Torque wrench
 

Hey everyone,

I was looking to buy a torch wrench in order to take better care of my wheels and brake rotors...

I have/heard of 3 types...

1. Dial gauge type, you tighten until the needle points to the torque you want.

2. Click type, you count the number of clicks until you get the right torque.

3. Set it and tighten it type, the one where you set a number at the end of the handle and then use on bolt, it stops you automatically and will not let you tighten any futher....

P.S. LOL How do you use a torque wrench? Do you hand tighten until bolt reaches surface and then use torque wrench or what?

Thanks for the help.

I don't know about torque wrenches with which you count clicks.

I'm familiar with the kind that click when they get to a certain torque value. It's up to you to stop applying force.

If all you need is something for wheels, I imagine the torque wrenches from www.harborfreight.com are good enough. You might want something from a more established brand for engine work.

I have something like this for wheels -

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=239

and something like this for when I'm more concerned about accuracy and precision -

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=46691

There isn't much to using a torque wrench. Either you read the value of the pointer or you listen/feel the indication that you've reached the set value. I don't know about torque wrenches that stop at a certain point. If you're still applying force, it has to transmit that force to the nut or bolt or it has to release sending you flying across the room.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

You can either hand-tighten or use any wrench/ratchet to tighten, but only until it's just getting snug. Research the torque you'll be needing to apply; torque wrenches are rated to operate only within specific ranges (i.e. 10 to 75 ft. lbs.)

You've got the click-type confused. You set the target torque (as in #3), and when you're ready to torque down, you tighten slowly until you hear a click. Most people will then release the pressure and do the tightening motion again, releasing pressure after each click, for 2 or 3 clicks.

That's a good point. To set the torque on a series of bolts, it's best to go around in a pattern and tighten the bolts evenly. This usually means in steps. To tighten wheel lugs to 80 lbft, pretend each bolt is numbered from 1 to 5 in a circle. Tighten each bolt to 50 lbft, then 65 lbft then 80 lbft in a sequence like 1-3-5-2-4.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Excellent!

So just use the star pattern to tighten the lugs and start with a lower value, then work the way up....

I am just a bit confused when you say that after it clicks (Where you set it and then tighten...), you do it once and hear a click.. then you are supposed to stop right? (YOu say that most people stop and then repeat the process again... wouldn't that overtorque?)

Sorry for my ignorance! :D

The repeats are just to make sure the bolts are at the proper final torque. It won't over-torque if you're careful and stop applying torque when you hear the wrench click.