What is a Suitable and Decent Torque Wrench

[Two Emms]

As you intend using this torque wrench for wheel nuts (at first, who knows what it may lead to )
make sure the socket you use is six sided (on the inside that is) not one of the usual multi faced jobs. Whilst a decent multi faced socket may not slip under decent torque, a six sided one wont slip. No damaged wheel nuts, no bad words.

[Seigried]

I have the aldi 1/2 28-243Nm one and a HRD 1/4 2-24Nm. Just need a 3/8 to cover the gap.

I use the aldi one on my wheels with a long impact socket to clear the wheel face.

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[Jasonmc73]

I was beginning to think that the SCA ToolPro wrench was pretty good value for a mid range item. However, all torque wrenches will go out of calibration and it appears that on this one, there is no obvious facility to recalibrate it.



Cheers . . . a (slightly) more informed apprentice.

In relation to calibration, if you invest in Aldi wrench as example & ever worked out its incorrect.

No need to calibrate this unit as its $30.

Throw is away & buy a new one with calibration certificate

UNLESS you are putting fuel tank fittings in a space rocket of course?

Or rebuilding drag cars on weekends etc.

[disco stu]

There aren't too many places that are that critical for torque that you need to stress too much I think. I would say 95+% of wheel nuts installed are done without torque wrench (never see mechanics or tyre shops use torque wrench) and it rarely if ever causes issues, so even an incorrect torque wrench will be way better than normal

[WHID]

Thank you lads. Lots of very good advice here, all of which has given me some direction. Thank you.

I nearly went for the Warren & Brown device, but thought it was probably a bit of over-kill given I'm currently only planning on torquing wheel nuts.

Ended up purchasing a Total Tools wrench (1/2" SD 40Nm - 210 Nm) - a mid-price tool. Also purchased a couple of longish impact sockets - one for the nuts on each of my cars.

Impact sockets? Yep, well, who knows? I might just purchase a rattle gun at some time. Now, there's a scary thought . . . me with a rattle gun. Watch out! . . . stripped and stretched threads from here to breakfast time.

If you need me, I'll be out in the driveway, servicing my anal needs (not sure I like that expression) and torquing wheel nuts - all 44 of them. A delightful way of killing time in this confounded isolation . . . don'tcha think?

Cheers . . . your local thread stretcher.

[Scooby]

Now that you have the tension wrench it is time to read up on what lubricants do to tensions, this also includes anti seize compounds.
Basically putting grease on threads will have you over tensioning by double.
The grease reduces the friction so the resistance is halved.

[Jasonmc73]

Now that you have the tension wrench it is time to read up on what lubricants do to tensions, this also includes anti seize compounds.
Basically putting grease on threads will have you over tensioning by double.
The grease reduces the friction so the resistance is halved.

It will certainly increase the clamping force applied.

I've often wondered about this, I was taught to apply lubricant to head bolts & under head of the bolt, which increases clamping force is why we obviously do this at given torque force applied to bolt thread.

But lube or no lube did i apply extra force to that bolt by lubing thread? I still used the same 6 foot bar on it? Or did I just allow higher clamping pressure to be applied by that thread/ bolt due to less friction in the thread with same torque applied to the bolt?

[rgrubby]

Now that you have the tension wrench it is time to read up on what lubricants do to tensions, this also includes anti seize compounds.
Basically putting grease on threads will have you over tensioning by double.
The grease reduces the friction so the resistance is halved.

That is an interesting point I hadn't realised.
Thanks

[Scooby]

Just an example on big yellow dump trucks.
Wheel nut tension
Dry 1200 lb/ft
Wet (anti seize) 700 lb/ft
If tensioned to 1200 lb/ft with anti seize would snap studs strip nuts to the point wheels would be almost falling off.
So always read the spec’s.
A nut and bolt may seam simple but it just depends what it does.

[WHID]

Yep! I'm ahead of you on that one, Scooby.

