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      04-30-2018, 03:10 AM   #1
VrooM3
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Torque wrenches

i am about to embark on the dreaded rod bearing replacement diy and would like any input from anyone who has experience with high precision torque wrenches used for engine building. The obvious choice is the snapton cdi high precision unit(s) but they are mighty pricey:

https://www.toolsource.com/electroni...2.html?tsqtid=

and then there are other brands that are nor 1% accuracy but 2% like this dial type from precision tools:

https://www.toolsource.com/dial-wren...-p-113208.html

or this from atd which also includes a torque angle reading too (which i don't really need):

https://www.tooldesk.com/automotive/...ATD-12549.aspx

so i want to know if any of you have relevant insight, particularly regarding what is necessary, not nice to have as i often see on these boards a money is no object approach to such matters. for the arp rod bearing fasteners at 50lb-ft the difference between 1% and 2% is 0.5lb-ft and i find it unlikely that the average human can even torque to that precision by hand anyway but i may be mistaking. all three devices are precision calibrated and considered high end tools, so any insight is appreciated.

also, would you say a dial gauge such as the precision tools unit is better or should i go with a digital one?

i already have three standard torque wrenches with 3-4% accuracy and use them for the basic stuff like suspension, wheel mounting and other fasteners that don't need super precision and know that they're insufficient for the purposes. i know i can get them calibrated at that 50lb-ft but would rather buy a nice unit though i'd rather not go for the best of the best unless absolutely necessary as i don't build engines on the regular.

Last edited by VrooM3; 04-30-2018 at 03:17 AM..
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      04-30-2018, 09:38 AM   #2
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Subscribing. Interested about this too.
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      04-30-2018, 02:54 PM   #3
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Maybe you could find out what the BMW tool is that the repair manual indicates and work backwards to figure out the accuracy. For instance, if the BMW tools is a particular Hazet wrench, you could look up its accuracy and know what’s required for engine work.
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      05-02-2018, 09:12 AM   #4
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Just to add to the discussion:

A Quantec MCS Torque Wrench was used to originally assemble our M3 engines (see 4:00 mark), or at least for the one S65 engine featured in this promo video:



According to the Quantec MCS Torque Wrench brochure, the latest model of that digital torque wrench has an accuracy of +/-1%
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Last edited by Theodore; 05-02-2018 at 09:34 AM..
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      05-02-2018, 02:21 PM   #5
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I've been using the snapon cdi electronic torque wrenches for years. I have the big one and the small one.

They are completely awesome. Well worth the price. I use mine all the time!
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      05-03-2018, 10:24 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
I've been using the snapon cdi electronic torque wrenches for years. I have the big one and the small one.

They are completely awesome. Well worth the price. I use mine all the time!
how much do they cost?
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      05-03-2018, 11:36 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Honda View Post
how much do they cost?
just under 400 each
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      05-03-2018, 11:36 AM   #8
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I have the CDI as well.
IMO, this tool is the most critical part of doing this job right.
They usually run around $400 and come with a calibration certificate.

I have no experience with other brands.
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      05-03-2018, 12:00 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VrooM3 View Post
for the arp rod bearing fasteners at 50lb-ft the difference between 1% and 2% is 0.5lb-ft and i find it unlikely that the average human can even torque to that precision by hand anyway but i may be mistaking.
I have done this job 5 times and always torque to +-0.2, many times at 0.0. It is completely doable.

The 2% one is fine for sure. You only need the big one for the rod bearing job.
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      05-03-2018, 09:23 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
I have done this job 5 times and always torque to +-0.2, many times at 0.0. It is completely doable.

The 2% one is fine for sure. You only need the big one for the rod bearing job.
thanks for the insight, why would you go with the 1/2 for rod bearings? i had my eye on the 3/8 as it goes to much lower torque settings and is rated to 100lb-ft with the 1% accuracy quoted at i think from 20%-100% of max torque reading in cw direction. other than more leverage or toughness of ratcheting mechanism and the ability to use 1/2 inch sockets, is there another reason?
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      05-04-2018, 06:08 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VrooM3 View Post
thanks for the insight, why would you go with the 1/2 for rod bearings? i had my eye on the 3/8 as it goes to much lower torque settings and is rated to 100lb-ft with the 1% accuracy quoted at i think from 20%-100% of max torque reading in cw direction. other than more leverage or toughness of ratcheting mechanism and the ability to use 1/2 inch sockets, is there another reason?
Just because the 'big one' also works great to torque wheels and some of the big bolts that hold the subframe

Maybe the medium sized one is the perfect size. I got the biggest and the smallest as it pretty much covers the entire torque range
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      05-04-2018, 10:48 PM   #12
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I have the 3/8" tech-angle snap on torque wrench. Bought it off the bay. It broke a year or so later and I sent it back to SnapOn for repair and calibration. It was cheap. $60 or $75 (I forget) which included the repair, calibration, and shipping back to me.

