do i need a torque wrench?
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From: San Diego, CA
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do i need a torque wrench?
i got a neuspeed front upper strut bar a while ago and i haven't installed it yet. i hardly have any tools, and this guy told me he'd help me install it this weekend. the instructions say to tighten the bolts to something like 33 or 35 ft-lbs, but the guy told me i don't need to be that exact. so he was just gonna use a ratchet and turn it "till it feels tight," i guess. i don't want to do this if i risk doing something dangerous and something going wrong. so should i just wait till i can borrow someone's torque wrench?
thanks
thanks
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From: calgary, Alberta, Canada
Rep Power: 0 Some people say yes some people say no ( for Upper strut tower bar)
But I like to be safe and besides torque wrenches don't even cost that much. Just go out and invest in one
When I installed mine I didn't have a torque wrench to install it with and I went out and test drove my car and my car was leaning to the left and it was really bothering me. So on the same day I went to get a torque wrench
But I like to be safe and besides torque wrenches don't even cost that much. Just go out and invest in one
When I installed mine I didn't have a torque wrench to install it with and I went out and test drove my car and my car was leaning to the left and it was really bothering me. So on the same day I went to get a torque wrench
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From: Washington DC
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You can do it without. Once it gets to the point where you can't turn it anymore without putting some real weight on it, it's tight. If you don't think you can pull it off, then borrow a wrench from someone, but you can do without it if you're careful not to overtighten.
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From: Rowland Heights, California, US
Rep Power: 0 I heard that if you tighten it to the extent where human force cant tighten it nemore, then its all good. I think your gonna need a impact gun to tighten it all the way.[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG]
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From: Northern Virginia
Rep Power: 318 yeah, i only used a torque wrench once, and it clicked just as i couldn't use my force to tighten it anymore, so. 33/ft lbs means tighten it until you can't tighten it anymore, using a regular ratchet with approx a 9" handle.
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From: San Diego, CA
Rep Power: 0 yeah, thanks for telling me about autozone. i checked out the site. hopefully they have one; they say on the site that they have "expensive tools most people wouldn't own" or something like that. i'll give em a call tomorrow. thanks again; that's gonna be a great resource later on...
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Just be careful because once I got pissed and I through my torque wrench and I broke the needle off the end! I was putting on my pullies, that is enough to make anyone mad, hehe....
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From: Washington DC
Rep Power: 423 Well, now that I've gone to sears and bought one... let's say this....
The hand torque wrench isn't all that accurate. The guy in Sears recommended the Beam-Type for home use. Reason being that they're cheaper ($25 vs $90 for the clicky one) and they don't need to be sent in for calibration, which is $90 every year. The beam ones also have a Craftsman's Lifetime warranty, and the clicky ones don't. So it may just be beneficial to go buy the 0-150 ft-lb beam torque wrench and the 3/8" socket adapter for it (the wrench is 1/2" drive). I re-torqued my Neuspeed bar and found I had hand torqued it to about 20 ft-lbs.... which is obvously way off the recommended 33.
The hand torque wrench isn't all that accurate. The guy in Sears recommended the Beam-Type for home use. Reason being that they're cheaper ($25 vs $90 for the clicky one) and they don't need to be sent in for calibration, which is $90 every year. The beam ones also have a Craftsman's Lifetime warranty, and the clicky ones don't. So it may just be beneficial to go buy the 0-150 ft-lb beam torque wrench and the 3/8" socket adapter for it (the wrench is 1/2" drive). I re-torqued my Neuspeed bar and found I had hand torqued it to about 20 ft-lbs.... which is obvously way off the recommended 33.
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From: so cal djmota=oscar
Rep Power: 323 do not overtighten those top strut mount nuts!!! they can and will break off, then you screwwwwwd
spend the doe for a tourqe wrench. You will definatly use it more than once ,especially if you are doing the installs on you car yourself.
spend the doe for a tourqe wrench. You will definatly use it more than once ,especially if you are doing the installs on you car yourself.
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From: Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Rep Power: 0 I got my torque wrench from sears for $25. The digitally calibrated was just too expensive and if you drop the ****, you have to get it recalibrated.
Anyhow, they have torque specs for a reason. Get a torque wrench and be done with it. They are cool to have and use anyway.
Anyhow, they have torque specs for a reason. Get a torque wrench and be done with it. They are cool to have and use anyway.
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