Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[Rewted]

I'm thinking of putting the winter tires on myself next season. Canadian Tire has Mastercraft Maximum torque wrenches on sale, both 1/2 and 3/8 drive for half price. Would anyone recommend either of these?

Or perhaps I should just leave it up to the tire place?

[dmk08]

I picked up an inexpensive ($75) craftsman 1/2" wrench on sale last year. Great purchase and have used it on my wheels a lot. I don't know that brand but it's a great tool for anyones box.

[apecush]

I use the 1/2" maximum wrench for wheels (have the 3/8 too, but use it for smaller stuff). As long as you don't abuse it (which goes for all torque wrenches), it is great.

As for the tire places, never leave it up to them. That 16 year old kid putting your tires on with a rattle gun has no concept of torque or the concequences of overtorquing the bolts.

[Rewted]

Originally Posted by apecush

I use the 1/2" maximum wrench for wheels (have the 3/8 too, but use it for smaller stuff). As long as you don't abuse it (which goes for all torque wrenches), it is great.

As for the tire places, never leave it up to them. That 16 year old kid putting your tires on with a rattle gun has no concept of torque or the concequences of overtorquing the bolts.

Now that leaves me with a question, what should the bolts be torqued to, 90Ft/Lb?

[kchu221]

Originally Posted by tyrewt

Now that leaves me with a question, what should the bolts be torqued to, 90Ft/Lb?

85-88lbs.

[Vic311]

Originally Posted by tyrewt

I'm thinking of putting the winter tires on myself next season. Canadian Tire has Mastercraft Maximum torque wrenches on sale, both 1/2 and 3/8 drive for half price. Would anyone recommend either of these?

Or perhaps I should just leave it up to the tire place?

http://www.amazon.com/Brown-BLD0212-.../dp/B0032A60W2

Picked this up a while back upon reading the recommendation of a vendor on this forum. It works flawlessly and won't break the bank

[manari06]

OK I know how important it is to use a TQ Wrench and not over torque bolts and nuts! I work on Apache Helicopters and we have TQ wrenches raging from 0 to 200 IN LBS to over 2700 IN LBS since every screw, bolt, and nut on this aircrafts requires torqueing. In the Army as soon as we get a new TQ Wrench it needs to go to the calibration shop to get calibrated before it's first use and then every year after that or any time the TQ is dropped it will required recalibration. So my question is how do you know if you are torqueing the bolts or nuts to the proper TQ if you haven't taken the new TQ Wrench to be calibrated before it's 1st use?

[Accelerometer]

Originally Posted by manari06

OK I know how important it is to use a TQ Wrench and not over torque bolts and nuts! I work on Apache Helicopters and we have TQ wrenches raging fro 0 to 200 IN LBS to over 2700 IN LBS since every screw, bolt, and nut on this aircrafts requires torqueing. In the Army as soon as we get a new TQ Wrench it needs to go to the calibration shop to get calibrated before it's first use and then every year after that or any time the TQ is dropped it will required recalibration. So my question is how do you know if you are torqueing the bolts or nuts to the proper TQ if you haven't taken the new TQ Wrench to be calibrated before it's 1st use?

Exactly! This is why I use this along with a standard torque wrench.

http://www.amazon.com/Alltrade-94075...=torque+wrench

A month ago I was behind a van that had its front driver side wheel fly off. They lost complete control and almost slammed into me. You can never be too safe!

[schnell325]

You can totally do it yourself. It's always good to own your own torque wrench.

I perform ~8 tire/wheel swaps for friends and neighbors every spring and fall. I usually pick a weekend and take appointments....the people enjoy a BBQ while I do the swaps. Good times

[Rewted]

Originally Posted by Vic311

http://www.amazon.com/Brown-BLD0212-.../dp/B0032A60W2

Picked this up a while back upon reading the recommendation of a vendor on this forum. It works flawlessly and won't break the bank

No calibration maintenance involved with that tool?

[Vic311]

Originally Posted by tyrewt

No calibration maintenance involved with that tool?

No calibration, they guarantee accuracy as long as the wrench is handled correctly (not dropped)

Accuracy

within 3.5% @ 30-150 ft/lbs
within 7% @ 180--354 ft/lbs

So if using on wheels at 88 ft/lbs; could range from 85 -91 ft/lbs.

Good write up here

Click

[pbonsalb]

Very few people calibrate their wrenches, unless they are in an industry where it is required. snapon charges about $75, so buying the wrench would be the cheap part if you plan to calibrate it every year and keep it for 10 years.

I use cheap clicker torque wrenches and they have done just fine. If I was building an engine, I would borrow a snapon or equivalent wrench.

I bought the torque measurement device last year and have been meaning to test it for the wrenches I have that operate within its range (I have 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4) and I think it has a specified range.

The cheap clickers claim 4% also, but I don't know how good the guarantee is.

[Rewted]

So those OEM blots, what size are they?

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by tyrewt

So those OEM blots, what size are they?

18mm.

[VCP]

you should see are TQ wrench we have a the it has buttons and a screen. vibrates when you are near the set point and beeps at the TQ setting even does TQ angles. works nice when Torquing the vanos units on the s65 after torquing and TQ angle comes out to about +200ft-lb.

Originally Posted by schnell325

You can totally do it yourself. It's always good to own your own torque wrench.

I perform ~8 tire/wheel swaps for friends and neighbors every spring and fall. I usually pick a weekend and take appointments....the people enjoy a BBQ while I do the swaps. Good times

[VCP]

17mm

Originally Posted by dmk08

18mm.

[VCP]

17mm

Originally Posted by dmk08

18mm.

[MikeBlaszczak]

Use as a calibration devise for existing torque wrenches

Seems like they're all about quality.

[fastmike]

I would definitely not leave it up to the tire place. I swear mine were torqued to 200 ft lbs I had a hard time with my 18in breaker bar!

I picked up a torque wrench from harbor freight. May not be that accurate but good enough for wheel lugs.

[fastmike]

I would definitely not leave it up to the tire place. I swear mine were torqued to 200 ft lbs I had a hard time with my 18in breaker bar!

I picked up a torque wrench from harbor freight. May not be that accurate but good enough for wheel lugs.

[aus]

Originally Posted by fastmike

I would definitely not leave it up to the tire place. I swear mine were torqued to 200 ft lbs I had a hard time with my 18in breaker bar!

I picked up a torque wrench from harbor freight. May not be that accurate but good enough for wheel lugs.

This just happened to me at a wheel place I've been going to for years. Some idiot there hit my wheels with an impact.
It's always better to do it yourself. Just remember to re-tighten them after driving a few miles.

.

[pbonsalb]

Lowes has Kobalt torque wrenches that appear to be lifetime guaranteed (unlike Craftsman torque wrenches). I saw only 3/8 inch and a 50-250 lb 1/2 inch drive at Lowes but did not look carefully for more. For wheels, a 150 lb 1/2 drive might have the best accuracy. Torque wrenches are usually not as accurate at the top and bottom end of their ranges so choose one.