[nj335i]

What do you guys think about this one? Currently, I just tighten the lugs on my car until I can't anymore. I figure I should get a better measurement since I drive long distance quite a bit.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance

[742]

Originally Posted by nj335i

What do you guys think about this one? Currently, I just tighten the lugs on my car until I can't anymore. I figure I should get a better measurement since I drive long distance quite a bit.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance

For lug bolts you need something with a range of 20-200 foot/lbs, give or take. This one is inch/lbs.

I would only get a quality torque wrench from a well know (and respected) tool supplier. And they do not come cheap.

[nj335i]

Originally Posted by 742

For lug bolts you need something with a range of 20-200 foot/lbs, give or take. This one is inch/lbs.

I would only get a quality torque wrench from a well know (and respected) tool supplier. And they do not come cheap.

Any you would recommend?

[nmulax]

Go down to Sears or something and get one by Craftsmen. Mine was around $70.

Make sure you don't use a torque wrench to loosen bolts, and also set it back at 0 after each use to take the tension off the spring.

[BK]

Originally Posted by nmulax

and also set it back at 0 after each use to take the tension off the spring.

Interesting - I had been told that it is best to store a tq wrench with the spring very slightly compressed (like 20 ft-lb) rather than at 0 ft-lb. But your post made me Google, and it looks like 0 ft-lb is the recommended storage.

[Jerseystyle1]

Snap on or MAC are very high quality but come with a price. If you are on a budget, do like above said and get a Craftsmen.

[742]

Originally Posted by nj335i

Any you would recommend?

Snap-on, MAC or Craftsman are common among people who do this for a living, and that is pretty much the pecking order. Snap-on can now be bought on line, and is the BMW of tools. But for lug bolts there is nothing wrong with Craftsman.

A good torque wrench deserves to be treated with . They also do not take abuse well, so be cautious with how you use it.

For what it is worth I store mine at the lowest torque value, not -0-. But the important thing is to store it in a relaxed state.

[smog]

got mine from tire rack.. cheap, yes. but considering i'll only be using it maybe twice a year if even that, it was good enough for me. and if it somehow disappears, it wont break the bank.

[nj335i]

Originally Posted by smog

got mine from tire rack.. cheap, yes. but considering i'll only be using it maybe twice a year if even that, it was good enough for me. and if it somehow disappears, it wont break the bank.

Hmm... I might get this one... only $30! Anyone else have experience with the tirerack one?

Gary, do you want to chime in?

[David 12]

I did get a snap on torque wrench, but I really like the socket from bavauto.com.

Dave

[wj4]

I walked into Sears one day to buy a torque wrench..I bought a Craftsman one for $40, and $12 for the right socket for the wheel bolts.


I personally torque mine down to 80 ft/lb.

[BK]

FWIW, I think the recommended tq for E90 lug bolts is 88.5 ft-lbs but I doubt the additional 10% makes a difference.