What working range for a torque wrench would you consider most usefull for working on our trucks?? Looking to do some more front end work and it looks like a lot of things around 100 ft/lb range. So i was thinking about getting a 50-200 ft/lb clickable wrench, that way i'm working in the middle range of the wrench where it is most accurate. Thought about the 40-150ft/lb one but a few things like the track bar are ~175ft/lbs i think. Snap-on and proto have some very nice ones that are $$. ANybody tried the kobalt one from lowes? Or craftsman??

Thanks

 

I've got three. I have a small 3/8" drive Craftsman that reads Newton Meters. I've also got a 3/8" drive Husky from Home Depot that goes to 100lb-ft.

The biggest I have is a 1/2" drive Craftsman than reads to 150lb-ft....I think.

My dad has a couple BATW (big a$$ torque wrench) that go up to something like 450-500lb-ft.

The Husky and Craftsmans have proven to be very reliable and seem to keep their accuracy as well as my buddie's Snap-on. My dad takes them all to work and gets the checked for accuracy every other year or so. I'm happy with them.

 

I have a Husky 1/2" drive. Had for quite awhile now, done a couple engines with it including the head on my '01. Does what its supposed to.

Howver, DO NOT use it in reverse for any reason, it screws up the setting. Was assembling and engine and was plasti-guaging the rod caps. I tightend up the bolt with the torque wrench and then undid it with the torque wrench. By the time I got to the 4th rod it was getting hard to pull, I was just about to stop when SNAP! the bolt broke. I quickly figured out what I had done and realized that all the others were probably over stretched. Sooo no more work on the engine that night, or the next 2 days. Had to special order in a new set of bolts and then change them all out.

Not sure why they even bothered putting a reverse on the darn thing.

 

ooh, that sucks that you had to buy all new fasteners.


but, there are left handed bolts out there, lots of them too.

 

Check out Gear Wrench,or OTC,or Proto.Husky or Craftsman for a cheaper version,25 - 250 Ft .In lbs,micrometer adjust type.It is actually good to have a couple ,three if you can afford it,25- 250 in.lbs. and 25- 250 Ft. lbs. The third one would be say 10- 100 Ft. lbs.They are generally more accurate in the middle to upper third of their ranges.But the first two would be adequate enough.Its good if they can all over lap each other.

 

I've got a few crafstmans. I think they are most accurate in the top 20% of their range.

Anyhow, for the home mechanic/occasional user, I think they are a good compromise between decent quality and an affordable price.

 

Craftsman are good enough for a home mechanic,almost all my tools are Craftsman ,got most back in the 70s.Tools were cheaper and better made,like everything else.

 

You will need a 1/2 wrench which goes to at least 250ft-lbs.

While switching rear differential gear set, I broke my Craftsman 1/2 150 ft-lb wrench so I needed an upgrade. Bought S&K 1/2 20-250 ft-lb and S&K 3/8 10-100 ft-lb. Absolutely love them.

 

Proto and Snap-On are the same, just that the Proto is the tools that are sold to the industry for shop use. While Snap-on is sold to the Auto-Mech and local business.
I have two craftmens torque wrenches one measures inch pounds and the other measure foot pounds both are clickers. They work find for the home shop and with care they can be used for small shops.

 

Same as all the others with craftsmans brand, I broke down and bought cman's digital this time for the inj.'s swap. 17 in/lbs would be hard with the clickers.....luckily it was on sale for ONLY $200 (yikes).