Boy, did I learn a lesson.

When I removed my front wheels to check the wear on the front rotors, I thought to myself "Boy those guys at the tire shop who rotated my tires for me sure over-tightened the lug nuts." But then I realized that I had never checked the calibration of my click-style torque wrench and perhaps it was my wrench that was wrong.

So I weighed a few items to hang from the wrench when clamped in a bench vice and compared the actual torque to the setting on the handle. After getting sidetracked by some bad online advice on how to adjust the calibration of this style of torque wrench, I got it set up. After reassembly, I found that it was spot on at 35 ft-lbs but at a setting of 130 ft-lbs the actual torque was only 100 ft-lbs. At least I was not over tightening things and what I did tighten with it was done consistently. However, with my torque wrench, my lug nuts were only tightened to 80 ft-lbs.

For the time being I made a table so that I can set it correctly although I will be budgeting to get a quality new torque wrench in the future. Any suggestions for a quality torque wrench?

 

What's the budget?

You can't get much better than Snap-On, in my opinion. Fortunately, I work for the government, and we get a significant discount.

 

I might consider upwards or a bit above $120. I'm not familiar with the price breaks for the different levels of quality and reliability. But if a $50 one gets the job done then so be it.

 

Might be heresy, but I always liked gearwrench for cheap but capable tools

 

My Harbor Freight cheap-o works great so far. But it doesn't get enough use to give a fair review.

 

To anybody who tries IMO your wasting time and energy trying to recal, even if you do manage to get it somewhat close it will change quickly as inners are weakened

Proto 1/2'' click - been used to death and still accurate - it was bought when I was in my early teens and oh ya I'm now 61

 

For the torque wrench I have now, the question is if my conversion between the actual torque to the setting on the handle is stable over time. It is something I'll spot check now and then, if for no other reason to satisfy my curiosity. But I'm sure the internal main spring is deformed, hence my question about recommendations for a quality replacement.

Thanks for the suggestion on the Proto wrench.

 

Do you turn your torque wrench down to its lowest setting when you're not using it? The spring will last much longer if you do.

 

Always set back to zero and I NEVER EVER lend it out

 

I found that there is a torque wrench by Snap-On called CDI that goes for about $145.

Have any of you heard of it? Is it worth it?

1503MFRMH

https://www.snaponindustrialbrands.c...e-wrenches.htm