Torque wrench and socket advice

BrownSound · Postby **BrownSound** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:32 pm

Danny, which torque wrench did you end up buying? (I noticed in the how paint your callipers thread you mentioned you bought it)

I am thinking of buying one as well since I plan on installing my new springs myself.

dannyboi · Postby **dannyboi** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:39 pm

I ended up getting the cheap ones from SCA, in my OP. It was $84 for the 3/8'' drive one.

So far it's alright, but if you want a more durable and reliable one, maybe consider one of those Kinchrome or Sidchrome ones. You get what you pay for.

I've only used it for tightening the wheel nuts, and it seemed to work alright.

BrownSound · Postby **BrownSound** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:41 pm

Yeah that's all I plan on using it for as well. I took my wheel off today to have a look around the assembly just to familiarise myself and retightened it. I'm a little bit paranoid I've under tightened it and its going to fall off on me :oops:

dannyboi · Postby **dannyboi** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:44 pm

I was trying to use a normal socket wrench to remove the nuts. That was a bad idea and it partially rounded one of the nuts. I totally forgot about the wrench in the spare wheel well! Luckily dad was there to remind me to use the other one.

It should be alright if you think it's tightened enough. I wanted the torque wrench because I didn't want to overtighten the nuts, due to alloy wheels on the car.

Postby **aspir3** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:46 pm

I would buy a minimum 1/2" torque wrench for car use. 3/8 is too small and likely to break.

BrownSound · Postby **BrownSound** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:52 pm

What would be the impact of over tightening alloys? Like are there any driving/safety issues?

Mitch · Postby **Mitch** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:54 pm

you can damage the threading on the wheel nuts mate

BrownSound · Postby **BrownSound** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:57 pm

@ Mitch makes sense.

It was interesting actually because when I was loosening the nuts (first time from factory) I noticed that one of them was loose enough for me to undo with a tiny amount of pressure - really quite worrying.

dannyboi · Postby **dannyboi** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:02 pm

I was really struggling with mine. Felt like it was installed with an air tool.

I'll invest in a 1/2'' wrench when this one fails.
Have to save up for a new trolley jack and jack stands as my dad's old ones don't fit the Lancer that well.

Mitch · Postby **Mitch** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:03 pm

i cant fit a trolley jack under the front of mine because of my front Lower Lip. so i have to use the small one to lift up one of my front wheels then put the trolley jack under the front of the car

Postby **aspir3** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:06 pm

BrownSound wrote:What would be the impact of over tightening alloys? Like are there any driving/safety issues?

Yes if you over tighten your wheel nuts your wheel studs could break off.

All threads are made to a certain tensile. The softer they are the more likely they can stretch. Harder they are they will not stretch but rather break. Think of steel like glad wrap and glass. One is hard but you can not bend it much as it will break. The other is soft and very flexible but easy to damage. Steels are no different. Not all steels are the same even though they look very similar.

So over tighten your nuts and your threads will be at there stretch limit and break from the slightest impact to your wheels.

The worst thing is if they are too tight they are almost impossible to get off with the tool provided by Mitsubishi if you get a flat tyre.

dannyboi · Postby **dannyboi** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:13 pm

aspir3 wrote:The worst thing is if they are too tight they are almost impossible to get off with the tool provided by Mitsubishi if you get a flat tyre.

I needed a pipe on that tool to provide enough torque to free the nuts. Might actually struggle with removing the nuts with just the tool by itself due to lack of leverage.

LZY_EYE · Postby **LZY_EYE** » Sun May 15, 2011 9:24 pm

I would not suggest using the torque wrench to crack wheel nuts etc.

Get yourself a breaker bar. I use it more than anything else in my tool box.

I went tight and bought a short and long SCA one. Despite what people say the newer SCA stuff is quite good for the home mechanic. I have hung off mine and it just does what it is supposed to.

I should really invest in a torque wrench one day, but I tend to tighten bolts up as tight as the force I took to loosen them.

Helps that I serviced on a rally team too, got a fair idea of how tight the wheel nuts etc need to be

chris · Postby **chris** » Tue May 17, 2011 10:54 pm

A long lever like one meter length of water pipe for extra leverage then you won`t bust your gut

PYLee · Postby **PYLee** » Sat May 21, 2011 3:01 pm

lol i'm in the same situation now , planning on getting some tools for some DIY work.

Currently looking at kincrome 1/2 torque wrench , a 1/2 breaker bar and socket , Arcan low profile trolley jack from Costco and some jack stands

Torque wrench and socket advice

Who is online