Best way to torque to ~175 ft-lb without torque wrench?

[Sukhoi]

Tomorrow I plan to replace my front struts, and I need to torque the two nuts by the wheels to 175 ft-lb. My 3/8" torque wrench only goes to 100 ft-lb. Which option is better?

1. Torque to 100 ft-lb with torque wrench, and then torque "more" with a breaker bar.
2. Torque to 100 ft-lb with torque wrench, then somehow use the torque angle gauge I have to estimate 175 ft-lb.
3. Torque with my IR 231G torque wrench set to 2 or 3. Full torque range at 90 PSI is 25-300 ft-lb.
4. Buy 1/2" TEKTON wrench from Amazon for $60 and do the work on Thursday.
5. Something else I haven't thought of.

Wishing I hadn't sold my 1/2" Snap-On torque wrench for $100 about 12 years ago. Though I suppose I also haven't needed it in the past 12 years. That $100 compounding annually at 8% for 12 years is now $252.

 

[Sgt. York]

I have seen people buy tools at Lowes/Home Depot, use them and then return them for a refund.

I said "seen".

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[velillen]

Call your local auto stores (AutoZone, O'Reilly's, ect) and see if they have a rental torque wrench that goes that high. Even a 150ft lb one would work (torque it then give it a bit more method).

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Call your local auto stores (AutoZone, O'Reilly's, ect) and see if they have a rental torque wrench that goes that high. Even a 150ft lb one would work (torque it then give it a bit more method).

plus 1

 

[Sukhoi]

Good ideas on the rental. I called Napa down the street and they specifically don't rent torque wrenches because of the calibration concerns. Which is a very valid point. I think I'll just buy the TEKTON. I don't really want to risk having my suspension fall apart because I wouldn't spend $60 on a proper torque wrench.

 

[EXCellR8]

I've had the Tekton 250 wrench in my "save for later" on Amazon for months lol. If you do end up buying it, let us know how it is.

The HF ones are supposed to be decent, or so I've heard. The $20 one only goes to 150 though...

 

[Sukhoi]

Heh I was pondering everywhere I could buy one locally and didn't think of Harbor Freight. Though oddly as I look at their site the $20 one goes to 150 ft-lbs as you said, and then it's $100 to get 250 ft-lb. So the TEKTON is a much better deal for 250 ft-lb capacity. I ordered the TEKTON a couple hours ago for Thursday delivery. Will update once I use it.

On a tangential note, does anyone actually bother to drill out their shocks/struts to release the pressure before recycling them as the Toyota manual is guilting me into doing? Seems like a mildly hazardous operation. I was just going to toss them in the recycling bin as-is.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Heh I was pondering everywhere I could buy one locally and didn't think of Harbor Freight. Though oddly as I look at their site the $20 one goes to 150 ft-lbs as you said, and then it's $100 to get 250 ft-lb. So the TEKTON is a much better deal for 250 ft-lb capacity. I ordered the TEKTON a couple hours ago for Thursday delivery. Will update once I use it.

On a tangential note, does anyone actually bother to drill out their shocks/struts to release the pressure before recycling them as the Toyota manual is guilting me into doing? Seems like a mildly hazardous operation. I was just going to toss them in the recycling bin as-is.

Yes. It's not all that dangerous - you're supposed to extend them first and then drill a hole in the side to release the pressure. It just makes life easier for the next guy.

No core charge?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Anyway. You already bought a new torque wrench, so problem solved, but I'm disappointed that nobody said something along the lines of "Have your neice or nephew do pullups on the end of a 24" breaker bar."

 

[herm0016]

if you weigh 175 you can stand on the breaker bar at 12 inches from the socket.

 

[NutBucket]

For 175 just crank the shit out of it. Besides, you're going to take it for an alignment anyway, right?

That's also why I have one of these: https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-1-2-in-Impact-Wrench-with-Hog-Ring-Anvil-DW293/203070254

 

[mindless1]

I know Autozone loans a 250 ft lb wrench, probably Advance Auto too, maybe also O'Reillys but beware that O'Reillys used to (may vary per store/manager) have a very short return period like 48 hours. Check their websites for tool availability but call to see if they have it in stock to save a trip there.

Since the exact torque on that is not critical I might just gauge it by feel but this is after doing a fair share of that, for something more critical like axle nuts I'd definitely get a torque wrench.

 

[EXCellR8]

Yea drilling the struts isn't too dangerous, especially if the strut is already bad, however I'm still mildly terrified of spring compression clamps. So much angry potential energy...

 

[Sukhoi]

Yea drilling the struts isn't too dangerous, especially if the strut is already bad, however I'm still mildly terrified of spring compression clamps. So much angry potential energy...

Oh, me too. I was going to have the fronts done at a shop until I realized I could buy the all-in-one strut sets that include springs.

 

[NutBucket]

Where's your sense of adventure and danger? LOL

But, using a spring compressor without an impact gun would royally suck.

 

[EXCellR8]

Yea they don't sell impact extensions long enough for that task.

 

[NutBucket]

You don't need a ton of torque. Doing it by hand just isn't feasible as you need to be able to hold everything in place. Therefore an impact extension isn't really necessary.

Just my experience.

 

[Midwayman]

You don't need a ton of torque. Doing it by hand just isn't feasible as you need to be able to hold everything in place. Therefore an impact extension isn't really necessary.

Just my experience.

I've done it by hand. More than once. Not fun, but totally possible. Having more than one person really helps.

 

[ElFenix]

Oh, me too. I was going to have the fronts done at a shop until I realized I could buy the all-in-one strut sets that include springs.

I got some of the all in ones and two orders in a row the passenger side one wasn't clocked properly and made noises while steering.

 

[Sukhoi]

I got some of the all in ones and two orders in a row the passenger side one wasn't clocked properly and made noises while steering.

I hope you didn't order Gabriel.

 

[ElFenix]

No, they were KYB

 

[Sukhoi]

A sort of update - I haven't done the work yet because I realized I might as well replace my dead TPMS sensors when I get the alignment done. I did buy the TEKTON wrench and it's surprisingly nice for the price. Haven't actually used it to see how well it clicks, but it's sturdy.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Just crank it down tight. It's not that critical to torque bolts like that. Guarantee if you took it to the dealer it would get put on with an impact driver.