Looking for Torque wrench recommendations

[hunterjmj]

I've had whatever Carquest had for several years now without issue. You'll probably want a smaller one too. I have a digital 3/8 with a rachet head and an adjustable wrench style head. It's inch and foot pounds.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Buy an older snap on thru marketplace.
No digital.
Just look it over find a snap on truck and they can calibrate but shouldn’t need it.
Can get good buy at way less and will last forever.
If torque is critical no need to cheap out.

 

[Amos Keeto]

Needed a torque wrench for AR assembly. I slummed around local pawn shops until I found an acceptable "clicker" type. Don't remember what I paid, but it wasn't much.
For just a few jobs, consider Harbor Freight.
May not high quality tools, but good enough for a quick job.

 

[Azone]

Tekton is reliable for the money. I have a fair amount of Tekton tools and they’re holding up quite well.
The Napa Carlyle branded ones were real good and never gave me any fits when I used them. I don’t know what they costed as the company I worked for at the time provided them.
If you feel the need to spend money to have the best go walk on to a tool truck and prepare to be violated. Snap-on makes some beautiful pieces but holy hell are they proud of it with their pricing.
If you go the HF route get the Icon branded stuff, you get some decent bang for the buck.
Anything with Pittsburgh labeled on it has reliably been garbage to work with in my experience. Pittsburgh sockets and wrenches are made out of cheaper softer steel and will start damaging bolt heads and nuts due to rounding out or stretching open out of their intended tolerances.
The only Pittsburgh stuff I keep around is for cutting them up to fabricate my own tools for random one off jobs.

 

[The_Yetti]

I have a Tekton in my box at work. As a foreman it doesn't get used much by me, but a lot by my newer techs and is still spot on.

 

[anonymous22]

It also depends on what kind of torque wrench. No one brands makes the best everything tools.

 

[yo_vinny]

I've had great luck with the Tekton clicker style torque wrenches I have. My 3/8" stopped working and Tekton sent me a brand new one, no questions asked.

 

[Gmmoyer27]

As the title says I’m looking for some recommendations for torque wrenches. I’m a DIY guy and am looking at replacing rear wheel bearings and brakes on my wife’s car. I’ve got loads of hand tools, but never invested in a decent torque wrench. My only real requirement is that it needs to be 1/2” and 250 foot pound capacity. I know Snap on is probably the best, but for the amount I’ll use it I can’t justify that much money I think my max spend will be $200. Digital vs analog/clicker type? I’ll probably use it primarily for axle nuts, breaks, etc. Any suggestions from actual users would be appreciated. I don’t trust many of the reviews I read online since most are not much more that sales pitches. Thanks in advance to anyone who would weigh in.

Harbor freight is just fine

 

[Bobolu]

tekton works good for me

 

[Tilzbow]

I’ve got two 20+ year old Craftsman in 1/2” and 3/8” and a new Gear Wrench 3/8”, all 3 are clickers, and the Gear Wrench is extremely well built and super nice and precise. I’d definitely recommend one.

 

[Azone]

I forgot to mention in my first post that you might be able to just rent a torque wrench from an auto parts store if it’s gonna be a one time use.

 

[575 ELK]

Go on eBay and buy a used Snap On or Mac Tools torque wrenches.

 

[ODB]

I’ve been happy with Tekton torque wrenches. I have 1/2”, 3/8”, and 1/4”.

Yup. I've got a 3/8 and 1/4. They are pretty good.

 

[kpk]

I have clickers from Northern Tool and HF. I brought them to work once to "recalibrate" them and figure out where they actually were in relation to the markings. They were surprisingly accurate throughout their range. I wouldn't sweat it unless you're working on something that needs to be VERY precise.

 

[cornfedkiller]

Pro tip: be sure to back off your toque wrenches to zero once you’re done using them.

Not to be pedantic, but I believe most manufacturers recommend storing it at the lowest actual setting rather than 0. On my old Craftsman 3/8 drive, that's 10 ft/lbs.

Not sure how much real world difference that makes..

 

[Laelkhunter]

I've had my Craftsman Ft/lb and in/lbs for years, and they still work.

I was told by a knowledgeable mechanic years ago that after you use them, reset them back to 0.0 before storing them. This prevents the spring from getting a "set" or "memory" and the wrench will maintain it's accuracy.

 

[ShredLikeRed]

I'm on my second 1/2" Craftsman clicker. First one lasted around 10 years before something went wrong with the internal mechanism that sets the amount of torque. I bought the original at Sears, which has since gone out of business. Lowe's now carries Craftsman, and they honored the Craftsman lifetime warranty. I took the broken one to the Lowe's service desk, and they replaced it for free with a new 1/2" Craftsman. I use mine a few times a year when rotating tires and for other vehicle maintenance/repairs that occasionally pop up.

It’s good to hear that Lowes will replace a torque wrench. Probably 8 years ago, my craftsman 1/2” quit working and Sears claimed that the lifetime warranty did not apply to torque wrenches. It’s just been sitting in the box since. I’ll have to try to warranty it at Lowes

 

[RS_Non-Res]

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/what-torque-screwdriver.380165/page-3#post-3903286

 

[Poser]

Not to be pedantic, but I believe most manufacturers recommend storing it at the lowest actual setting rather than 0. On my old Craftsman 3/8 drive, that's 10 ft/lbs.

Not sure how much real world difference that makes..

Interesting. I didn’t know that. I’ll pay closer attention. I do know that every time I’ve borrowed a torque wrench from anyone in the past, they were stored on the last used torque setting and never backed off.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Don't ask me still used my Grandpa's hand me downs with dials...