Which torque wrench?

group35sucks · 05-14-2008, 10:54 PM

I'm going to be doing tie-rods/ball-joints/bushings and i'll be needing a torque wrench, what range/rating torque wrench would cover most of the work i'll be doing on my car in the future? also, will i need a combination one with multiple readings(inch/foot pounds).

Never bought a torque wrench before so any advice is appreciated.

F0Bman · 05-14-2008, 11:22 PM

I say get a snap on half inch

Gairloch · 05-15-2008, 05:15 AM

You don't need to spend nearly that much money unless you're a pro and going to be using it all the time. I use a powerbuilt half inch that I got from Checker for $40. It has been benchmarked to be very accurate (I got it because of an article in Grassroots Motorsports magazine.) and checker offers a lifetime over the counter replacement warranty.

Looks like they've even lowered their price on it.

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...egoryCode=3418

Ben · 05-15-2008, 12:35 PM

Snap On 1/2 drive with torque range of 50-250 ft/lbs. The only torque wrench you need for inch/lbs is your hand and a regular ratchet!

TomsMR2 · 05-18-2008, 06:37 AM

^ wtf, no way. you need an inch pound torque wrench for tons of gaskets on the engine. gaskets last longer properly torqued, oil pans dont leak when you dont guess on a spec. if anything you can skimp on the big torque wrench and do "real damn tight" for all the suspension and chassis bolts, but all those little inch pound pound and 20-50 ft/lbs bolts really do need to be tightened down with a torque wrench!

one big bolt going into a hole just needs to be tight enough to not fall out, and loose enough to not break the bolt.. theres a huge margin between those two points. when you're dealing with something like headbolts, or rod bolts, or gasket bolts, the difference is pretty small, and having accurate properly ranged tools starts to matter more and more. i dont torque a lot of things, but if its on an engine and is calling for inch/lbs, the torque wrench comes out every single time.

you cant buy just one torque wrench. for the job you're doing, a 25-150 ft/lbs 1/2 inch drive will work fine. if you do more work, you will need more torque wrenches.

05-14-2008, 10:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
group35sucks I have various skills Join Date: May 2008 Location: california Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Which torque wrench? I'm going to be doing tie-rods/ball-joints/bushings and i'll be needing a torque wrench, what range/rating torque wrench would cover most of the work i'll be doing on my car in the future? also, will i need a combination one with multiple readings(inch/foot pounds). Never bought a torque wrench before so any advice is appreciated.

05-15-2008, 05:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,854 Thanks: 125 Thanked 258 Times in 228 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	You don't need to spend nearly that much money unless you're a pro and going to be using it all the time. I use a powerbuilt half inch that I got from Checker for $40. It has been benchmarked to be very accurate (I got it because of an article in Grassroots Motorsports magazine.) and checker offers a lifetime over the counter replacement warranty. Looks like they've even lowered their price on it. http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...egoryCode=3418 __________________ "Inside the car, the world beyond the driver's immediate horizon ceases to exist. Alone with the solitude of his desire, survival sense numbed by the speed, he's outrun the mediocrity of the outside world, slipped the shackles it tries to clamp on us all. He is running free, chased only by a fear of failure, for failure is to risk ejection into the real world." ~Mark Hughes

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05-14-2008, 11:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
F0Bman Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 257 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I say get a snap on half inch

05-15-2008, 12:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ben Same In The End Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oceanside, CA / Reno, NV Posts: 3,928 Thanks: 18 Thanked 276 Times in 258 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (11/100% )	Snap On 1/2 drive with torque range of 50-250 ft/lbs. The only torque wrench you need for inch/lbs is your hand and a regular ratchet!

05-18-2008, 06:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
TomsMR2 Formerly Tom Brokaw Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area Posts: 2,497 Thanks: 8 Thanked 233 Times in 168 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	^ wtf, no way. you need an inch pound torque wrench for tons of gaskets on the engine. gaskets last longer properly torqued, oil pans dont leak when you dont guess on a spec. if anything you can skimp on the big torque wrench and do "real damn tight" for all the suspension and chassis bolts, but all those little inch pound pound and 20-50 ft/lbs bolts really do need to be tightened down with a torque wrench! one big bolt going into a hole just needs to be tight enough to not fall out, and loose enough to not break the bolt.. theres a huge margin between those two points. when you're dealing with something like headbolts, or rod bolts, or gasket bolts, the difference is pretty small, and having accurate properly ranged tools starts to matter more and more. i dont torque a lot of things, but if its on an engine and is calling for inch/lbs, the torque wrench comes out every single time. you cant buy just one torque wrench. for the job you're doing, a 25-150 ft/lbs 1/2 inch drive will work fine. if you do more work, you will need more torque wrenches.