Torque Wrenches
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 213
From: Pittsburgh PA
Torque Wrenches
You can buy a torque wrench for $50 or $200 or anywhere in between. There's 3/8" and 1/2" drives.
Looking for some guidance on what I should get for torquing chassis and engine nuts.
:cheers:
Looking for some guidance on what I should get for torquing chassis and engine nuts.
:cheers:
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,915
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Torque Wrenches (foundvettelifeisgood)
Uh-oh....I think were getting close here Jay. :D I have the old beam type torque wrench from Sears. I think I paid $30 about 20 years ago. I recently had the engine shop calibrate it and it was dead on correct. :hurray: BUT----I never dropped it or rode over it. :lol: There's a big clicker-type contingency here though. I had a clicker a few years back and wound up throwing it away. I set it for 50 ftlb and the &^%$*&# :cuss :cuss :reddevil thing never clicked.
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,915
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Torque Wrenches (1970 Stingray)
Oh, I have a 1/2 inch for the ftlb torque and a 3/8 for in.lb torque.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: fargo nd
Re: Torque Wrenches (1970 Stingray)
I have a click type torgue wrench from Craftsman, was about $60 when I bought it. Never had a problem with it. Biggest thing you have to remember once you buy your torque wrench is that it should be set on its lowest setting when done using it and should never be used to loosen a bolt
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,046
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Re: Torque Wrenches (foundvettelifeisgood)
foundvettelifeisgood,
Three torque wrenches: 1/2" with max about 150 ft-lbs, 3/8" with max about 80 ft-lbs, and 3/8" with max about 250 inch-lbs.
I try not to use any torque wrench near its maximum or minimum rating.
All these wrenches are "clicker" type.
For suspension work the lower rear control arm to crossmember bolt torque is 95 ft-lbs. Front wheel bearing torque (before backing off and re-setting by hand) is about 140 inch-lbs.
Rear suspension camber cam nut is about 120 ft-lbs. Bolts that hold clamps for the propeller shaft and half shaft u-joints are torqued to about 150 inch-lbs. Quite a range.
If you are on a budget, you might see if you can borrow a "High Torque" wrench for those times you need it. A medium and a low range torque wrench is pretty useful.
For the high range and medium range torque wrenchs, you could get less expensive "bar" type wrenchs and calibrate them against a known good quality "clicker" type wrench.
Three torque wrenches: 1/2" with max about 150 ft-lbs, 3/8" with max about 80 ft-lbs, and 3/8" with max about 250 inch-lbs.
I try not to use any torque wrench near its maximum or minimum rating.
All these wrenches are "clicker" type.
For suspension work the lower rear control arm to crossmember bolt torque is 95 ft-lbs. Front wheel bearing torque (before backing off and re-setting by hand) is about 140 inch-lbs.
Rear suspension camber cam nut is about 120 ft-lbs. Bolts that hold clamps for the propeller shaft and half shaft u-joints are torqued to about 150 inch-lbs. Quite a range.
If you are on a budget, you might see if you can borrow a "High Torque" wrench for those times you need it. A medium and a low range torque wrench is pretty useful.
For the high range and medium range torque wrenchs, you could get less expensive "bar" type wrenchs and calibrate them against a known good quality "clicker" type wrench.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,386
Likes: 3
From: far, far away
Re: Torque Wrenches (foundvettelifeisgood)
I have a Craftsman and two Husky torque wrenches, all clickers. The Craftsman's plastic indicator ring broke, and when I took it back to Sears (hey, it's a Craftsman, right? guaranteed forever, right? AJ Foyt said so!) and that's when I found out that the Craftsman guarantee DOES NOT APPLY to torque wrenches. You'd think they'd point that out when you buy one.
Husky torque wrenches, on the other hand ARE guaranteed forever by Home Depot. I've got the 3/8" for in/lbs and the 1/2" for ft/lbs. :seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 8:36 AM 1/16/2003]
Husky torque wrenches, on the other hand ARE guaranteed forever by Home Depot. I've got the 3/8" for in/lbs and the 1/2" for ft/lbs. :seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 8:36 AM 1/16/2003]
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,135
Likes: 3,939
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: Torque Wrenches (foundvettelifeisgood)
The clicker wrenches are good, as are the beam type for general work. If you rebuild the differential or steering box you'll need a very good dial in/lb wrench like the type Snap-On has.
Gary
Gary
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Torque Wrenches (foundvettelifeisgood)
To me the torque wrench is one of the most important tools in my box. If you can afford only one get a 1/2 inch drive. Torquing some of the head bolts is too much for a 3/8th drive. I like the click type so I don't have to watch the dial. Also only use it for torquing not as a breaker bar for tight nuts.
Get a good one, take care and it and it will last a lifetime.
Get a good one, take care and it and it will last a lifetime.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Re: Torque Wrenches (Gator81)
I have a Craftsman and two Husky torque wrenches, all clickers. The Craftsman's plastic indicator ring broke, and when I took it back to Sears (hey, it's a Craftsman, right? guaranteed forever, right? AJ Foyt said so!) and that's when I found out that the Craftsman guarantee DOES NOT APPLY to torque wrenches. You'd think they'd point that out when you buy one.
Husky torque wrenches, on the other hand ARE guaranteed forever by Home Depot. I've got the 3/8" for in/lbs and the 1/2" for ft/lbs. :seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 8:36 AM 1/16/2003]
Husky torque wrenches, on the other hand ARE guaranteed forever by Home Depot. I've got the 3/8" for in/lbs and the 1/2" for ft/lbs. :seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 8:36 AM 1/16/2003]
Racer
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 257
Likes: 1
From: st. louis mo
Re: Torque Wrenches (foundvettelifeisgood)
I just purchased the new Snap on electronic torque wrench. It is 3/8 and works from 5 ft lb to 100ftlb. I will never use another torque wrench. It never needs to be set to zero for storage. It buzzs when you hit the set torque and also tells you what torque you actually hit. You will be amazed at how bad you are with the basic click torque wrench. You can switch from in lb to ft lb to nw mt with the push of a button.
