I was at the local Pep Boys yesterday I found a cheap torque wrench in the bargain bin. The price was $12~. I was thinking of picking up one just to torque down lug nuts. Good idea? Now I wouldn't use it to rebuild an engine but it should be OK for wheel use.

 

You get what you pay for.

Here is a "good" cheap one http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/tools/tw605.jsp

 

^ +1 i use that one.

after my $200+ one fell off the shelf, i decided to try a cheepo and it
works pretty darn well for a cheepo. for just doing lugs, i recommend it.

 

Do you mean to say you wouldn't use it for some things such as sway bar installs or similiar things? Or is it that you've only used it for lugs? I've been looking for one and must say the one listed on Tirerack looks to be a very good deal.

 

That looks not bad. chows4us, you said "You get what you pay for", so what is the difference when compare this one to those $100+ ones? I am looking for one too, but most I found on the web are quite expensive.

 

Some i seen are all over $100. Digital ones over $500.

I believe its in the accuracy of the wrench. The instructions even tell you do so something (forget what right now) to make sure its accurate. Lug nuts are plus/minus a few foot pounds so accurace isnt all that important. On the other hand, if your torquing down bolts on the head, I would imagine you want it exact.

I do not believe "good" mechanics skimp on their tools anymore than a musician would skimp on the quality of the instruments they buy. Since I am most definitely NOT a mechanic and not going to change my head, its good enuff for me. But I woulnd't buy a $10 special in bin either.

 

I have a $10 Harbor Freight torque wrench I use at autocrosses for torqueing my wheel lugs down, and I even use it as a breaker bar for loosening the lugs. In my shop I have several Sears Craftsman torque wrenches that I trust more for critical torque values like for teariong apart an engine. There are definitely more accurate ones out there than the $60 torque wrenches I have from Sears (for a lot more money), but mine have served me very well over the years.

 

One Bimmerforums member tested several wrenches with a torque tester some years back. He found that the Chinese wrenches from Harbor Freight were the least accurate. One wrench was more than 100% off; he set it to 80 ft-lbs, and it didn't click until 200 ft-lbs.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...3&postcount=24

 

I have the TireRack one. I like it, but I have noticed a couple of times it doesn't reset and I've gone past the torque set limit. Used it for my strut tower bolts as well.

 

What's your life worth to you: $12, $29.95, $83.74, etc.?

I use my torque wrenches for just about everything that needs to be tightened to a specific setting. Whether it be the lug bolts or the oil filter, I trust my torque wrench to get the job done right.

Don't go the cheapest, get something of at least acceptable accuracy like Craftsman or Snap-On. When you apply the brakes and your left front wheel and tire just keep on going isn't the time to decide you should have spent the extra $$ and gotten a decent tool.

 

i won't use it for anything other than doing lugs.

 

That is the same torque wrench Harbor Freight sells for $10. I have 2 of them and have been very happy, only difference is it comes in a red case.

 

Every tool maker has a torque wrench and like most have said you get what you pay for... you dont want to cheap out on the torque wrench. Here is something that may help...
Snap-on QD3FR250 $265
Matco TRC250A $264
Mac TWF8250A $259
Craftsman Pro 934187 $240
all these are 50-250 ft lbs range and all would do the job well, but like mentioned you gotta take care of them or their accuracy will go down.

 

I wouldn't even trust the cheapo ones for doing lugs. I'm somewhat peculiar about torque specs so I think you should plunk down some money for a decent one. I use a Snap-On 50-250ftlb clicktype. I'll probably get a digital snap on one sometime in the future as it's very handy (does Nm and ftlbs)

 

I'm using a $100 Craftsman one that covers all the torques I'll need on the MINI and has metric and standard units right next to each other. I love it, I'll use it forever and if it breaks sears will replace it. I saw it as much more of an investment than a purchase cause I'll be doing all my own maintance out of warranty. I've also gotten so used to feeling the where the click is that I managed to get within 1-2 lbs. when I used a non torque wrench then checked with the torque wrench 1/2 hour later, I felt was a benifit of the clickable type;

 

Generally I think click type wrenches are the best and most accurate.
P.S.
I forgot to mention I'd go Snap-on anytime I like my 50-250 torque wrench i got.

 

If price is no object Digital TW are the best and most accurate.

Steve

 

Not wanting to hijack, but if we're talking torquing our lugs, remember to invest in a breaker bar too, and some heavy duty 17mm sockets. I hate to see folks screw up a nice ratchet or torque wrench when they misuse the tool to loosen a corroded lug.

 

Better read the fine print on the Sears hand tool warranty. Torque wrenches are specifically not covered in their lifetime warranty. The warranty on their torque wrenches is 12 months for the Digitork and Microtork models and 24 months on theor Pro series (I just looked it up). The Sears wrenches are what I consider the minimum level of quality I'd use for anything critical (they haven't let me down yet).

-Keith

 

Anyone have any experience with Cobalt tools? I saw a couple torque wrenches at Lowes the other day, the cheapest being $75. I don't remember the specs or range of torque, but it covered most of what I have heard the MINI needs. It even measured in nm, as well as lbs.

 

True good call.

Kobalt torque wrench may be made by Danaher which is the maker of Craftsman and Matco but someone else may know more...

 

Kobalt (Lowes) and Husky (Home Depot) tools have been around a long time, lifetime warranty (not sure about their TW) Slightly higher quality than Cratsman, almost as good as Snap-on, Cornwell and Mac Tools, but 1/2 the price.

Steve

 

The inexpensive 'beam type' torque wrench from Sears is more accurate and reliable than any of the cheap clickers.

 

I have pretty much the same one, although not bought from tirerack.
After 6 years of normal use, mostly on tires, the head socket unit is so loose that the directional lock can hardly kick in most of the time, I worry a lot that the socket will fall apart any time, but somehow it refuses to die.

As some had mentioned the click point is not consistent, seems it needs to warm up a bit before working properly.

I'll get a better one as the replacement.

 

The universal version.