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Torque wrenches?

AgaBoogaBoo

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
I need to get a torque wrench or two to use for working on my car.

I'm not looking for anything expensive, just the cheapest one that will do the job right. I was told by someone I need one for small nuts and bolts as well as one for wheels.

Any advice in terms of brand, pricing, where to buy, etc. is appreciated. I am fine with purchasing from ebay
 
Your friend is probally talking about an inch pound torque wrench. You dont really need one of those. Id just get a foot pound one. I bought mine from sears.
 
Craftsman torque wrenches ran about $70 for the cheapest one last time I checked. You can get them at Pep Boys or something for like $40, but they have these weird scale/dials.
 
Originally posted by: BigFatCow
Your friend is probally talking about an inch pound torque wrench. You dont really need one of those. Id just get a foot pound one. I bought mine from sears.
Click to expand...

I'll be needing one to work on things like rotors, would that require an inch-pound torque wrench?
 
See if there is a Harbor Freight in your area.

They have inexpensive air tools.
Chicago Pneumatic is a good brand if you don't want to buy a Blue Point or Snap-On and don't want a REAL cheap Harbor Freight brand.

Edit: Same goes for Torque wrenches (Harbor Freight) or I got a fair 1/2 drive from a Auto store (Napa) awhile back for cheap.

Edit #2: Also check your second hand stores/pawn shops!
 
I second harbor freight. I got a 1/2" one for super super cheap when they had a sale. It is the click type (vs the beam type which is horrible and the digital type which is very expensive) and it has been great. Comes with a case also.
 
a 3/8" will likely suit you fine. The only bolts on my car that are more the 80 ft-lbs are the crank pulley and axle nuts. Those I just torque on as much as I can pretty much (using a cheater bar😉)
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
a 3/8" will likely suit you fine. The only bolts on my car that are more the 80 ft-lbs are the crank pulley and axle nuts. Those I just torque on as much as I can pretty much (using a cheater bar😉)
Click to expand...

My lug nuts require 140ft/lbs.
 
Originally posted by: BigFatCow
Originally posted by: NutBucket
a 3/8" will likely suit you fine. The only bolts on my car that are more the 80 ft-lbs are the crank pulley and axle nuts. Those I just torque on as much as I can pretty much (using a cheater bar😉)
Click to expand...

My lug nuts require 140ft/lbs.
Click to expand...

The OP has a 91 Accord. 80ft-lbs on the lugs😉
 
Scale-type torque wrenches are a better buy, IMO. You don't really need to be within more than ~5 ft-lbs on most things, and the scale type wrenches will never go out of calibration. Plus they are cheaper.
 
Originally posted by: Brutuskend
See if there is a Harbor Freight in your area.

They have inexpensive air tools.
Chicago Pneumatic is a good brand if you don't want to buy a Blue Point or Snap-On and don't want a REAL cheap Harbor Freight brand.

Edit: Same goes for Torque wrenches (Harbor Freight) or I got a fair 1/2 drive from a Auto store (Napa) awhile back for cheap.

Edit #2: Also check your second hand stores/pawn shops!
Click to expand...


CP and IR are both quality impact wrenches. Snap-On are overpriced and no better.

 
You don't need those fancy torque wrenches. Just tighten, tighten, tighten, untill the bolt breaks. Than bacck it off 1/4 turn and you are good to go.
 
Originally posted by: laurenlex
You don't need those fancy torque wrenches. Just tighten, tighten, tighten, untill the bolt breaks. Than bacck it off 1/4 turn and you are good to go.
Click to expand...

Not quite. 🙂 Actually if you use a torque wrench enough, you get an idea of how tight you need to go. A lot of stuff on my car is in the 30 ft-lb range, so I've learned about how much effort I need to put on a standard socket wrench to get to roughly 30.
 
Originally posted by: laurenlex
You don't need those fancy torque wrenches. Just tighten, tighten, tighten, untill the bolt breaks. Than bacck it off 1/4 turn and you are good to go.
Click to expand...

hope you don't work under my car ever 🙂

Craftsman does NOT guarantee their torque wrenchs for life like their other tools, ie you break it, suck to your assmar. But what they will do is calibrate your TW for free.

depending on how often you are going to use it, that may be an issue, or a nonpoint as the case may be.
 
Originally posted by: laurenlex
You don't need those fancy torque wrenches. Just tighten, tighten, tighten, untill the bolt breaks. Than bacck it off 1/4 turn and you are good to go.
Click to expand...

LOL @ oldest mechanics joke on the planet.
 
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