Sorry if this is a bit OT (No access yet to General Discussion)... but I _am_ going to use it on my 02 EL.

Canadian Tire has the Mastercraft Maximum 1/2" click-type torque wrench on sale this week for $65. Lifetime warranty. I just picked one up and noticed the calibration certificate reads up to 4lbs off at 20% and 100% loading. Its range is from 20 - 250 ft.lbs.

They also have a deflection beam type torque wrench. A bit "old school", but it's $20. Made in Taiwan for Trileaf Distribution. Just an importer of cheap goods for the chain stores, I'm sure. Range is 0-150 ft.lbs.

Looking at Princess Auto, I see they have a 3/8" click type wrench on sale for $17.77 this week. Up to 80 ft.lbs.

What do you suggest for intermittent work on my 02 EL? I'll be tightening wheel lugs, brake work, fluid changes and those sorts of things - maintenance, basically. I'll leave the suspension and engine/tranny work to the pros with the right shops and equipment. Am I limiting myself with the 20-250 wrench?


Modified by babzog at 8:54 PM 5/14/2008

 

I'm impressed that it came with the calibration certificate. That wrench is more accurate at the high end. 4/250<<4/20

I would not use it for low range torque (<50 lbf-ft).

 

So.... maybe better then to go with a pair of wrenches from Princess auto (they actually advertise them as dual scale torque wrenches, but they look like the click type):

1/4" wrench with 20 to 200 in.-lbs. (1.6-16.6 ft.lb) range for $30.
3/8" with 10-80 ft.lb range on sale for $17.77
1/2" wrench with 20-150 ft.lb range for $35

Any two are the same as or cheaper than the one Mastercraft 1/2" wrench.

Given my requirements in my OP (thinking specifically of caliper bolts should I need to replace the calipers), what do you suggest as the best all-around set?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by babzog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
What do you suggest for intermittent work on my 02 EL? I'll be tightening wheel lugs, brake work, fluid changes and those sorts of things - maintenance, basically. I'll leave the suspension and engine/tranny work to the pros with the right shops and equipment. Am I limiting myself with the 20-250 wrench?


Modified by babzog at 8:54 PM 5/14/2008</TD></TR></TABLE>

I dont even remember the last time i used a torque wrench for brake jobs. Fluid changes... you'll need a 3/8" drive for dropping transmission pans. Lug nuts you obviosly would need a 1/2".

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by babzog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So.... maybe better then to go with a pair of wrenches from Princess auto (they actually advertise them as dual scale torque wrenches, but they look like the click type):

1/4" wrench with 20 to 200 in.-lbs. (1.6-16.6 ft.lb) range for $30.
3/8" with 10-80 ft.lb range on sale for $17.77
1/2" wrench with 20-150 ft.lb range for $35

Any two are the same as or cheaper than the one Mastercraft 1/2" wrench.

Given my requirements in my OP (thinking specifically of caliper bolts should I need to replace the calipers), what do you suggest as the best all-around set?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Now you have to ask yourself, can you trust a $35 torque wrench to properly torque down lug nuts? IMO i wouldn't.

But for sizes, You should be fine with a 3/8" drive and 1/2" drive.

 

I just buy the $25 one from walmart. I replace it yearly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bjorn20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Now you have to ask yourself, can you trust a $35 torque wrench to properly torque down lug nuts? IMO i wouldn't.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, that's a good question. Would I trust it? Is the calibration of a $65 wrench being off by 4lbs (leading to a suggestion above to not use it for anything less than 50lb) trustworthy? Even if the $35 wrench is also out by 4lbs, I'm no further ahead or behind wrt accuracy.

So... back to your question.. I dunno. Let me pick your brain instead... why wouldn't you trust a $35 wrench to properly torque down lug nuts?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WhiteOnRice &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just buy the $25 one from walmart. I replace it yearly.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I didn't see a single one at Wally-World, but that's not surprising. Next time I trek to Ogdensburg, I'll look there (better selection).

I found this though from Boss Tool. Looks like a decent wrench. A similar wrench from JC Whitney received a nice review.

MIT 1/2" Torque Wrench with case

 

Well I have seen a harbor frieght TQ wrench about 40 pounds off after just a few months use. But I have also seen a harbor frieght TQ wrench that was dead nutz on like my snap-on. So it really is a crap shoot with cheap TQ wrenches, you might get a good one that is right on, or you might get a really bad one and either under TQ something or over TQ something.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jakscivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well I have seen a harbor frieght TQ wrench about 40 pounds off after just a few months use. But I have also seen a harbor frieght TQ wrench that was dead nutz on like my snap-on. So it really is a crap shoot with cheap TQ wrenches, you might get a good one that is right on, or you might get a really bad one and either under TQ something or over TQ something.</TD></TR></TABLE>

At what price point would you consider a torque wrench to be a cheapie? The Mastercraft is regularly $100 (sale is $65) but being off by 4lbs at 20% and 100% seems like a lot, to me... esp if that means it's really only usable for lugnuts as suggested earlier.

If my math is right, 20% (of the max 250 ft.lbs) is 50ft.lbs. So 4lbs deviation would mean the wrench is out by 8%. Seems like a lot, esp when it's only really "on" at 60% (or 150 ft.lbs).


Modified by babzog at 9:22 AM 5/16/2008

 

Man, you guys are using those for lug nuts? Thats a little scary. People can die from wheels falling off. So if you want to put your trust in your 25$ TQ wrench then go for it.

 

people can die from anything... man up

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by babzog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Well, that's a good question. Would I trust it? Is the calibration of a $65 wrench being off by 4lbs (leading to a suggestion above to not use it for anything less than 50lb) trustworthy? Even if the $35 wrench is also out by 4lbs, I'm no further ahead or behind wrt accuracy.

So... back to your question.. I dunno. Let me pick your brain instead... why wouldn't you trust a $35 wrench to properly torque down lug nuts?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well think about design quality and parts that go into a $35 tool vs a $150+ tool (mac, matco, snap on etc..). Do you really think the internals and accuracy of a walmart torque wrench is even going to be even close as one from say snap on? I would AT LEAST go to sears to purchase one if you are working on a small budget. But my tools are also my job, so i cant afford to have **** break on me all the time and wait for the truck to come next week.

Look at a cheap $50 set of "mechanics tools" from walmart that come with a whole bunch of ratchets, sockets, wrenches etc... Ever notice how fast those ratchets break on you? They are probably made of plastic internals.

regardless of the "lifetime warrenty" of any tool, I would much rather pay more for a higher quality tool so i can trust that it WONT break under the extreme shop conditions, vs a harbor freight tool that will break just by dropping it a foot from off the floor.

And yes I will say that some of your basic tools that the big brands offer are extremely overpriced for what they are.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jakscivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Man, you guys are using those for lug nuts? Thats a little scary. People can die from wheels falling off. So if you want to put your trust in your 25$ TQ wrench then go for it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

It is well known that even perfectly calibrated torque wrenches yield a +-25% clamping force due to thread friction, shank friction, etc. The torque wrench is to ensure that the fasteners are reasonably torqued.

 

i use the ones from canadian tire all the time.......they work good.....every click type torque wrench needs calibration once and a while....mine are probably 9 or 10 years old and i never calibrated them yet....haha....i suppose i should.

i also have the cheap princess auto 3/8" drive one you are talkiing about.....i use it to torque my wheel nuts to 80ft/lbs all the time....i dont know how accurate it is but im sure its close enough.

its good to have both the 1/2" and 3/8" drive torque wrenches. sometime the large one cant get into tight spots so you use the smaller one.....