I'm in the market for a torque wrench (going to do the spark plug install soon). What brand/model do you guys recommend? Is there "one" that will serve most of the purposes/things that I would do with the 3G TL?

Honestly, while I know what a torque wrench does, I pretty much know nothing about brands/types of torque wrenches, or which sizes (if this even makes sense) to use for typical DIY projects on the car.

Thanks in advance!

 

What's your budget?

 

I'm the type that's willing to pay as long as it's still a good bang for your buck. I will usually not purchase a top-of-the-line model. Something that is perhaps a "performance" piece, but not "ultra peformance". What are the price ranges for various grades of torque wrenches?

 

I have a Husky, from home depot.

 

+1. 10-100 ft./lbs.

 

Well, they can get to be a several hundred dollars.

I use this one: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...5x000001&aff=Y

I like the fact that I can see an actually # on the display, instead of using imprints on the actual wrench.

 

So something like this, right?: http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardw...atalogId=10053

I'm assuming there's pretty much nothing that needs to be torqued beyond 100ft-lb...

 

^
That one should do you just fine.

 

10 - 100 lb-ft is a tad short. There are a few bolts (caliper bolts come to mind @ 125 lb-ft.) that need more.

I'd look at something like 25 - 150 lb-ft. Up to ~25 you can guesstimate pretty well.

 

I'm reading the reviews on the Sears Craftsman torque wrenches and it appears that the commn complaint is that they break quite easily and there's essentially only a 90-day warranty, which is unlike all other Craftsman tools (lifetime). Hmm..

 

I'm thinking perhaps this one: http://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-850...3985326&sr=1-1

Anyone have this one? If so, how is it?

 

That can be a legitimate concern.

I've had mine for a couple of years with no problems. I had a Craftsman torque wrench prior to that one which I returned after 1 year, and they gave me a full refund.

It was only used ~3x during that span, though.

 

Snap-On makes some of the most expensive tools in the world, but I've heard bad things about their torque wrenches as well.

You can always go to Harbor Freight and pick one up for < $20.

 

Get at least up to 125 and 1/2" drive.

 

Man, I know it's not top of the line, but my $30 Pittsburgh 10-150 ft-lb does the trick for what I do. It's 1/2", so I just use adapters to for 3/8" and 1/4" sockets.

Ebay or Harbor Freight.

 

I've had the same one for the last few years with no issues.

 

I did the same. I bought the 3/8 and 1/2 inch versions at Harbor Freight and still saved money over buying one at Sears. HF's torque wrenches are often on sale and you can pick one up for 20-25 bucks. The Harbor Freight tools work fine for my occasional use. I tried my torque wrench against a neighbor's Craftsman (equivalent but more expensive) and both wrenches clicked appropriately at the same setting. That's good enough for me. I know quite a few former tool snobs that have changed their thoughts on HF tools the last 5 years. HF tools will not be the best but they are certainly good enough for most people (professionals and nons alike).

 

Lb-ft, not Ft-lbs.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque#Units

 

I have this sears torque wrench. Its awesome and quite affordable.

-t


Caliper bolts arent 125 ft/lb are they? The repair manual have shows them to be 80 at most. Or are you referring to brembos?

 

I wonder if those ones really broke or just started slipping.

I thought mine broke as it popped then would just slip right away trying to use it. Took the head apart and I couldn't see anything wrong with it. Just cleaned up the components even though they didn't seem dirty, reassembled it and it has worked fine for a year+ since. I might have put a touch of lithium grease inside on the rocker, can't remmeber now.

 

Yes, the Brembos are 125 ft-lb, and spark plugs 13 ft-lb.

I've had a craftsman for years, but the locking mechanism on the original fractured, returned it to Sears to and although it did not caryy the Lifetime warranty, after speaking to the manager, got a replacement, no charge.

 

Also make sure you get foot lbs and not inch lbs. Summit racing has some in the $30 range, I wouldn't buy HB stuff just because it's too cheap to be quality stuff.

 

You didn't have to recalibrate the wrench after disassembling it?

 

I have the 3/8" drive Sears/Craftsman. I've had it for like 5 years and it has worked fine, although I only use it like 3 times/year. Personally I wish I would have bought a Husky from Home Depot. In general, I feel their tools are the same quality as Sears/Craftsman, but cheaper. I think Sears has been riding on their reputation as the "go-to" brand for home mechanics since the 70's and 80's and their prices are jacked slightly because of that.

My 2 cents, get either the Husky or the Pittsburgh (cheap!) from Harbor Freight. If you are only using it a few times/year, it will probably hold up fine.

Another question worth considering: Does it come with its own case? I paid extra for the Craftsman case, but a lot of other brands include the case with the wrench. I like keeping the torque wrench in its own molded case because I have heard the mechanisms are kind if sensitive. That could just be my anal nature showing through though.

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/showpos...9&postcount=18 -





It hasn't been mentioned yet, but Autozone has free loaners as well (torque wrenches and other tools). You make a depost, use the tool, return it (within 1 week? 3 days?) and get your deposit back.

I've done this MANY times.

