seal claim: the faster the expansion of the plastic pipe, the faster it appears to contract back around the fitting, by a second or two. So a quicker expansion can translate into a faster finished seal.

What Comes in the Box

The 2532 kit includes three expansion heads (1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch), a tube of expansion cone grease to keep the cone lubricated, and a case.

The 2432-22 kit is the battery-focused option. It includes two 1.5Ah 12V batteries, a 12V charger, a tube of expansion grease, and the same set of heads. Its case adds a cutout for an optional dual-bay dual 12V charger, plus a deeper cutout so the tool can be stored with the belt hook reversed.

1-Inch PEX Performance

One-inch PEX is where Milwaukee claims the brushless really pulls ahead of the brushed model, and in testing it did. On a fully charged battery, the brushless 2532 completed the required pumps and finished the connection cleanly.

The pattern repeated again: the faster the expansion, the faster the pipe contracted back around the fitting. By the end of testing, the battery indicator on the brushless still showed a full charge, which settles the question about efficiency as well.

Which One Should You Buy

If you already own Milwaukee 12V batteries, the brushless 2532 is the straightforward pick. It is smaller, lighter, faster on 3/4-inch and 1-inch PEX, and easier on the battery during repeated connections.

The brushed 2432-22 makes the most sense if you are starting from zero and want a complete kit with two batteries and a charger included in the box. Its bulk is the main trade-off, but you get everything needed to start working right away.

Conclusion

Both expanders handle the same 3/8-inch to 1-inch PEX range, but the brushless 2532 wins on speed, size, and runtime, while the brushed 2432-22 wins on out-of-the-box completeness with its two batteries and charger. Pick the brushless if performance matters most; pick the kit if you need batteries from day one.