Torque Wrench range?

[kduchow]

After putting the snow tires on my wife's new car, I decided I really need a good torque wrench. The first thing I noticed is that the variety of torque ranges you can get is all over the place. So my question is, what range would be best for general car maintenance? I won't be surprised if the answer is that I have to buy 2 to cover the high and low ranges. Also, if you have a torque wrench you really like, let me know.

Thanks,
Kirk

[SovereignAxe]

After much back and forth, I went with this one

Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

It was actually really difficult to choose. That one has a torque range from 0-75 ft. lbs., which is plenty, cuz I'm pretty sure even the torque values for the lug nuts is less than that. I went with that one cuz it was the cheapest, the most accurate, and the beam type wrenches are the only ones that have Craftsman's lifetime guarantee.

The tremendous drawback to that wrench though is that the head doesn't rotate. So, if want to measure the torque on your spark plugs, for example, and the handle doesn't line up just right for you to be able to have it sticking out in the air instead of running into something else in the engine bay, you can't measure them.

But it was cheap. When I have money to spend, I may end up getting a $100 ratcheting torque wrench that'll probably fail on me in 5 years. But until then, I'll stick with this one.

If you have that extra cash, then I'd say go with something like this

Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

5-80 ft. lbs. range, and I don't think you'll need anything out of that range on a car.

someone please correct me if I'm wrong on that. so far I haven't run across anything that has torque values out of that range.

[plain OM]

Most torque wrenches are designed to be used toward the center of their ranges, and are usually more accurate there than at the extremes.

Torque wrenches reaching up to 200+ ft-lbs are usually 1/2 drive. Lower torque range wrenches will be found with 3/8 inch drives, and very low range ones have a 1/4 inch drive.

It's best to match the torque wrench to the job, and if you're doing work on your car generally, that would mean having more than one.

Beam type torque wrenches are not as accurate as the "clicker" type, but they are far less expensive. Again, if you're going to be doing work, even regularly changing over the tires, the investment in a good unit will be paid back over time both monetarily and in the confidence in the work. (Torque wrenches are sensitive tools -- read and follow the instructions on care and maintenance.)

[Bimmer]

Get the "click" type. They cost a bit more, but they're about a zillion times easier to use.

I think Subaru only wants their lug nuts torqued to 55lbs-ft (less than you'd think), so something going to 75 or 80lbs-ft should really be plenty.

Torque figures are usually ±10%, so it's not SO critical that it be perfectly accurate, it's really just so that you get it tight enough but don't badly overtighten.

Bimmer

[ETC]

Like plainom said, the larger ones really don't work at their stated "low range" settings... they don't usually really click anyway.

I've got a 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2". I really only use the half inch one on things that require higher torque like crank pulleys and lug nuts. It seems most of the time I feel like pulling one out .. it won't fit where I want it anyway so, I end up with the "that seems right" method anyway.

I have a old beam style one somewhere out in the garage, they work but, it's kind of hard to read the gauge and apply torque at the same time unless you're in some rare situation where you aren't on your knees or contorted in a weird position.

[plain OM]

I think Subaru only wants their lug nuts torqued to 55lbs-ft (less than you'd think), so something going to 75 or 80lbs-ft should really be plenty.

Subaru wheel lug torque specs vary considerably over the years. As important as using a torque wrench might be, tightening the nuts to the correct torque is far more important. The spec is in the Owners Manual. For my 07 (and probably all from 2005 to 2009, if not beyond), it's in the "in case of emergency" chapter, in the section on changing a flat tire, and is 74-89 ft-lbs.

[when]

I looked through the shop manual at all the torque specs, and the highest value is the lugnuts at 81ft-lb, so I bought a click-type 3/8" torquen wrench from Harbor Freight for $30 and verified its calibration at work, it was right on out of the box.

[ETC]

That will be fine for 95% of your needs

Must have missed the spec on the crank pulley ;]

[borislanger]

I have a torque wrench noob question. On my old car, my idea of applying the proper torque was jumping onto the tire iron. when I bought my new OB two weeks go, I decided to get real torque wrench. I just picked one up from H.F. I just want to make sure I understand how it works. I was expecting it to work similarly to a gas can cap: once you tighten it enough, it will stop turning and will be clicking no matter how many times you keep turning it. After having achieved the right torque when the wrench clicks, if I keep applying pressure, it will keep turning the lug nut. So is the proper way to use the torque wrench, to stop after the first click?

[the evil twin]

Originally Posted by borislanger;341063 I was expecting it to work similarly to a gas can cap: once you tighten it enough, it will stop turning and will be clicking no matter how many times you keep turning it. After having achieved the right torque when the wrench clicks, if I keep applying pressure, it will keep turning the lug nut. [U

So is the proper way to use the torque wrench, to stop after the first click[/U]?

YES! It will not continue to click. Only 1 click and you are at spec.

To the OP, the Digitorque from Craftsman are very nice. The two I use the most are 6- 80 lb-feet and 50- 250 lb- feet. As a previous poster mentioned, the middle 2/3rds are where it is most accurate. If you have ever stripped out a aluminum head, or wrenched off a wheel stud then you learn the value of a good torque wrench!