 

Exactly what I did. Make sure when they are not in use and stored to adjust them down to their lowest setting. This is supposed to keep them as accurate as possible; something to do with spring load?

 

I would be very leary of them!! I used one of their "loaners" once, and found out the hard way that it was badly out of calibration. How did I find this out? It never clicked and I twisted the head of a bolt off on a caliper guide pin. Had to scramble to find a replacement (stealership didnt stock em).

In my opinion, just buy one new. Better odds that it is properly calibrated.



-t



It hasn't been mentioned yet, but Autozone has free loaners as well (torque wrenches and other tools). You make a depost, use the tool, return it (within 1 week? 3 days?) and get your deposit back.

I've done this MANY times. [/quote]

 

 

Exactly. I'm not using mine everyday for a shop or anything, so my occasional Tranny fluid change, rotor changes, etc. won't stress it too much.

 

Snap-On end of story.

I've done the tests where you can see how accurate your torque wrench is. I've tried my old Craftsman and Harbor freight along with another no-name one. Believe me, there is a difference. The cheaper ones "broke" inconsistantly and some were off by over 19lbs .

I assemble my own engines and this is completely unacceptable.

If you want a wrench that will last a lifetime while being extremely accurate and consistant, don't go cheap. Snap-On is by far the best.

 

Snap-on:

Torque Wrench, Electronic, Flex Ratchet, 25 to 250 ft. lbs., 1/2" drive Stock #: TECH3FRM250 TECHMEMORY™ Electronic Torque Wrenches include
$775.00
Might be the best as my cousin has this model, but I think I'll pass.

 

I bought a 3/8" and 1/2" about 5-6 years ago for around $350 each. You also have to figure it's the last one you will ever buy.

I do have a decent Craftsman that I use for things like lug nuts and other things that just have to be close but not perfect. Things like head studs, mains and rod bolts, and many other things that have to be precise get the Snap-on.

 

i have done fine with mine from HF... harborfrieght or northerntool...

 

Good to hear.

 

One more question: Rigid or flex head? Which one should I get for use on cars?

 

On a related note, I think I'm going to go with Precision Instruments, split beam style, not micrometer (click-type). Seems like these last longer and don't have the disadvantages of micrometer style wrenches..

 

Snap On. I have a 3/8" drive and 1/4" drive. I bought them both off Ebay. They came with cases and are in mint condition. The calibration shop said he didn't think they were even used. Paid $225 for the pair. Off the the truck would have been over $500.

 

my box consist of various crapman,husky,gear wrench,snap on. I realized I stop buying snap on for one reason. It's just the name. Yes quality sort of but the rest of my tools are lifetime and for 1/5 the price so why buy snap on. When in fact I did snap one ahahah. Snap on is more for show to me. I got some but I stop buying. I can use the extra for more mods lol.

 

If I was a professional mechanic then I would buy Snap-on or some other higher end brand. Craftsman has gone downhill over the years so it wouldn't be Craftsman which may be a tad better than HF now. Since I'm not a professional and don't plan on torquing rod bolts and other engine internals, I'm fine with Harbor Freight.

I guess the question comes down to what you're going to do and how expensive it gets if you torque the item wrong. For lug nuts, sway bar bolts and other mundane items a HF torque wrench is pretty good and certainly beats no torque wrench which is what many shade-tree mechanics rely on.

I changed my Harbor Freight outlook about 7 years ago when I borrowed a friends HF Tile saw (that was well used) and did a tile job on our bathroom floor. That little saw performed every bit as well as the more expensive Target saws that I have used in the past. It made nice cuts and was easy to use. After that experience, I have bought HF tools and they have performed very well for me. The real deal is the HF LED stick trouble-light - those things are nice!

 

I was a professional mechanic early in my life and I can tell you Snap-on is worth every penny. I spent a small fortune stocking my toobox up with Matco tools which actually look better than Snap-on. You find out real quick you get what you pay for. Broken sockets, wrenches that spread apart on the open end, box ends that don't fit tight and strip bolts, the list goes on and on. I actually used my 1/2" 600lb impact gun on my Snap-on chrome sockets (non impact sockets) and never broke one. I broke every Matco and Craftsman I ever tried that on.

They're not necessary for the home mechanic but it makes life easier knowing you're not going to strip anything out. When I started off doing just R&R work in a transmission shop, time was everything. There were certain PITA issues like some of the Ford torque convertor bolts that stripped if you even looked at them wrong. Before I replaced my Matcos with Snap-ons I would borrow a co-worker's 14mm Snap-on socket for those bolts. One stripped bolt could double the time it takes to remove a transmission.

Many tools may have a lifetime warranty but in the 3 years I was a mechanic using the tools every single working day I had no warranty claims with the Snap-ons. With my Matcos I would make a pile of broken tools for the weekly tool guy visit and every two weeks I would go and exchange my broken Craftsman tools.

I wouldn't stock my home toolbox with Snap-ons if I didn't still have some of my left over stuff from my mechanic days but when it comes to critical things like torque wrenches it's worth it. Of course, lug nuts aren't that critical but if you do any sort of engine work the expensive stuff is worth every penny.