Torque Wrenches

Which size torque wrench’s should I add to my tool box? I know I’ll need a couple. I have a 1/4” drive Pittsburg. I’d like to be able to cover everything from brakes, suspension components to transmission and lug nuts!

tell me drive sizes and ranges in those specific drive sizes. Recommend brands also!

 

We have a 3/8” inch pounds one and a 1/2” ftlbs one. Have adapters so either works with any of the socket sets.

 

Your standard mechanical torque wrenches are more accurate in the middle of their ranges than at the extremes. I wouldn't trust a 1/2" torque wrench that starts at 15 ft/lb to torque something to 15 ft/lb. Figure out the things you are going to be using it on and go from there. I can't think of anything higher than about 125 ft/lb on the suspension on our trucks, and any 1/2" that goes up to at least 150 ft/lb will be fine with that. The lower the torque the more specialized the tools will get. I've got single digit torque wrenches for working with carbon fiber because a few extra ft/lbs can crack parts. For our trucks a good 3/8" and 1/2" and maybe a 1/4" if you want to do the valve covers and you should be set.

 

The only thing off the top of my head that takes more than 125 ft/lbs on the suspension is the lower ball joint bolts - they are 200ish ft/lbs. I usually go that route to remove front struts rather than the upper ball joint. Also, once upon a time, I did have a tech tell the rear shock bolts are something like a 147 ft/lbs. I think he was on crack. Or maybe not. I was pretty sure they are in the 27 ft/lb range. But otherwise, ya - you don't see much more than that on suspension.

Oh, crank pulley is also a little over 200 ft/lbs but I can't think of many more bolts on the truck that most guys would come across.

I'm also ashamed to admit that I use an older Pittsburg 1/2" drive clicker torque wrench on most items on my truck. I also have beefier Husky 1/2" drive. I started with an old USA Craftsman 3/8" beam style torque wrench and still use it occasionally on smaller fasteners. There's also a 1/4" drive in/lb Pittsburg in the drawer.

I'm looking to replace them as well, so I'd be interested to hear some other opinions. As Milwaukee as the bed of my truck is, their $800 torque wrench is a hard sell for me. Ha.

 

And who doesn't like a little Project Farm...

 

I use this for heavy-duty stuff, it's such a back-saver with wheels and tires, and with split-beam you don't need to zero it out after use, as you do with most of the cheaper twist-lock wrenches:

$150 TEKTON 1/2" Drive 72-Tooth Split Beam Torque Wrench (40-250 ft.-lb.) TRQ62203

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4BFXNJ9

Note that only tightens, it won't loosen.

Cheap inch-lb wrench I've had since 2014, and it still tests within 10% of spec but I also set to 0 after every use:

$52 TEKTON 1/4" Drive Micrometer Torque Wrench (20-200 in.-lb.) | 24320

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C5ZL2EG

I bought this along with that one back in 2014, and it's been adjusted once since:

TEKTON 3/8" Drive Micrometer Torque Wrench (10-80 ft.-lb.) | 24330

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FMPKAD0

Yes, all Tekton. I bought the first two wrenches to replace an old band/needle unit because I got tired of how clumsy it was. Tekton makes fairly decent products, the first two were purchased before ICON @ HF was an option, and after Craftsman was already gone through its death throes.

 

I have an inch-pound Tekton that I really like for small stuff. After seeing a video review of torque wrenches (maybe the one posted) I got two new ICON wrenches. Certainly not cheap, but cheap for the quality you're getting. Depending on how much work you plan to do, the 20-100 ft/lb 3/8" is probably fine. I do most of my own work and that one got me through over a decade of working on my truck. But if you really want to have bases covered (which I finally decided to do just last year), having a 1/4" inch/lb plus a 3/8" 20-100 ft/lb plus a 1/2" 50-250 ft/lb (or something in those ranges) would be good.

As mentioned, with suspension and some other parts, you'll definitely be up well over 100 ft/lbs, but with some smaller bolts, you'll be in the teens. Using a 20-100 ft/lb wrench to tighten a 14 ft/lb bolt is asking to strip the threads. Using a 20-100 ft/lb wrench to tighten leaf spring shackles to 120 ft/lbs are whatever they require is kinda a shot in the dark as to accuracy.

 

Thanks everyone.

 

That Icon(HF) seems to be the best of both worlds.

 

It does. But it comes at a price tag, they're not cheap, but they're not Snap-On expensive either. Good thing about HF though, if you go to their site and sign up for an account and link your phone number + email they'll send you a digital receipt (and potentially coupons to use for your purchase, ahead of time). Yes, I know, it sucks giving out personal info. But with the digital receipt, if you save your emails or print the email off and tuck away, you can effectively return the tool as much as you like if it ever gets out of adjustment.

I will say, I bought the two non-splitbeam torque wrenches above both pre-Covid and pre-tarrifs, I got them for half what they're selling for today. I had a couple more than those from Tekton, but gave a couple to @Tundra2 a couple/few years back. I got the split-beam post-Covid but pre-tarrifs and it was 30% less than today. I'm glad I purchased before all the tarrif BS started and jacked up prices on everything, but feel bad for anyone paying extra for the intentional ongoing volatility that BS is causing. Looking back, I paid $136 for all three of the wrenches I linked, which is less than the split-beam costs today.

 

I’ve had a 1/2” tekton from Amazon for many years, only goes to 150. Bought an icon from hf about a year ago that goes 100-250. Then the one time I borrowed our snap on 3/4 drive from our shop when I lifted my diesel. One bolt required 480 lb ft and that 3/4 went to 600.

 

I’ve got a couple Craftsman’s 1/2 inch and a 3/8 I bought 50 years ago. Like Shifty said set them to a low setting to store. The ratchet head on my 1/2 started slipping so I bought a new Craftsman at Lowes for like $60. Only problem is that sucker is longer and doesn’t fit in my roll away.

 

I’ve got a craftsman 3/8” used for inch pounds to do delicate stuff like manifold gaskets and a Harbor Freight 1/2” 0-120 ft-lbs. would have been nice to look for a 0-250 ft-lbs and spending the extra money to do things like axle nuts (if they make them).