An impact power tool comprising: a main housing; a transmission housing coupled to the main housing, the transmission housing including a bearing pocket open to a front of the transmission housing and defined at least partially by a radially inward-extending flange; an output shaft; a motor; a cylinder concentrically disposed about the output shaft which receives torque from the motor causing the output shaft to rotate; a bearing positioned within the bearing pocket adjacent and in abutting relationship with the radially inward-extending flange for rotatably supporting the output shaft in the transmission housing; and a radially outward-extending flange on the output shaft that radially overlaps at least a portion of the bearing on an opposite side of the bearing as the radially inward-extending flange; characterized in that: the impact power tool further comprises a sleeve disposed radially between the bearing and the output shaft, wherein the radially outward-extending flange is integrally formed as a single piece with the sleeve, wherein a line of action of an axial reaction force applied to the output shaft is directed to the transmission housing via the radially outwardly-extending flange, the bearing, and the radially inward-extending flange, wherein the cylinder imparts repeated rotational impacts upon the output shaft, and wherein the line of action of the axial reaction force being directed to the transmission housing via the radially outward-extending flange, the bearing, and the radially inward-extending flange causes a nominal axial clearance to be maintained between a rear portion of the output shaft and the cylinder. a main housing; a transmission housing coupled to the main housing, the transmission housing including a bearing pocket open to a front of the transmission housing and defined at least partially by a radially inward-extending flange; an output shaft; a motor; a cylinder concentrically disposed about the output shaft which receives torque from the motor causing the output shaft to rotate; a bearing positioned within the bearing pocket adjacent and in abutting relationship with the radially inward-extending flange for rotatably supporting the output shaft in the transmission housing; and a radially outward-extending flange on the output shaft that radially overlaps at least a portion of the bearing on an opposite side of the bearing as the radially inward-extending flange; characterized in that: the impact power tool further comprises a sleeve disposed radially between the bearing and the output shaft, wherein the radially outward-extending flange is integrally formed as a single piece with the sleeve, wherein a line of action of an axial reaction force applied to the output shaft is directed to the transmission housing via the radially outwardly-extending flange, the bearing, and the radially inward-extending flange, wherein the cylinder imparts repeated rotational impacts upon the output shaft, and wherein the line of action of the axial reaction force being directed to the transmission housing via the radially outward-extending flange, the bearing, and the radially inward-extending flange causes a nominal axial clearance to be maintained between a rear portion of the output shaft and the cylinder. the impact power tool further comprises a sleeve disposed radially between the bearing and the output shaft, wherein the radially outward-extending flange is integrally formed as a single piece with the sleeve, wherein a line of action of an axial reaction force applied to the output shaft is directed to the transmission housing via the radially outwardly-extending flange, the bearing, and the radially inward-extending flange, wherein the cylinder imparts repeated rotational impacts upon the output shaft, and wherein the line of action of the axial reaction force being directed to the transmission housing via the radially outward-extending flange, the bearing, and the radially inward-extending flange causes a nominal axial clearance to be maintained between a rear portion of the output shaft and the cylinder.