Does anyone use a torque wrench to remove the lugs on your rims? what setting do I put it on? Is there a difference if I use a 1/2 drive vs 3/8

 

I have the "click" type torque wrench where you can set it to a certain ft-lbs setting for torque.. however I've heard that its not exactly good for the torque wrench (calibration) to use it to loosen things.. this is for the bend/scale kind.. I've also been told its not exactly that good to use the "click" type that I have... since it cost me close to $100 and a breaker bar costs $30.. I just use my 18" breaker bar to loosen..

I've also heard for torque wrenches that when not in use it should be set at "0" or the lowest setting... to take off my lugs.. I use what I use to take off most of the hard bolts.. an 18" breaker bar... the lug nuts come off easily w/ the 18" breaker bar...

the difference between the 1/2" and 3/8" drive is that one is 1/2" and one is 3/8" typically the 1/2" can take a bit more force than the 3/8" and the settings might be able to have higher torque.. of course your going to need 1/2" sockets also unless you use the 1/2" to 3/8" converter thing.. both my torque wrench and breaker bar are 1/2" drive..

 

don't use a torque wrench to remove anything.

it is a very precice instrument, and if you wish to use it with any accuracy for any length of time, only use it to properly torque components.

use your lug wrench to remove lug nuts, and when you put your tire back on, screw them hand tight with your hand, and complete the job with your torque wrench, set to the propper specification. drive size of the wrench doesn't matter, a lb/ft is a lb/ft.

also, for longevity of your tool, make sure you unload it before putting it away. a torque wrench isn't cheap, and they are very sensitive pieces of equipment.

 

What's a good lug wrench then. The one I use is the cross type. It's a bitch to use to remove the lugs after my mechanic tighten them. I don't get enough leverage. I figure a torque wrecnh would be easier to remove.

 

like I said.. just get a $30 breaker bar.. mine is 18" and the lug nuts for my rims (torqued down to 80 ft-lbs) come off w/o a problem using the rim key and breaker bar/flex handle... Ill try and link you a pic its a 18" 1/2" drive breaker bar/flex handle

EDIT: here you go.. its $26.99 at sears..




[Modified by GSRaCeRbOI, 4:23 PM 6/15/2002]

 

that would be helpful cause I have no idea what a breaker bar is. Can I pick this up anywhere

cool thanks for the pic. how do I know how much I retorque. do I use my judgement that it's 80 pounds


[Modified by 94LSTEG, 12:34 AM 6/16/2002]


[Modified by 94LSTEG, 12:34 AM 6/16/2002]

 

u can pick it up at sears for $26.99 (I also put that on top of the pic hehe).. and that comes w/ a lifetime warranty.. Lolz.. has anyone broken a breaker bar? Lolz? I guess your not reading my posts.. I said that I use the breaker bar to loosen my lugs (and many other tough/tight bolts).. and to tighten them.. I use my torque wrench and set it at the proper setting for whatever I'm tightening.. since its supposed to be bad for my torque wrench to loosen things w/ it...

I've seen a 18" breaker bar at autozone for like $12 or 15 but I don't know that I would trust it.. it is some whack off brand like Great Neck or sumthing.. and I'd rather pay more for the craftsman and lifetime warranty.. than to get a cheap bar that might snap or break and give me bloody knuckles (from hitting the pavement after the tool breaks/slips)... I'm sure a lot of other places sells them..

 

^^^this is what you use the torque wrench for, it all falls into place

 

opps my bad. sorry. thanks eveyone for advice and not flaming. i'll try to read more carefully.

 

how much should one pay for a torque wrench? i dont do much work on my car, but i want to put on the type r sway bar, for which i will need a torque wrench...so i am hoping to not have to shell out a lot of dough for something i may only use once.

 

You'll not just use the torque wrench once. You'll use them to tighten any bolts you loosen up on your car.

Sears has a few torque wrenches for sale:
http://www.sears.com/sr/mercado/searchall.jsp

I'd suggest you get either the 1/2 or 3/8 inch drive that costs about $100 and $90. You don't need more than 250 lbs of torque.
You'll also need sockets that fit that torque wrench as well as the breaker bar.
You'll need sizes 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, and 19mm.

