what torque wrenches are people using. I was looking on the SEARS website and came across these two that i though were reasonably priced. The one in the second link is available in stores but i was surprised to read the reviews. Let me know what brand and model you guys use and where you got it from. I'll primarily be using it to torque lug nuts. I need to get one asap. thanks


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

 

I did the same thing as you -- I was looking at the Sears Craftsman, and all of the reviewers said it was junk.

I bought this one, but haven't tried it yet.

http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/tools/tw605.jsp

RedAustinIX

 

I would say without fail the torque wrench as a tool has the "you get what you pay for" mentality assigned to it. Ive had terribly cheap ones, and I even had an electronic torque wrench which wasn't bad.

Remember, when done using the wrench, turn it back to zero to not affect the torque setting spec and every year I used to send mine off to have it calibrated. Might be over kill but when you have a 3000 dollar aluminum head that you want to last.....it seems like a cheap investment.

www.torquetools.com has quite the selection and though I have no personal experience, I have heard excellent things.

 

Craftsman is OK for wheel lugs, but they don't come with the lifetime guarantee and really can't be repaired. Sears carries SK, but they show a picture of the SK74256 while the text says it's a 251, which has a plastic grip and fixed head. If you want to muck around with the brakes and suspension, the 256 is worth it, you can get one for around $150.

Dave

 

u want the best.. go Snap-on ask any mechanic.
but it is expensive...
but its all i use

 

I broke a few craftsman sockets and when I had it in my hand at sears, the guy asked if I wanted to exchange em and they did it without any hassle and it was unexpected too. So I think YMMV. I have a craftsman torque wrench but the quality kinda sucks, I bought a couple of husky ones and they are really solid and strong for stuff like lugnuts and torquing over 100pounds/ft. But I cant say the same for their sockets and stuff as I broke one of those too lol

 

No, for wrenches and sockets and such it's no problem getting them replaced. They just don't warranty their torque wrenches and they can't repair them.

Dave

 

+1 On that. The Craftsman torque wrenches only carry a 1 year warranty. I've actually ruined a couple of Rays aluminum lugs because of a bad Craftsman wrench that was less than a year old. In this case you do get what you pay for.

 

home mechanic ought to be happy with the old fashion bar and meter gauge.
nothing to go wrong. I was surprised to learn my mechanic only uses them in his shop. but really for lug nuts anything close is good.

 

never had an issue with my craftsman.

dunno.

 

i also have the crafts man 150lb torque max....havne't had any issues yet either...only had it for a month now though, and used it for a clutch install.

 

Depends on what you mean by "issue." It's not that they won't turn a fastener and click, the problem is they can't be serviced. When accuracy matters torque wrenches need to be calibrated regularly. I have a really cheap Pittsburgh (though it feels better made than a Craftsman) that I use for wheel lugs. For that, close and repeatable is more important than real accuracy and it's only being used about the mid-point of its range. I can check it against the SK to make sure it's not too far off. And I don't feel bad when the idjit in the Camaro runs over it and the rest of my gear in the paddock!

Dave

 

Snap On TECH2FR100. The 3/8 drive or 1/2 drive TECH3FR250 are sweet. Both have audible and vibrating handles that let you know when you are getting close to and then reaching the set torque. Both offer in/lbs, ft/lbs & n/m scales. Expensive, but none better. If you plan to have only a few "top of the line" tools, this should be one of them.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

 

i've been using my craftsman for 2 years now with no problem (knock on wood). after every use, i set it back to zero. i don't use it for any precise torquing though, just lugs and things like that.

 

I have had my craftsman for about 5 years with no issue. I just had it check and calibrated at my work and it was within a few Nm on both the high and low ends (most torque wrenches are not as accurate at the extreme low). That being said I recently purchased one 3/8 and one 1/2 Snap-On wrench. And am thinking about getting a 1/4 for the smaller bolts.