I really want the 1/4" one...plenty of time before xmas for you all to buy me one.

I bought a 1/2 inch clicker type one from Griot's a number of years ago. Almost exclusively used on wheel lug bolts, subframe bolts, and other big jobs. I also have a Facom 3/8 clicker one, but it has stopped ratcheting. I haven't figured out how to rebuild it yet. It's not like the Facom ratchet wrenches which are simple to rebuild (grease gets hard/gummy so you have to clean it out and regrease -- I use synthetic grease during the rebuild).

For really big honking torque jobs, I have a huge Craftsman 1/2 one that torques to 200 ft lbs (maybe more). I also have a Craftsman 1/4 inch one. Still want the Snap On one.
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      05-04-2018, 11:31 PM   #13
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so looks like i'll go for the 3/8 cdi as for higher torque figures i have a basic clicker 1/2 which is sufficient for subframe bolts etc that don't need super precision. if i ever need to work on valvetrain where high precision low torque figures are needed i guess i'll buy the 1/4 one in the future. for now my cheap ass is working on a budget and though i'd love all the pro tools in the world as any handy person does, it would nearly double the cost of doing a rod bearing if i go tool nuts for the job, so i'll stay disciplined and get what i need .
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      05-17-2018, 10:50 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
just under 400 each
400 for a torque wrench?? harbor freight torque wrenches are not good enough for rod bearings job?
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      05-17-2018, 11:30 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Honda View Post
400 for a torque wrench?? harbor freight torque wrenches are not good enough for rod bearings job?
really? i wouldnt trust one on any engine build. wheels and suspension, sure!
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      05-17-2018, 01:03 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VrooM3 View Post
so looks like i'll go for the 3/8 cdi as for higher torque figures i have a basic clicker 1/2 which is sufficient for subframe bolts etc that don't need super precision. if i ever need to work on valvetrain where high precision low torque figures are needed i guess i'll buy the 1/4 one in the future. for now my cheap ass is working on a budget and though i'd love all the pro tools in the world as any handy person does, it would nearly double the cost of doing a rod bearing if i go tool nuts for the job, so i'll stay disciplined and get what i need .
That makes a lot of sense.

I only bought the little one as well because I was doing vanos work on the E46M back in the day.
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      05-17-2018, 01:04 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Honda View Post
400 for a torque wrench?? harbor freight torque wrenches are not good enough for rod bearings job?
I sense sarcasm
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      05-17-2018, 01:09 PM   #18
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If you calibrated the HF wrench, it would be OK.
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      05-17-2018, 01:30 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
I sense sarcasm
not really...i am just wondering how bad they are?

Many still claim to be good wrenches..

spending 400 for a torque wrench for onetime job is ridiculous to me...I am not a shop that will use this for plenty of times.
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      05-17-2018, 02:10 PM   #20
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I would use only a wrench you are confident is accurate on a rod bearing job on these motors. There are also other bolts that need a torque to spec as part of this job. You maybe be able to buy torque meters on amazon or elsewhere to double check your torque.

If you have no sense for torque, buy a little 1/4 drive as well since some of the oil pan/pump/pickup bolts are small and could be broken. While it’s a DIYable job it’s not for careless people or hacks.

Maybe you could borrow good wrenches if you know someone who has them.
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      05-17-2018, 02:35 PM   #21
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Don't cheap out on a torque wrench.

I highly recommend Snap On Tech-angle.

I own 3

For rod bearings and some other basic work this is what you want:

https://store.snapon.com/TechAngle-1...--P759379.aspx

If you don't want to spend the money, look into borrowing or renting one from someone.
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      05-19-2018, 07:53 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doogee View Post
Don't cheap out on a torque wrench.

I highly recommend Snap On Tech-angle.

I own 3

For rod bearings and some other basic work this is what you want:

https://store.snapon.com/TechAngle-1...--P759379.aspx

If you don't want to spend the money, look into borrowing or renting one from someone.
That's the one I have. Excellent torque wrench.
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