So get the same size drive for both torque wrench and breaker bar. May be even a ratchet and wrench too while you're at it.

You'll need to drill holes to install the 22mm sway bar, so you'll need a drill with a 3/8 or 5/16 drilling bit.

 

yes. i broke one. the part where it swivels came apart. the metal just "snapped". i can't quite describe it. the moral of the story is get good quality tools. my craftsman tools haven't failed me yet.

 

can i ask what brand that breaker bar was? just curious... yeah I've never had a problem w/ Craftsman tools ... well I've snapped a few Craftsman screwdrivers.. but Craftsmans other tools have been good .. mine is an 18" 1/2" drive breaker bar.. haven't had any problems w/ it at all...

 

I have broken a craftsman breaker bar. Thirty minutes later I had a shiny new one. Can't beat that. Unfortunately Craftsman's warranty on torque wrenches is only like 1 year.

 

snap on Torque wrench, ummm yummy, lifetime recalibration, soo quality, yet costs more than a cheap set of rims. Hence, I have to use craftsman. Poor college student sucks.....

 

Torque wrenches are for installation. There is no reason to use them to remove lugs.

I set mine at 80lb-ft when I am torquing my lugs but this is on a race car. You are better off with 70-75lb-ft.

1/2" vs 3/8":
Yes there is a difference. The larger shanks drop less torque through the connection. Ideally you should be running a 1/2" drive with a short IMPACT (black) socket. The longer the socket is the more torque it will absorb thus making it torque looser than what you are actually set at. Extensions are even worse and should never be used. A 3/8" drive 6" non-impact extension will drop your torque by 5-6lb-ft for example. I have tested this and verified it.

 

I use a generic 24" Autozone 1/2" drive breaker bar, no complaints. Plenty strong enough for my needs, and has handled everything I've thrown at it (axle nuts being the toughest so far). Besides, there's a warranty on most Autozone tools as well. I've gotten drive adapters replaced, no hassle.

Just as a note, if you use a 1/2" --> 3/8" drive adapter, be sure to have a spare or two on hand. I've destroyed a couple using the breaker bar (too cheap to buy 1/2" sockets).

And I'm not sure how the drive size or extension length would have any affect on applied torque. Unless it's bending, metal doesn't "absorb" torque.

 

for you guys that have broken your breaker bars.. what were you looseninng or tightening and what brake of bar were you using?? I've loosened just about everything (lug nuts, timing belt, axle nuts, LCA bolts, shock bolts, brake caliper bolts, etc) w/ my 18" 1/2" drive breaker bar and it's never broken...

also for the guy that broke the craftsman breaker bar was that the 3/8" or the 1/2"
just curious..

haha yeah I've snapped a few 1/2" to 3/8" converters also... I bought a 1/2" set of the black/impact sockets now cuz I got tired of snapping the converters and having to drive to replace them.. even tho their warrantied

my friend got a torque wrench for $20 from harbor freight yesterday.. he hasn't used it yet though so I dunno how it is..

I got my unit for close to $100.. i wonder how his $20 HF torque wrench compares...compares...I got my 18" Craftsman 1/2" drive breaker bar for $30..he said theres a Harbor freight breaker bar for $10 that he's gonna buy.. well see how it holds up/compares to the craftsman ones...





[Modified by GSRaCeRbOI, 3:41 AM 6/19/2002]

 

The extension twists.

 

Anyone know how to tell if a torque wrench needs calibration?

I bought the Craftsman from sears, so I can just take it to sears and have them calibrate it, right?

 

crickey..lucky i read this post, i use my snap-on torque wrench for taking off nuts as well as putting them on, although i've never used it for anything that was extremely tight. Also when putting the lug nuts back on wheels i just tighten with a X wheel brace till its hand tight then turn it about another 1/4 to 1/2 turn, never lost a wheel yet!!

 

I broke mine removing the axle nuts on my civic that I used to own. With 10 years and 150+k miles, I had to have my mechanic devirginize my axles and replace my cv boots

Breaking the breaker was not an easy task. It took lots of ingenuity, sweating and swearing. The 3 foot piece of pipe helped