Love him or hate him, John Cadogan has a good video covering that. From memory (that's always suss, so I could be wrong), I think he said reduce the torque setting by 30%. There's other material around as well.

I like the idea and have been tempted to go down that particulat (anti-seize) track. However, it is likely that all that TLC puts at risk the wheel studs, their threads and the rotors when the vehicle is subsequently put in the hands of someone else - e.g. a service person or tyre dealer (who is unaware/non-thinking/non-observant). Then, it may all go pear-shaped, especially when the rattle gun comes out.

Thanks for the heads-up anyway.

Cheers . . . dry thread Theo.

[Two Emms]

Now that you have the tension wrench it is time to read up on what lubricants do to tensions, this also includes anti seize compounds.
Basically putting grease on threads will have you over tensioning by double.
The grease reduces the friction so the resistance is halved.

.....and then there is the case of thread locking compounds. looks like a reduction of 15 - 20% needs to be factored in.

https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/tech-talk/3210-adjusting-torque-values-for-loctite

Just gets more and more complex

In OPs case they are wheel nuts. No threadlocking compounds involved. I have taken wheels on and off for many many years and never used a tension wrench. So far none have fallen off. So far.....

[twisted32]

Thank you lads. Lots of very good advice here, all of which has given me some direction. Thank you.

I nearly went for the Warren & Brown device, but thought it was probably a bit of over-kill given I'm currently only planning on torquing wheel nuts.

Ended up purchasing a Total Tools wrench (1/2" SD 40Nm - 210 Nm) - a mid-price tool. Also purchased a couple of longish impact sockets - one for the nuts on each of my cars.

Impact sockets? Yep, well, who knows? I might just purchase a rattle gun at some time. Now, there's a scary thought . . . me with a rattle gun. Watch out! . . . stripped and stretched threads from here to breakfast time.

If you need me, I'll be out in the driveway, servicing my anal needs (not sure I like that expression) and torquing wheel nuts - all 44 of them. A delightful way of killing time in this confounded isolation . . . don'tcha think?

Cheers . . . your local thread stretcher.

Just make sure you back off the spring tension after use. Not doing this is the quickest way to upset the calibration in any spring tension style torque wrench...

[WHID]

. . . make sure you back off the spring tension after use . . .

Thanks Twisted . . . Hmm! . . . and I thought I was the only (twisted) one . . .

[Jasonmc73]

I do agree with all the comments,

When i worked for Costain whom was brought out by Peabody resources underground in the mines, we use to paint anti seize like using butter on bread.
It works hence it's called anti seize, does just that funny enough.

Also vibrating/ rattling continuous miners the company use to hire out to coal mines along with the rattling tunnel borers were assembled with loctite again like using butter on bread, how do i know because i had to use an oxy torch to melt it, to take it apart & if your not careful it spits at you.

Sometimes we can over complicate things me thinks with tension & wrenches,

I do like the idea of tension wrench wheel nuts or just learn how many hugger duggers they need.
For me with std wheel brace they need one good foot push each when dry . This tension will be different for strong males as i'm only weak.

I'm only late 40's so plenty of time yet, but i've never busted a wheel stud ever, with a 400 Ft/Lb Milwaukee I reckon you could or maybe 4 foot length of pipe on a vehicle i'm talking about.

The only reason i will use Anti seize on a 4wd is dirt & salt.
In my life & each to there own of course, but Anti seize is what it is, it is used for stopping threads becoming seized & it works for me, again each to there own.

Be careful how many hugger duggers you use is a good tip in my humble not very educated opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7UDy7B0-m8

[artymr2]

Rattle guns are good for taking nuts off. Wouldn’t use it to tighten. The cordless ones are very handy.

For wheel nuts the absolute accuracy of torque wrench isn’t that critical, it’s the consistency that each nut is the same tension. Can help avoiding warped discs etc especially if you really use the brakes eg racetrack.

Cheers